Since its watershed debut with the Oscar-winning Toy Story (1995) — the first feature-length film created entirely through CGI — Pixar Animation Studios has spun some cinematic gold, blending playful humor with emotional depth in ways that resonate with audiences of all ages. That successful formula has made Pixar a storytelling powerhouse and given its mascot, Luxo Jr., myriad excuses to stomp the logo’s letter “I” ad nauseam. While the studio’s output over the years has ranged from delightful to iconic (with a few flops in between), some films soar above the rest…to infinity and beyond.
With Pixar’s next venture, Elio, arriving June 20, and upcoming sequels for Coco, The Incredibles, and Toy Story in the works, here’s a look at the finest entries in its storied catalog.
17. Cars (2006)
Walt Disney/Courtesy Everett Collection
Lightning McQueen (voice: Owen Wilson) and Mater (voice: Larry the Cable Guy) in ‘Cars’
From Thomas the Tank Engine to Herbie the Love Bug, Pixar was hardly the first to give vehicles an anthropomorphic tune-up. But when the studio came up with Cars — the 2006 film about hotshot speedster Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) who learns the value of slowing down after wrecking a road in humble Radiator Springs — it “created a work of American art as classic as it is modern,” per EW’s critic.
Initially dismissed as typical popcorn fare compared to Pixar’s earlier triumphs, Cars has proved it still has traction thanks to its classic slapstick humor, thrilling racetrack action, and clean, crisp animation. Plus, its top-of-the-line soundtrack — Rascal Flatts’ cover of “Life Is a Highway,” James Taylor’s “Our Town,” and more — still has us sticking our heads out the window and yelling, “Ka-chow!” —James Mercadante
16. Luca (2021)
The Danish have The Little Mermaid, and the Italians have Luca, the tale of a sea monster boy off the Italian Riviera. After discovering that sea monsters can live on land disguised as humans — so long as they stay dry — Luca (Jacob Tremblay) and fellow sea monster Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer) flee Luca’s parents (Maya Rudolph, Jim Gaffigan) and hide in the small fictional town of Portorosso.
Dreaming of owning a Vespa, they enter a triathlon to win enough money to buy one. But can their friendship survive the race, young love, and the long-held grudges between sea creatures and humans? As EW’s critic writes, the “bright swirl of Pixar pixie dust, jangle soundtrack, and gentle lessons on accepting otherness and learning to move past fear feel like a temporary passport: a sweetly soulful all-ages dip in la dolce vita.” —Meg Walters
15. Toy Story 2 (1998)
Pixar
Woody (voice: Tom Hanks) and Jessie (voice: Joan Cusack) in ‘Toy Story 2’
Whether or not you prefer the original, Toy Story 2 remains that rare sequel that actually delivers. This time around, Woody (Tom Hanks) gets toy-napped by a creepy middle-aged collector (Wayne Knight) planning to ship him off to a museum in Japan, prompting the rest of Andy’s (John Morris) toy box to spring into action. What follows is classic Pixar: new lovable characters, top-shelf comedy, and emotional depth that hits harder than it has any business doing in a kids’ movie.
Only Pixar could wring genuine suspense out of a pile of spilled cheese puffs and then hit you with storylines like Woody’s growing sense of obsolescence, Buzz Lightyear’s (Tim Allen) ongoing identity crisis, and Jessie’s (Joan Cusack) tear-your-heart-out backstory of abandonment (with Sarah McLachlan’s “When She Loved Me” forever scarring audiences since 1998). —J.M.
14. Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Where do the monsters under your bed really come from? Well, according to Pixar’s Monsters, Inc., the source is a megacorporation where children’s screams are harvested and turned into energy. The catch? These beasts believe that the kids are deadly.
So when two top “scarers” accidentally bring a child into the monster world, chaos reigns. Featuring the voices of Billy Crystal as Mike Wazowski and John Goodman as James P. “Sully” Sullivan, this classic has everything you could want from a Pixar movie — a thrilling adventure, unforgettable jokes, charming creatures, and a powerful message about fear and friendship at the heart of it all. —M.W.
