Ranking: Pixar Feature Films
After the box office success of Inside Out 2, what better time to present a ranking of Pixar's 28 feature films
Pixar has been a love of mine since I was as small as Jack-Jack. They are the definition of ‘Family Films’. Whether a Father tracking down his lost son in Finding Nemo, a teenager tackling her emotions in Inside Out or a look to the end of the world with WALL-E, the balance of bright colours to appeal to youngsters and emotional heartstring pulling to appeal to adults has been the studio’s recipe for success that even Remy would be proud of.
Pixar have continuously made films that could only be made in the animated medium since the studio’s inception, and that’s the reason for their success. Sure their recent releases haven’t quite excited people like the elite 2000’s era did, but they still continue to explore inventive concepts and fun stories.
Please know that this is in no way a “definitive ranking”, this is my list of favourites, based on quality of film and a sprinkling of nostalgia in there too. Kachow!
28. Cars 2
This is arguably the only Pixar film I dislike, yet it still has some redeeming qualities. It’s that trap the company have fallen into a couple of times, giving their comedy sidekick the leading role in the sequel (see Finding Dory & Monsters University), and here it just becomes a tad irritating and reductive. Likely a cash grab sequel, it lacks the same depth to character and clever quips that the film’s predecessor included.
27. Elemental
This just felt like familiar territory. Despite the fact it has very little to do with Inside Out (textural animation is one slight similarity), it somehow got placed in the same bracket, and was compared to it. As its own film though, it’s metaphor doesn’t stick the landing, the story is weak and the threat doesn’t feel large enough. It’s harmless, just not very affecting.
26. Brave
The most Disney feeling Pixar movie there is. The classic Princess formula is given a twist, with a mystical subplot. It’s a fun film with great gags, a compelling story and a fantastic protagonist, but it’s one of few Pixar films that arguably could’ve been done in live action. If there’s one thing this does show off though, it’s the studio’s hairimation; those locks1 are flowing.
25. Onward
Two brothers travelling a fantasy world with a pair of magical trousers (their Dad). The film showed off most of its gags in the trailers, so when the film released they felt overdone and lacking. It has some fun character concepts and a good merge of our world and a fantasy one, but it’s not quite the exciting quest it could have been.
24. Turning Red
Arguably the biggest casualty of the pandemic, the fact that a giant red panda wasn’t trusted to sell cinema tickets was a shame. Imagine the red hair filling the screen, and the amazing score (& soundtrack courtesy of 4*TOWN) booming through the speakers. It maybe loses its way in the final act, but it’s a good story and a movie desperate for a rewatch.
23. Finding Dory
This is full of fun characters and exciting set pieces; with an octopus controlling a pram, a beluga whale using echolocation and some seals with a constant fight for dry land. Sigourney Weaver makes a voice cameo and there’s a lovely post credits scene too. The film never quite swims to the depths of its predecessor though, and it’s not covered in the expected Pixar nuance, but it’s good fun.
22. Luca
You only have to look at the still above to realise that the animation in this film is gorgeous. The characters are very cartoony in their animation style whilst the water and buildings and food that surround them is so real. Submerge yourself in a story that perhaps could’ve been a short film, but is fun and heartwarming all the same.
21. The Good Dinosaur
Another film full of interesting animation and fun concepts. Sure it feels similar to The Lion King, but that’s a film that took influence from an extremely famous Shakespeare play, so who’s counting? The film has a strong moral compass and although doesn’t tread new grounds, it does have a scene where the two lead characters trip balls2.
20. Lightyear
I was in the minority in my enjoyment of this. It felt like a film I’d have loved as a kid, begging my parents to buy me a Buzz Lightyear toy. And that’s exactly the point and relevance of the film’s existence. This film gave me a Pixar feeling and had it’s MVP stealing the show: SOX the cat.
19. Cars 3
Another slept on Pixar movie, Cars 3 was the sequel to Cars we should’ve got first time round. Lightning McQueen has gone from Rookie to close-to-retirement and it’s an interesting character study. The animation is honestly stunning and the significant lack of characters that very quickly became irritating in previous instalments makes this an underrated gem.
18. Toy Story 4
Toy Story was the perfect trilogy, this film did not need to happen! But it does squeeze into the Top 20. Forky brings a lot of fun but most of the winning gags come in the form of new characters Duke Caboom (Keanu Reeves) and Ducky & Bunny (Key & Peele). They do take priority over some of the characters we love from the trilogy, but all in all it’s another fun adventure in this world.
17. Incredibles 2
Elastigirl gets to shine in this long awaited, inevitable sequel. All of the characters still have their moment to shine but it’s Helen Parr that leads the show. The villain reveal is better than the villain itself (if not a little predictable), but there’s some great family moments and the Jack-Jack garden scene is unforgettable.
16. Soul
Possibly Pixar’s most adult film, Soul is another Pixar concept movie with blobs of colour making up a large proportion of the action. Joe Gardner’s story is so compelling and so well told; everything that builds around him and the dissection of his soul within is so compelling. And without sounding like a broken record…it looks sublime.
15. Monsters University
A loveable sequel, bursting with colour and a fun tournament story. It’s great to learn the backstory of Mike, Sully and even Randall, and the new characters that join are just as loveable. Dean Hardscrabble acts as an antagonist to the future Scare-Floor workers and she is spine-tinglingly strict. This film is a lot of fun, and great on a rewatch.
14. Inside Out 2
Sure there may be an element of recency bias playing a part here, but I found Inside Out 2 to be really affecting. The new emotions were fantastically done and this dared to do more, with some different animations used and intelligent concepts making for great gags. Plus, the climax of the film really brings it home; it’s Pixar firing on all cylinders.
