Pixar has launched 29 films in whole, and the rating of each Pixar film could come as a shock. From humble beginnings at Lucasfilm to being counted among the many world’s premier animation homes, Pixar’s journey has been as tough and inspirational because the adventures of their CG protagonists. After graduating from quick movies and particular results, the 1995 launch of Toy Story – the world’s first totally CG-animated characteristic movie – Pixar was on the trail to greatness. From there, Pixar grew to become a significant cog within the Disney wheel, spawning one profitable franchise after one other with field workplace success and demanding acclaim.
It ought to be mentioned that Pixar has by no means launched a horrible film. Some definitely sparkle greater than others, however even Pixar’s weakest efforts are fantastically rendered and supply loads for teenagers and adults alike to get pleasure from. Certainly, many of the films are undoubtedly stone-cold classics which can be extremely tough to separate. However here is each Pixar film ranked worst to finest – together with Elio – to assist followers resolve their very own favorites.

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29
Vehicles 2 (2011)
The Sequel Is Pixar’s Most Cynical Second

- Launch Date
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June 24, 2011
- Runtime
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106 minutes
- Director
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John Lasseter
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Larry the Cable Man
Mater (voice)
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Lightning McQueen (voice)
When Vehicles 2 is the unconditional worst movie a studio has ever made, it should be doing one thing proper. The sequel to Pixar’s speaking car franchise is completely serviceable as a shiny, daring cartoon that kids will fortunately lap up. However a jump-started Lightning McQueen stalls and splutters within the face of Pixar films’ traditional customary.
Vehicles 2 is commonly cited as Pixar’s most cynical second – a sequel that did not must occur and made loads of money no matter high quality.
Missing the magic different franchises ooze effortlessly, Vehicles 2 is crying out for the wit and common attraction Pixar is understood for, content material to focus squarely on the frantic racing whereas characters and storytelling convey up the rear. Vehicles 2 is commonly cited as Pixar’s most cynical second – a sequel that did not must occur and made loads of money no matter high quality. Moreover, the movie’s try to combine racing with a spy thriller plot feels disjointed, in the end diluting the allure and coherence that Pixar followers anticipate from the studio’s choices.
28
Vehicles 3 (2017)
The Threequel Is Overshadowed By Pixar’s Extra Progressive Motion pictures
A minimum of it is not Vehicles 2. The dishonor of the weakest Pixar film is a photo-finish between Vehicles sequels, with the third within the sequence narrowly overtaking its predecessor. Addressing the criticisms Vehicles 2 bumped into, Vehicles 3 revs up the story components as Owen Wilson’s cheery pink racer realizes his glory days is likely to be over. This premise leads Vehicles 3 on a extra fascinating curve that lends itself properly to Pixar’s expertise for emotive storytelling.
It is nonetheless a Vehicles film, which suggests lighthearted, visually pleasing motor motion that hardly ever ventures out of its lane. Whereas contemplating how each Pixar film ranked, the notion that Pixar’s second-worst movie is barely mediocre speaks volumes about the remainder of its output. Regardless of a extra grounded and emotionally resonant plot, Vehicles 3 struggles to depart an enduring influence, overshadowed by the studio’s extra revolutionary and heartwarming movies.
27
The Good Dinosaur (2015)
The 2015 Pixar Film Does not Take Benefit Of Its Idea
If the Vehicles sequence marks Pixar’s first crucial misfire, The Good Dinosaur is the studio’s first correct field workplace flop. Honestly, The Good Dinosaur is nowhere close to as dangerous as its financials counsel. Based mostly on the intriguing idea of Earth if the dinosaurs by no means went extinct, The Good Dinosaur‘s stable however unspectacular execution is as a lot in charge for its industrial failure as poor advertising.

