Pixar's 22 animated movies are difficult to rank because there are, arguably, only two or three that are not generally considered good films. Known for its trademark character-driven stories, the Pixar brand has built an association with unique and expertly crafted productions. The few disappointments in its collection are mostly disappointing by comparison - even Cars 2.
Pixar movies consistently win awards and break box-office records, but more importantly, they are well made and typically well-received by audiences. Pixar has set the standard for 3D animated films for decades. Though Pixar's origins date back to the 1970s, Pixar released several short films in its early days before undertaking the endeavor of a full-length feature. Then, in 1995, Pixar released the first-ever fully 3D-animated feature-film. Toy Story marked the studio's breakthrough into becoming the animation giant that people know today.
Over the last 25 years, Pixar has brought so many incredible stories to life with its state-of-the-art animation techniques. These stories sometimes speak to one person more than another, but anyone who has seen a handful of Pixar movies could probably tell you of at least one that is dear to their heart.
22. Cars 2 (2011)
Cars 2 is the most universally disliked Pixar movie. It had a budget of $200 million, on par with Pixar’s two top-grossing films – Toy Story 4 and Incredibles 2 - but it is the only Pixar film (besides Onward) to not make back its budget in domestic box-office sales. Cars 2 is disjointed, chaotic, and boring. Cars 2 was the first of only five Pixar films to receive zero Oscar nominations, but the movie was likely doomed from the start. Rather than developing out of an organic desire to tell a new story, Cars 2 was made to continue selling merchandise within the lucrative Cars brand and to market the new Cars Land at Disney’s California Adventure theme park, which opened in 2012 – the year after Cars 2 was released.
21. Cars 3 (2017)
Cars 3 told a more personal story than Cars 2 but still lacked the charm of the first Cars. Perhaps in an attempt to redeem the Cars franchise from the implosion of Cars 2 (and, of course, keep marketing Cars Land in California Adventure), Pixar made yet another sequel - one that tried to pretend its predecessor didn’t exist. But the mediocre story Cars 3 is overly focused on Lightning McQueen, forgetting what made the first film work: a quirky bunch of relatable characters who love their hometown and each other.
20. The Good Dinosaur (2015)
The Good Dinosaur, though third on this list, was not a terrible film by most standards. The animation is some of Pixar’s best work - however, the story is not. The pace is too slow for the entire film and the characters are one-dimensional. Pixar has proven that they can animate compelling characters that don’t speak (see: WALL-E), so the fact that Spot – one of only two main characters in The Good Dinosaur - is somewhat lacking in personality really brings the film down. The Good Dinosaur is visually impressive, but there’s not much else that this film manages to get right.
19. Onward (2020)
Onward’s truncated theatrical release due to the Covid-19 pandemic cost Disney tens of millions of dollars in losses on the film. Judging by Onward's positive audience reception, though, it would have done very well financially if it had a full theatrical run; Onward holds the top Pixar spot for audience ratings on Rotten Tomatoes. But by doing something that they had never done before, Pixar ended up making Onward feel like a movie that had already been done by someone else. That said, Onward is not a terrible movie and the bittersweet ending wrapped up the very sincere message of the film: cherish every moment with the ones you love because life is unpredictable.
18. Monsters University (2013)
Monsters University was a perfectly adequate follow-up to Monsters Inc., which Pixar smartly chose to place before the first movie rather than continue from where it left off. A sequel to Monsters Inc., though possible, would have been more difficult to successfully execute, since the ending of Monsters Inc. fundamentally altered its premise. Monsters University doesn’t take many risks but makes the most of its two charismatic leads - joined by a lovable oddball group of new friends and a revitalized, invigorating soundtrack - and manages to be more entertaining than not.
17. Finding Dory (2016)
The consensus of Finding Dory was that it was not a bad sequel – it was good, even – but nowhere close to meeting the high bar set by the first film, Finding Nemo. Some criticized the film for taking cheap shots with highly emotional plot points – which, to some extent, it did. When high emotion works, it really works (see: Toy Story 3), but when it doesn’t, it feels melodramatic like parts of Finding Dory. But, as previously mentioned, this sequel that focused on Dory, her memory loss, and her family was not bad. By this point, Pixar had made incredible strides in animation and the pace of Finding Dory is lively yet comfortable. It’s worth watching at least once and still holds up after a few more viewings, which puts Finding Dory far and above many children’s animated films.
16. Brave (2012)
Merida is a cherished heroine for her subversion of many Disney princess tropes and, of course, her bravery. But one of the problems that Brave had was the expectation it had built. The trailers for Brave made the film seem like it would a mystical and epic adventure on the Scottish Highlands, so viewers were less than impressed when they were treated, instead, to a familiar story about understanding life in someone else’s shoes à la Brother Bear. Brave is one of the few – if not only - Disney or Pixar film that centers on a mother and a daughter relationship. Elinor and Merida are a relatable pair and Pixar had a great opportunity to show a parent-child relationship working through their issues by communicating, so it's a little disappointing that Elinor was a non-verbal bear for most of the film. That said, Brave has a great soundtrack, truly hilarious moments, and gorgeous landscapes.