13. A Bug’s Life
Watching this now is still a great time, and rewatches are so important for animated films. You want a childhood classic to fill you with nostalgia, and deliver jokes to your now adult eyes that perhaps passed you by on initial viewing. A Bug’s Life does just that. It’s full of fantastic characters and a easy-to-follow, hard to hate plot. Bold and ambitious in true Pixar fashion.
12. Up
Some may argue that this should be closer to top spot. And look, while it is a great film full of loveable characters, amazing visuals and a fun dynamic, it does peak in that opening 10 minutes; which sure is one of the best film openings of all time but that’s what we’re all rewatching for right? That being said there’s nothing but love for Dug3, Kevin4, and the ever watchable Russell5. And those balloons…I imagine they knew they’d struck visual gold when they came up with the concept for this one.
11. Cars
I think the sequels have tarnished the legacy of this film a little, not to mention the countless Disney Toons shorts and of course Disney’s Planes6 movie. The story is one of an arrogant underdog, desperate to win; the journey he goes on whilst in Radiator Springs is made all the more watchable by fun side characters and a soundtrack to rival Shrek and Surf’s Up.
10. WALL-E
I love this little guy. He’s just so darn cute with his little hands, and his confused eyes, carrying that little plant around all day with his little cockroach friend. It’s great watching him fly around in space too, but everything else that happens in the final act of this film can’t compete with his likeability. The opening half an hour is just sensational. We should all be a bit more like WALL-E.
9. Inside Out
Whenever I think of this film I will instantly remember Bing Bong. That scene is expertly written, showing jeopardy for the characters you’re watching whilst letting you reflect on the childhood you left behind. These characters became instantly iconic, and the jokes used are so inventive and unique. Pixar are so clever for delivering this without an ounce of preachiness.
8. Coco
The highest position of Pixar’s recent releases (if 2017 still counts as recent), Coco is so much better than anyone expected. It has one of the best twists Pixar has offered and has a finale that will make every member of the family tear up. The visuals are so creative, making the inevitability of death somehow easier to comprehend. This film is doing so much to affect it’s audience subconsciously, and covering it in vibrant music and joyous story is a welcomed distraction.
7. Toy Story 3
When this film released I was an obsessed 11 year old, with a younger sister watching it on repeat there was a time I probably knew about 80% of the script. It showcases the characters in the best ways and Spanish Buzz is ingenious. Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear and Ken are welcome additions, adding real grit to the third film in the series. On a recent rewatch I didn’t quite connect with it as much as I do the previous two, but it’s a great way to conclude Pixar’s golden era.
6. Monsters, Inc
A story of a monster at first terrified of a harmless girl before learning to love her; with one of the greatest comedy sidekicks in film history and a villain twist that seems so unbelievably obvious after the fact. Monsters, Inc is a classic…and it always will be. As I sit writing this in my comfy white socks- “2319! We got a 2319!”
“Damn. Rookie mistake.”
5. Toy Story
One of the most monumental achievements in cinema, Toy Story paired an unlikely duo of toys and the world fell in love. Woody and Buzz are household names and the fact they’ve been around for almost 30 years is enough to make the average person wince. I’ve been lucky enough to always have them in my life…and I have to be thankful for this film and what it created, for without Pixar this film-loving blog likely wouldn’t exist.
4. Finding Nemo
The reason this film sings is because the characters in the fish tank in Sydney are just as interesting as the ones Marlin meets in the ocean. There are sharks, turtles, seagulls and more in this epic journey to find a lost son. The opening sequence is harrowing and the character’s carry their previous losses and heartaches with them. The fact the water looks this real in 20037 is amazing.
3. Ratatouille
“You have a little err…rat.”
Remy and Linguini are yet another dynamic Pixar duo, but here there’s a lot more struggle, and the time spent witnessing their blossoming bond is full of care and satisfying cooking visuals. The Parisian location, the professional kitchen, the pressing fear of a visiting critic, it’s just impeccable cinema. This may be where my generation’s love for kitchen dramas8 has come from; seeing Ratatouille at a young age has created an itch we’re always ready to scratch, and not just because we think a rodent might be sitting on our head. Michelin-starred film.
2. Toy Story 2
Many may disagree but this is the best Toy Story film. It has the best jokes, utilises the side characters in the most effective way and has a truly satisfying airport finale (and I’ve not even mentioned that cleaning scene). Pixar are known for making adults cry, and this is where that all really began, with the ‘When She Loved Me’ sequence. The addition of Jesse and Bullseye feels natural and the Woody’s Roundup storyline feels so authentic. I love love love this film as much as those aliens love Mr Potato Head.
1. The Incredibles
“I can break through walls but I can’t find my socks in the morning.”
Is this an obvious choice? I’m not sure. I just know it’s fantastic. A superhero family that deal with typical family struggles in their own way, making it simultaneously so relatable, it’s a joy to watch. Syndrome is one of the best villain’s Pixar has to offer, with a superhero complex like no other. Accompanying the film is an assembly of note perfect voice performances, a sensational soundtrack and an opening montage of exposition that sets the film up perfectly. We spend a lot of the film with a family just trying to blend in, and it’s moments like those (and the driving scene towards the end) that make this work so well. The Incredibles is not only my favourite Pixar film, but my favourite superhero film.
All of the Pixar films (besides Inside Out 2) are currently available on Disney+. Inside Out 2 is still available in cinemas.
There’s definitely a locks/lochs joke in there but a canny think of it
They get high and start tripping
a loyal, squirrel-loving dog
a fierce, chocolate-loving snipe
a wilderness explorer in Tribe 54, Sweat Lodge 12
Planes is NOT a Pixar film
Shark Tale came out a year later…enough said
The Bear, Chef, Boiling Point, Burnt to name a few
My favourite is Toy Story.