13. Turning Red (2022)
No one tackles the complex mother-daughter bond quite like Pixar. In Turning Red, we follow Mei Lee (Rosalie Chiang), a Chinese tween girl from Toronto who must confront her family’s “curse.” As her mother (Sandra Oh) soon reveals, each lady in the family becomes a giant red panda when they experience a strong emotion. Of course, the panda is really a symbol of growing up, generational trauma, and impending puberty — but kids will love this adorable fluffy metaphor nonetheless.
Complete with boy bands, Tamagotchis, and butterfly clips, millennials will also love this ode to the early aughts. As director Domee Shi told EW, “The era of the nerdy girls is here, and I’m all here for it.” —M.W.
12. Toy Story 3 (2010)
Of the four Toy Story movies released so far, Toy Story 3 definitely stands out. Here, we catch up with Woody and Buzz Lightyear just as their beloved playmate, Andy, is preparing to leave for college. While the plot follows Woody as he embarks on a mission to rescue his friends after they’re donated to a (slightly wild) day care, at its heart, this film is all about nostalgia and growing up.
And for adults, it’s particularly tear-jerking. As EW’s critic writes, “Toy Story 3 enchanted and moved me so deeply I was flabbergasted that a digitally animated comedy about plastic playthings could have this effect.” —M.W.
11. Brave (2012)
When Brave hit cinemas in 2012, it was a fast hit. After all, who could resist a Scottish adventure featuring a headstrong princess and a queen who transforms into a bear?
With galloping horses, flying arrows, ancient magic, and a powerful undercurrent of the love between mother and daughter, Brave ticks all of the Pixar boxes and then some. Plus, you get to enjoy the very gruff accents of Kelly Macdonald, Emma Thompson, and Billy Connolly. —M.W.
10. Incredibles 2 (2018)
While The Incredibles is one of the best Pixar movies of all time, Incredibles 2 isn’t far behind. In fact, according to many Pixar fans, it was well worth the 14-year wait. In this spectacular sequel, we reunite with our favorite superhero family for another thrilling adventure — but this time, Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) takes the driver’s seat while Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) assumes the role of stay-at-home dad.
Plus, we get to meet a whole new gang of heroes and villains. And the story isn’t the only selling point, with EW’s critic writing, “No joke: These are the best superhero action sequences in our superhero-drowned decade.” —M.W.
9. Coco (2017)
In Coco, Pixar gets a little existential — as EW’s critic puts it — by “dealing frankly and even joyfully with death.” The film follows Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez), a young Mexican boy who finds himself crossing over into the Land of the Dead. There, he meets members of his family from generations past and embarks on an epic journey to return to the Land of the Living before he’s trapped in the afterlife forever.
After uncovering an old family mystery, Miguel ultimately comes to terms with the past, bringing peace to his living relatives. It’s a bittersweet story filled with color, music, and, you may be surprised to hear, life. —M.W.
8. Up (2009)
Come for the heartbreaking romantic montage at the beginning — described by EW’s critic “as deeply textured as any great novel” — and stay for the touching tale of a grumpy old man (Ed Asner) who is softened by a goofy boy scout (Jordan Nagai).
In Up, a lonely widower sets off on a long overdue adventure (along with a young stowaway) by attaching thousands of balloons to his home. This is Pixar at its most whimsical — and just like this movie’s central character, even the frostiest heart will be thawed by the end. —M.W.
7. Finding Nemo (2003)
Who would have thought the story of a clownfish searching for his lost son would capture the hearts of millions of moviegoers around the world? Well, it did. Finding Nemo is a Pixar classic that tells the story of the hyper-anxious Marlin (Albert Brooks) and his rebellious son, Nemo (Alexander Gould). When Nemo strays away from his reef and gets lost in the big open ocean, his frantic father teams up with the ever-forgetful Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) to find him.
Regardless of age, this is one Pixar flick that pulls on your heartstrings from start to finish. It’s no wonder EW’s critic described it “no less innovative than The Matrix and a triumphant directorial debut for Andrew Stanton…this epic teems with characters worth caring about.” —M.W.