15. Toy Story 2 (1999)
It may come as a surprise that Toy Story 2 has the highest Rotten Tomatoes critic score of any Pixar film, tied with Toy Story at 100%. A common problem among sequels is the difficulty of incorporating new characters into an established cast. Often, the new characters are added to sell merchandise (since no one needs another Buzz Lightyear) and not given much thought, which is what happened with Toy Story 2. It's a great movie, but the love and care that went into the first film wasn't there. By the time Toy Story 4 came around, Stinky Pete was long gone, but Jessie and Bullseye meshed so well with the rest of the toys that it‘s easy to forget they weren’t actually in the first Toy Story.
14. A Bug's Life (1998)
Sandwiched between the first two Toy Story movies, A Bug’s Life is more than 20 years old and has no sequels or prequels - which is likely why it’s easily forgotten, but A Bug’s Life is one of the few Pixar films to have a straightforward villain that makes the story engaging and compelling. Flik, the hero of A Bug’s Life, is the reject of his ant colony, and when Flik teams up with a group of other misfits, the result is hysterical and charming. Featuring a whimsical soundtrack by Randy Newman and a cast of talented comedians and actors including Bonnie Hunt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and David Hyde Pierce, Pixar’s hilarious and quotable sophomore film is frequently underappreciated.
13. WALL-E (2008)
WALL-E includes some of Pixar’s best visual storytelling and character building. Without a single word, a love story unfolds between two anthropomorphic robots set to the background of WALL-E's romantic soundtrack. Audiences were immediately endeared to WALL-E because of his optimism, innocence, compassion, and affinity for Hello Dolly, but the transition to the loud and busy starship, the Axiom, felt jarring and disappointing. WALL-E's strongest points are the ones unbothered with exposition and confrontation. Nonetheless, the film won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature and is rightly adored by many.
12. Up (2009)
If WALL-E is only some of Pixar’s best visual storytelling, then Up is the best. Aided in no small part by the emotional piano score composed by Michael Giacchino, Up compresses eight decades into eight of the most heartbreaking minutes in animated cinema. Childhood sweethearts Carl and Ellie struggle through the most relatable setbacks and still find happiness in their love for each other. But, like WALL-E, the last half of the film feels disconnected from the first. Carl and Russell’s dynamic is entertaining and heartwarming, but the excessively evil villain and talking dogs – though funny - feel out of place.
11. Toy Story 3 (2010)
Toy Story 3 had an incredible critical reception that it very much deserved, but - like several other animated films to be released in the 2010s - Toy Story 3 is a film that’s merely watchable for children even though it may not appeal to them. The ending of Toy Story 3 was clearly targeted toward young adults who were children at the time that the first movie was released. Young children were likely frightened by Toy Story 3's incinerator scene (not to mention the unsettling monkey, demonic baby, and torture-victim telephone) and confused by all the grown-ups who were ugly crying when Andy gave his toys to Bonnie. However, Toy Story 3 was a groundbreaking sequel for being the third movie in a Pixar franchise and it showed audiences a brand-new kind of Toy Story.
10. Toy Story 4 (2019)
By the time Toy Story 4 released, the franchise had built the expectation that it could make good sequels, but that expectation led some fans to wonder, “Can Toy Story 4 follow Toy Story 3 with something better?” The answer: divided, of course, but audiences seem split close enough to the middle that an argument can be made for, “Yes.” The touching ending of Toy Story 4 allowed Woody to follow his own heart when he outgrew his old way of life. Part action-adventure and part heist movie (as opposed to Toy Story 3’s prison break), Toy Story 4 felt like a return to Toy Story days of old.
9. Cars (2006)
The legacy of Cars has been somewhat tarnished by its less-than-stellar sequels, which is unfortunate because the first Cars movie was terrific. Cars introduced several animation techniques that improved the realism remarkably, even when compared to The Incredibles, which Pixar had released the year before. Cars is also the first Pixar film to feature a soundtrack of songs by various popular artists – something that may not have worked for most other Pixar films, but it works so well for Cars. The tone set by Sheryl Crow’s “Real Gone” in the opening race lets viewers know that they are in for a ride. The loveable bunch of cars who help Lightning McQueen on his road to change captured the hearts of audiences and Radiator Springs sets the perfect scene for this change-of-heart tale.
8. Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Monsters, Inc. was Pixar’s fourth feature-length film and it was an astounding feat of animation. Sully required the individual animation of millions of hairs. Even if the technology has long since become outdated, it was cutting edge in 2001 - but Mike and Sully's complementary personalities are the real magic ingredient here. Monsters, Inc. included Pixar’s second-best twist-villain (Mr. Waternoose), a great signature song (“If I Didn’t Have You”), and fantastic world-building which set up an intriguing story about monsters who are afraid of children but need to scare children to power their cities.
