All Pixar Sequels Ranked

 

(This Post had been Updated)

 Good old Pixar ... to this day, Pixar is regarded as one of the greatest ... if not the greatest children’s entertainment company of all time. While they excel at original animated content, they’ve also fallen into the comfort of making theatrical sequels … which have garnered mixed feelings from fans and viewers. Personally, I think some of the best animated sequels ever made have come from Pixar, but they’ve certainly made a number of follow-ups and spin-offs that I could have done without. So, I thought it would be fun to stop and rank every theatrical Pixar sequel, arranged entirely be my feelings on them, and see how they stack on each other.  

 

#10 “Cars 2” (2011) 

This sequel is widely regarded as the absolute worst of all the Pixar movies, and probably for good reasons. It’s the first time that a Pixar sequel just felt like a corporate product, and not because there was an inspired idea behind it. What’s worse is that despite featuring the same characters, both the story and spy movie premise have nothing in common with its predecessor at all, to the point where it really could have just been another movie. The only saving grace is that there are some entertaining scenes, with lots of energy, and the animation is amazing to look at. Unfortunately, that’s just not enough to save “Cars 2” from being on the bottom run.

 

#9 “Monsters University” (2013)

While this Monsters spin-off certainly delivers a meaningful message to young viewers, it just doesn’t add that much to “Monsters Inc.” that I really cared to know or experience. In fact, this whole college themed story is something that I’ve already seen so many times before, and this film doesn’t bring anything new to the table. It just feels like a run of the mil college movie, just with the characters from “Monsters Inc.” While the message is great, the movie as a whole just hasn’t held up for repeat viewings. Speaking truthfully, it didn’t hold up for one, and I feel it could easily be skipped in favor of superior animated family films.

 

#8 “Cars 3” (2017)

It goes without saying that I haven’t been a fan of the “Cars” franchise, and while this film certainly didn’t win me over, it’s at least better than the previous two movies. There was a clear effort to make this something poignant, as opposed to another cash grab sequel, but I just can’t say it crossed the finish line a winner either. Sports fans, or long-time followers of this series will probably get more than me, but as someone who’s never really liked them, it felt like a fine … but very forgettable flick. Truthfully, I’m not sure who the target audience is for this one, as it’s not goofy enough for kids, nor interesting enough for adults, and it just falls into this void as a result. Like I said, it’s at least a more thoughtful film then the previous movies, and if you’ve been a fan, you’ll probably like this fine, but for me ... that Incredibles sequel just can’t get here fast enough. 

 

 #7 "Lightyear" (2022)

Without question, “Lightyear” fits right into my wheelhouse of fast-paced, beautifully animated, straightforward Sci-Fi adventure … and for that, I certainly had a great time watching it. My only reservation with the film is that it could have easily been an original picture, with elements of both “Interstellar” and “The Martian” rolled in, but I really don’t think it needed to be tied into the “Toy Story” franchise … it really did feel like a last minute tweak to have this tied into a successful IP. As a longtime fan, I can safely say this movie's take on Buzz Lightyear was nothing demanding, and the villain Zurg was not accurate to the character. Even for a franchise junky like me, I still feel that studios should put more faith into something new … which Pixar usually excels at. 

 

#6 “Finding Dory” (2016)

While this film can’t escape the feeling of being a pointless and admittedly even forgettable sequel, I still find it better than it had any right to be. The beauty of the ocean world is still present, the characters are still enduring, and the emotional moments are all still there. Yet, for some reason, this film just didn’t stick a perfect landing for me. It was good, and kids will probably have more fun with this film, but that’s just it. While there are some touching highlights, this sequel seems to favor goofy antics and cartoony visuals over the mature tone and heart of the first movie. Still, this was a welcome reunion with some of my favorite Pixar characters, just not one that holds as much water as others.