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The place Pixar film followers are accustomed to narrative layers and emotional resonance, this prehistoric story provides solely a style of what the studio is able to – pleasant within the second, however by no means leaving a footprint on the viewers’s hearts and minds. Although The Good Dinosaur brings some bold concepts to the desk, probabilities of a sequel have been shortly fossilized. Moreover, whereas the movie boasts gorgeous visuals and heartfelt moments, it lacks the cohesive storytelling and depth that usually outline Pixar’s masterpieces, making it a nice but in the end forgettable entry into the studio’s lineup.
26
Lightyear (2022)
A Non-Important However Pleasing Addition To The Toy Story Franchise
Lightyear is the (faux) film that impressed Andy’s need to personal the Buzz Lightyear motion determine and kick off the Toy Story timeline. This is able to have been a intelligent idea had director Angus MacLane caught to it, however the film that grew to become Lightyear is just not one that might have existed in 1995 – it feels too slick.
There’s loads to like, together with delicate (and fewer delicate) nods to Toy Story, a convincing and emotional friendship that suffers by the hands of warped time, a terrific Emperor Zurg twist, an on-form Chris Evans, and gorgeous visuals. Nonetheless, its overarching message – “teamwork is sweet” – hardly measures as much as Pixar’s extra heartstring-pulling themes, and so they do not lean far sufficient into the concept of a frenetic ’90s sci-fi film like The Fifth Component to steadiness the enjoyable/emotions components. It is a non-essential however satisfying addition to the franchise that bears virtually no relevance to Toy Story canon.
25
Vehicles (2006)
The Greatest Of The Vehicles Trilogy, Although That Is not Saying A lot
It is no secret that Pixar film sequels seldom stay as much as their respective originals, nevertheless it’s uncommon certainly that a whole franchise fails to please. Step ahead, Vehicles – the one Pixar sequence that hasn’t produced a single universally beloved outing. After bringing to life toys, bugs, fish and monsters, vehicles have been the following logical goal to anthropomorphize, nevertheless it’s right here that Vehicles‘ frequent issues of skinny plot, slim attraction and elegance over substance start.
Whereas these points would outline later sequels, the unique Vehicles has sufficient expertise in its nice forged and intrigue in its awe-inspiring premise to chug over the road. Vehicles may resonate extra deeply than its successors, nevertheless it nonetheless lacks the cinematic weight of virtually every little thing else with a Pixar sticker. Moreover, regardless of its charming setting and heartfelt moments, the movie’s pacing and predictability forestall it from reaching the heights of Pixar’s extra acclaimed works, rendering it a modestly satisfying however in the end unremarkable entry within the studio’s spectacular catalog.
24
Monsters College (2013)
Captures The Vibrant Spirit Of The Monsters Inc. Franchise
The long-awaited follow-up to Monsters, Inc. is a prequel set throughout Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan’s faculty years. Although this wasn’t essentially a narrative followers longed to see, Monsters College makes probably the most of its state of affairs and coaxes loads of comedic shenanigans from Mike and Sulley’s early rivalry. Past explaining how the pair got here to know one another, nonetheless, Monsters College provides little to the primary movie, taking part in protected and relying closely upon the viewers’s present love for the characters.
However, Monsters College‘s faculty setting efficiently expands Pixar’s world of bushy beasts, and the authentic allure of Mike and Sulley stays mercifully fruitful. A superb movie burdened by the unabashed greatness of its predecessor. Furthermore, whereas the movie captures the colourful and imaginative spirit of its universe, its predictable storyline and lack of emotional depth in comparison with the unique depart it feeling extra like a nice diversion than a standout Pixar basic.
23
Elemental (2023)
Pixar’s First-Ever Romcom Is A Success
Backed by a usually deep story borne out of director Peter Sohn’s real-life expertise and the broader immigrant story, Elemental is probably not top-tier Pixar, however it’s nonetheless higher than most animated films. As with a number of Pixar films, Elemental additionally offers with the concept of legacy inside households and youthful characters discovering their very own manner.

