There was a time when the name “Pixar” meant that the movie was going to be a revolutionary display of story and art. That isn’t so clear anymore, but it doesn’t change the amazing legacy the studio has. Following on the release of “Turning Red”, I thought it would be fun to take a look at where each Pixar movie ranks. Let’s start at the bottom and move up!
The Bad
25. Cars 2 (2011)
I don’t know what the purpose of Cars 2 is except to sell toys. The movie is messy, the characters go from charming to annoying, and at every step the movie acts more likely a Pixar knockoff movie instead of an actual feature film from the people who put out Toy Story. This was also the first Pixar movie to flunk with audiences.
24. Turning Red (2022)
The characters are abrasive and hyped up on candy. It’s like a ride in a car with young, teenage girls where adults are fools and kids are wiser. Worse, the moral of the story may not actually be ethical.
23. The Good Dinosaur (2015)
It’s not that The Good Dinosaur is a bad movie. It’s that it is a very, very boring movie. If you’re two and love dinosaurs, this one might be for you. For everyone else, the artistry of the film is really impressive. And that’s about it.
22. Monsters University (2013)
The sequel to Monsters Inc just didn’t work. It is as if everything in the movie only wants to go halfway and therefore nothing really plays out. Is it a college film parody? Sort of. Is it a buddy comedy? Sort of. Is it anything cohesive? Nope.
21. Incredibles 2 (2018)
I did not enjoy the Incredibles 2 movie. I did not enjoy the contrived conflict between the Incredible spouses. I did not find the other superheroes interesting or even pleasant. Whereas the original was a genius film, this comeback was a thud in just about every way.
The Average
20. A Bug’s Life (1998)
As a demonstration of Pixar’s mid-90’s CGI abilities, it’s a treasure trove for seeing animation evolution. As a movie, it’s forgettable but fine. Sorry, Flick.
19. Onward (2020)
Parts of the film are fun and inventive. The love for the old van is a lot of fun. However, at just about every point the movie could have done better… while the audience knows it. The fantasy setting could have provided a ton of laughs, but like Monsters University, everything is mute — including the ending.
18. Brave (2012)
I like Brave. It’s the mother-daughter trans-generational conflict drama that Turning Red wishes it could be. The difference is that Merida is actually a likable character. Where the movie falters is that it lacks some of the emotional swells that other Pixar films excel in.
17. Cars 3 (2017)
Serviceable. It’s… serviceable. If you want to see a movie that is lesser than the original Cars but far better than Cars 2, here you go. The problem with sequels is that you need to tread new ground, but Cars 3 sticks to easy roads and familiar tropes.
16. Finding Dory (2016)
Another case of a sequel falling short of the original, Finding Dory is a very good movie in some ways while a lackluster film in some of its filler moments. There’s also the issue of some contrived allegory that feels too forced to make full impact. Octopus animation is certainly a ton of fun though!
15. Toy Story 4 (2019)
When this one came out, people were raving about the movie and proclaiming it was the best Toy Story yet. Um… no. A revisit to the movie nowadays shows it is confused in some areas of its storytelling. A better concept might have been Andy having a child and trying to recover some of his old toys for his kids to play with. Instead we have a narrative that leads Woody to betray some of his core tenets.
The Good
14. Luca (2021)
It’s a good little movie. I say little because the scope and material being tackled is limited in comparison to earlier Pixar films. One of the most shocking things about this movie is that the Luca-based short, Ciao Alberto, tackles a much bigger issue in a shorter amount of time. Still, it’s a cute movie with a good message.
13. Soul (2020)
Another perfectly average movie out of Pixar. Soul handles the essence of being, consciousness, the afterlife… all of it very much taboo for a family film because it touches so much on traditionally religious concepts. Because of this, the landscape of the movie is odd and abstract. The overall tale is one of Pixar’s strongest in the later years, so it is a shame it didn’t make it to theatrical release.
12. Cars (2006)
Life is a highway and this movie reminds us of the little places along the way that we really shouldn’t miss out on. Using Route 66 as allegory is a heck of a way to give tribute to Small Town USA. Life is about relationships… so in that way, Cars and Soul have a lot in common.
11. Toy Story 2 (1999)
Pixar needed a hit after A Bug’s Life was just okay. They sure had one with Toy Story 2, a really good movie that saw natural evolution of the prior story. In what could have been a cash-in derivative, Lassater and company showed that Pixar could knock it out of the park when revisiting favorite characters.
The Great
10. Monsters, Inc (2001)
A film that makes monsters both scary and lovable, there’s something utterly sweet about John Goodman’s performance here. This is what made everyone take notice that Pixar was not just a Toy Story one-hitter. Monster, Inc is a truly great movie with truly touching moments.
9. The Incredibles (2004)
When this movie is ninth on a list, you know the list has to be phenomenal. The Incredibles is a truly great movie that takes on merit, excellence, trophies for everyone, mid-life crisis, and more. It does so in a totally cohesive story that doesn’t waste even a minute.
8. Toy Story (1995)
Who can say what would have happened had Toy Story been a CGI demo but not a stellar story as well? The entire history of animation would have been changed. Yet the movie was marvelous. Buzz and Woody have been household names for decades ever since.
The Game Changers
7. Inside Out (2015)
Like Soul, this is a movie that wants to take on one of the biggest topics out there: the conscious experience of every person who watches the movie. Unlike Soul, this one is nearly perfect in every sense. The movie is also a huge tearjerker and even proves to many audience members that occasional sadness is a worthwhile emotion. Wow!
6. Finding Nemo (2003)
Some people put Finding Nemo higher up on the list. I think that’s because it deals with a father’s love and how far a parent will go to protect their child… while simultaneously taking on the fact that children have to put themselves in some danger to grow. All of that is weighty material, and the only thing that causes me to put Finding Nemo out of the Top Five are a few slow parts in the otherwise phenomenal film.
5. Toy Story 3 (2010)
Before “Let It Go” there was a movie about letting go. Andy gives up his toys and the toys give up all hope at one point while still embracing each other. Who could have ever seen the toys all preparing to die together? Yet this movie goes there and it does so in a way that teaches everyone the importance to loving each other. It is the best of all the Toy Story movies.
4. Up (2009)
The first act of Up is perfect. From the time the movie starts until the house lands, Up is a perfect film. It stays close to perfect for the rest of its run, but something has to be said for a movie that has its opening be literally perfect. It’s a film that ponders the meaning of life, especially when looking at youth and old age. Thank you, Mr. Frederickson, Russel, Doug and Kevin. Here’s to Adventure Books for everyone.
3. Ratatouille (2007)
It is without a doubt the greatest movie with food as a theme in the history of film. It’s arguably a perfect movie. I don’t know what else to say except that it deals with a number of major themes and each of them is executed flawlessly. The little chef is pure excellence.
2. Coco (2017)
It’s vitally important not to forget the people who loved you and who loved those you love. It doesn’t get any bigger than that. The film’s ending is one of the best of any movie ever made. That’s all you need to know when learning why it might make it this high.
1. Wall-E (2008)
A silent film for the first third, it’s impossible to overstate how powerful Wall-E is as a giant metaphor. It may not have the marketability of some of the other movies, but Wall-E is the pinnacle of art. A little robot wants to hold someone’s hand is the key to humanity restoring a world they destroyed through carelessness, greed, self-absorption, and complacency. Only classic Pixar could have pitched that and made a movie with that level of budget and execution. Wall-E is a marvel.
