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 disted, 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)
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 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 - ed 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 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's romantic soundtrack. Audiences were immediately endeared to WALL-E because of his optimism, innocence, comion, 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.