7. Inside Out (2015)
Most movie-goers weren’t sure what to expect from Inside Out but were pleasantly surprised to find an exceptionally accurate metaphor for human emotion. Pete Docter, director of Inside Out, said in an interview with NPR that they wanted to convey the idea of “sadness as community bonding” and that sadness is necessary because it tells the people around us that we are in pain and have a need that isn’t being met. In that regard, Inside Out succeeded; the movie ticked every box for being quintessentially Pixar: imaginative, emotional, beautiful, and humorous (with a touch of silliness spread throughout). To tell a profound story in a captivating way that changes the way people see themselves and others is incredibly rare, but that's what Inside Out did.
6. Incredibles 2 (2018)
Incredibles 2 proved once again that Pixar can make successful sequels, both financially and critically. Incredibles 2 is currently the highest-grossing Pixar film, third highest-grossing Disney film (only behind Frozen and Frozen 2), and 18th highest-grossing film of all time. As for the critical success - many fans have said that they love this sequel even more than The Incredibles. Like many children's animated sequels, though, Incredibles 2 takes a darker tone and more mature themes than the first. But despite Evelyn Deavor, a.k.a. Screenslaver, being a more menacing twist-villain than Syndrome, she is a less compelling one, too. In The Incredibles, Syndrome's turn to evil is directly related to his past with Mr. Incredible, making for a more interesting dynamic when the heroes face off. If Incredibles 2 suffers from any serious problems, it's the lack of an interesting villain, because Incredibles 2 is well-made and full of delightful comedy and action.
5. Ratatouille (2007)
If Inside Out is the most quintessentially Pixar movie, then Ratatouille comes in at a close second. This movie is about a rat who believes in himself so much that he becomes the top chef in Paris. It's a premise that shouldn't work, but it does because of the way Pixar executes it. Remey's dreams are opposed to his family's beliefs - and sound logic - but instead of the film being about a power struggle between Remey and his father, it's about Remey working hard and becoming the top chef in Paris - with the help of Linguine, of course. The dynamic between Remey and Linguine makes for great visual comedy and the heart of Ratatouille is a simple, beautiful message: anyone can cook.
4. The Incredibles (2004)
The Incredibles marked the Pixar debut of composer Michael Giacchino and director Brad Bird, who had only directed one other film at the time - The Iron Giant. The Incredibles is part 60s spy thriller, part superhero movie, and part family drama. The Parrs are the first (super)humans to star in a Pixar movie and their family dynamic is what made the film so good. They’re supers who still have human problems, flaws, and weaknesses. A jazzy, electrifying musical score plus a few fantastic side characters (Frozone and Edna Mode), and Pixar’s best twist-villain make The Incredibles one of Pixar’s best films.
3. Coco (2017)
Toward the end of a decade that Pixar spent making a lot of sequels - no doubt at the behest of the merchandise-fueled machine that is Pixar’s owner, Disney - Coco resonated with viewers, many of whom had been longing for original stories that better represented Disney’s global audience. The vibrant color palette, music, plot, and themes have ties to Mexican culture and the Mexican holiday that sets the backdrop for the story, Día de Muertos – a phrase which Disney tried to trademark and eventually backed down after a lot of very deserved criticism.
And the film itself was not without criticism, either, receiving many accusations of copying a similar 2015 film, The Book of Life. But Coco was an instant family classic because it’s still so rare to see a children’s animated film focus on a multi-generational family and broach the topic of remembrance for the dead with such joy and celebration. Plus, there's never been a Pixar movie that pays off its plot threads with such sincerity.
2. Toy Story (1995)
Toy Story was the first feature-length, 3D animated film ever and it set the standard for future films of its kind. Pixar would not be the filmmaking giant that it is today if it weren't for Toy Story and the dedication that went into making it a groundbreaking achievement of technology. But Toy Story isn't great just because it was the first; it uses the "buddy film" narrative as its most basic structure, then fills out that framework with a unique premise, endearing characters, and a plot that is both comical and clever. Toy Story is a heartfelt homage to the imaginations of children everywhere, and it works so well because it's a simple film with a complex story that everyone can relate to on one level or another.
1. Finding Nemo (2003)
Finding Nemo is an outstanding film from every aspect and audiences knew that Pixar's fifth film was special from the time it hit theaters - it still has the second-highest domestic gross of any Pixar film when adjusted for inflation. Finding Nemo was absolutely cutting edge and, after seventeen years, the animation of Finding Nemo is still impressive. Thomas Newman’s score, full of soft piano and sweeping strings, perfectly complements the constant movement of the ocean. Each of the many, many side characters are unique and entertaining, the dialogue flows well, and the pacing is near flawless, alternating between Marlin and Nemo who each meet new friends that teach them something about themselves as well as each other. Parents and children - young and old - can find something that speaks to them in the funny and poignant film that is Finding Nemo.