6. Toy Story (1995)
Perhaps the best-known Pixar movie of all time, Toy Story is an undisputed classic. On the surface, the movie is a simple, fantastical tale about toys that come to life when their owners aren’t watching. However, on a deeper level, Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang remind us of the power of imagination, the importance of friendship, and the bittersweet nature of growing up.
With the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, and many others, it’s easy to see why this poignant tale has spawned more movies and still has legions of fans decades later. “It has the purity, the ecstatic freedom of imagination, that’s the hallmark of the greatest children’s films,” EW’s critic writes. “It also has the kind of spring-loaded allusive prankishness that, at times, will tickle adults even more than it does kids.” —M.W.
5. Inside Out (2015)
In Inside Out, Pixar shows us how adolescence can be a confusing, emotional time by taking us inside the brain of the 11-year-old Riley (Kaitlyn Dias). There, we meet her bickering emotions: Joy (Amy Poehler), Anger (Lewis Black), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), and Fear (Bill Hader). Together, they try to keep Riley happy, but when her parents move her across the country, that job becomes increasingly difficult.
“In the end, the message of Inside Out seems to be that sadness, as painful as it is, is not only unavoidable but essential to joy…and to Joy,” EW’s critic notes. Another tearjerker, Inside Out is a must-watch for the whole family. —M.W.
4. Soul (2020)
Like all of the best Pixar movies, Soul reminds us what it really means to be human. This heartwarming movie, which won the Best Animated Feature Oscar, follows Joe (Jamie Foxx), a struggling musician who falls through a manhole and finds himself — or at least his soul — in the Great Before, the place where new souls are joined to their destined bodies. Here, he meets 22 (Tina Fey) and eventually learns a powerful lesson about the meaning of life.
Yes, this movie features slapstick fun and goofy jokes for the kids. But, as EW’s critic explains, “The alchemy of Soul‘s final scenes find Pixar at its most stirring and enduring, a marshmallow puff of surreal whimsy that somehow lightly touches the profound.” —M.W.
3. WALL-E (2008)
Looking for an animated children’s movie that will sweep you off your feet and leave you rethinking your relationship to love and to the planet itself? Somehow, WALL-E manages to do just that. This moving tale follows an adorable robot (Ben Burtt) who has been tasked with cleaning up planet Earth sometime in the future — after it has been destroyed by humans and left covered in mile-deep piles of trash. But don’t worry, it’s not all bleak.
When WALL-E finds a tiny plant, he also finds a glimmer of hope for the future of mankind. As EW’s critic writes, “I’m not sure I’d trust anyone, kid or adult, who didn’t get a bit of a lump in the throat by the end of WALL-E, a film that brings off what the best (and only the best) Pixar films have: It whisks you to a new world, then makes that world every inch our own.” —M.W.
2. The Incredibles (2004)
The Incredibles is, well, incredible. The story follows a family of superheroes, each with their own unique power, as they attempt to stop a criminal mastermind (Jason Lee) from completing his dastardly plan. With elements of a classic spy thriller, a family road trip comedy, and a hero’s epic, this genre-busting film is guaranteed fun for the whole family. Plus, it contains the unforgettable supersuit fashion designer, Edna Mode (voiced by director Brad Bird).
This movie features an all-star voice cast that includes Holly Hunter, Craig T. Nelson, and Samuel L. Jackson, to name a few. And they couldn’t be better suited to their roles. As Bird told EW, “I imagine the characters first, and then try to find a voice for them.” —M.W.
1. Ratatouille (2007)
In the delightful Ratatouille, Remy the rat (Patton Oswalt) struggles to fit in. When his refined palette leads him to a Parisian restaurant, he ends up becoming a puppet master for Linguini (Lou Romano), a hapless young sous chef.
Ultimately, the movie shows that “anyone can cook” — a powerful message that, on some level, can resonate with all of us. As Oswalt said to EW, “It’s the textbook definition of the impossible dream.” —M.W.
Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