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The racism allegory is a well conceived one, nevertheless it’s considerably missing within the execution as a result of Sohn’s story by no means fairly goes so far as audiences prefer it to. Nonetheless, the animation is gorgeous, the characters well-drawn, and the enjoyment issue for a broad viewers is completely there. The same old deeper components are there, and the identical pillar Pixar ideas, and even the place the story sags a little bit, the central dynamic between Ember and Wade is nice.
22
Discovering Dory (2016)
Expertly Expands The Discovering Nemo Universe

- Launch Date
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June 17, 2016
- Runtime
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97 Minutes
- Director
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Angus MacLane, Andrew Stanton
Very similar to Monsters College, Discovering Dory wasn’t the sequel followers have been calling for, and although Pixar deserves credit score for not less than attempting to keep away from predictability, that preliminary lack of curiosity hampers an in any other case robust Discovering Dory. Specializing in Ellen DeGeneres’ amnesiac blue tang, Discovering Dory succeeds the place many Pixar film sequels do not, coming perilously near matching the emotional influence and sense of surprise audiences felt experiencing Discovering Nemo for the primary time.
There’s nonetheless an overriding sense that Discovering Dory did not must occur, nevertheless it made greater than $1 billion on the field workplace.
It is an enormous profit that Discovering Dory’s story works in isolation, and the gut-punch revelations from Dory’s notoriously unreliable reminiscence work in addition to something from the primary movie. There’s nonetheless an overriding sense that Discovering Dory did not must occur, nevertheless it made greater than $1 billion on the field workplace. Moreover, the movie introduces a number of memorable new characters and gorgeous underwater visuals, which assist offset redundancy and reinforce the enduring allure of its beloved protagonist, making it a worthwhile, if not fully needed, continuation of the Discovering Nemo legacy.
21
Elio (2025)
Pixar’s Return To The Stars Is Secure
Elio contains a number of Pixar’s conventional components. There is a coming-of-age story centered on a younger protagonist, a central theme that individuals can connect with (on this case, loneliness), robust animation, and a very good combination of coronary heart and humor. With Pixar veterans Domee Shi (Turning Pink) and Madeline Sharafian (Burrow) behind the film and notable stars within the voice forged – Zoe Saldaña, Brad Garrett, Jameela Jamil, and Brendan Hunt, there’s a profitable formulation right here.
Elio and Glordon’s friendship is good and an undisputed spotlight
For as a lot as Elio works as an entertaining film that’s a simple watch, it additionally does not fairly separate itself from the remainder of Pixar’s films to earn the next placement. The Communiverse is a cool idea that feels underexplored. Elio and Glordon’s friendship is good and an undisputed spotlight of the movie. The connection between youngsters and fogeys is essential and does work, nevertheless it’s not fairly as efficient as a number of featured in different Pixar films. In the end, Elio is a cute movie with a powerful sense of journey that simply has a tough time competing with a few of Pixar’s finest.
20
Onward (2020)
An Underrated Pixar Film That Suffered Due To Covid
When Pixar resolved to focus solely upon authentic tales within the wake of Toy Story 4, many applauded the inventive integrity. Onward was the primary of those productions, and had the misfortune of being launched in March 2020. COVID-19 had a profound impact on Onward‘s field workplace, however early response in the course of the movie’s quick theatrical run was already trying underwhelming.
Set inside a world of magic and fantasy, Onward stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland as two brothers seeking to revive their deceased father for a single day.
The chemistry between their characters underpins all the film, and Onward‘s lofty themes are handled in a usually uplifting but delicate vogue. Onward does not fairly interact viewers at each stage of the journey, nevertheless it stays a worthy addition to Pixar’s film canon that may’ve been appreciated extra with no pandemic. Furthermore, the movie’s heartfelt exploration of grief, household, and self-discovery resonates deeply, showcasing Pixar’s potential to mix fantasy with real-world feelings, even when the execution does not attain the heights of the studio’s most beloved classics.