 

#5 “Incredibles 2” (2018) 

Pixar has been either hit or miss with their sequels, and thankfully, this is a case in which I find the sequel to be just on point. It has the relatable family drama, but it’s also a consistently joyful and fun experience, which is something I felt missing from the first film. The focus this time is placed on the family as a whole as opposed to just the dad, with touching themes at the center, yet there’s no shortage of exciting superhero excitement, and well-placed comedy. Throw in some gorgeous visuals, especially in regard to the lighting, and you’ve got a worthy follow-up to a successful movie, and one that I genuinely found myself enjoying ... certainly not to the same extent of the first, but good enough in its own right.

 

#4 “Toy Story 4” (2019)

I’m one of the most committed fans of the “Toy Story” franchise to walk the earth … like, those films are so near and dear to me that I’ll be holding on to them to the pit of death … and even I initially rolled my eyes at the idea of a fourth film. Low and behold, you can always count on Pixar to do the unexpected and deliver another solid sequel. It was everything funny, romantic, exciting, sentimental and beautiful that the franchise has been built on, and yet, it still wasn’t afraid to take risks and steer our favorite characters in a new direction. With the sharpest animation on display yet, and another deeply heartfelt ending to add to this series resume of powerful endings, “Toy Story 4” accomplished the unthinkable, and added another beautiful chapter to this perfect collection of movies.

 

#3 “Inside Out 2” (2024)

It had been a minute, but Pixar finally delivered another winning sequel, one that I’d place on the same pedestal as the original classic. It’s yet another imaginative outing with these colorful characters, and as expected … it runs the gambit with emotional value. On a personal note, as someone who’s been dealing with anxiety for years, I connected to so much of the film’s content, and the message at the end, while expected, just felt like something I needed to reflect on. It’s just another winning Pixar outing, which will certainly appeal to kids, and maybe even appeal as much to their parents.

 

#2 “Toy Story 3” (2010)

As if I didn't make it obvious already, the "Toy Story" franchise is one of my all-time favorites, and the original three fit quite comfortably among my top five favorites of Pixar’s offerings, and the second to be nominated at the Oscars for BEST PICTURE. “Toy Story 3” is that rare third installment that really works, and it’s a perfect ending to a classic series of films. The story is darker, the adventure edgier, yet the comedy is some of the funniest I’ve seen from any Pixar movie, and the emotional highlights … boy, get those tissue boxes ready. I felt this film took all the dramatic content I admired from the previous BEST PICTURE NOMINATED “Up”, but gave me the right balance of fun, excitement, and a great feeling of closure to a great series. Our lovable cast of characters come full circle. The villain is intimidating, while also sympathetic. It’s a sequel that took me right back to my childhood love for the first two and is just another solid entry into the Pixar cannon.  

 

#1 “Toy Story 2” (1999) 

The first “Toy Story” was a big game changer in terms of animation, and a timeless classic for both its story, and well-rounded characters … how could you possibly top that? Well, surprisingly, you get a sequel that’s not only as good, but in many ways improves on the first, one-up’s the entertainment, with funnier jokes, dazzling animation, yet also adds new layers to the characters, along with some surprising emotional backstories, and you have a near perfect film. Still to this day, “Toy Story 2” remains not only my favorite movie on Pixar’s roaster, but also one of my top 20 ... oh heck ... top 10 favorite films in general. The original characters are better than before and joining them is arguably my favorite roundup of new characters from any of these movies. It’s a movie I adored as a kid, and it’s stuck with me well into my adult years.

Thanks for reading my Pixar countdown and continue to enjoy the movies you love!

Top 10 Coolest Explosions in Movies

What is is about guys and explosions anyway, I don't know, they just seem to be the epitome of eye candy in an action movie. They hardly seem threatening anymore, now there just awesome, visual splendors and here are my personal top ten favorite movie explosions. So sit back and enjoy that wonderful smell of napalm in the morning.

 #10 Taking down the helicopter from “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”  

This movie was panned by critics for it’s over use of old action clichés, including this scene where Wolverine takes out a helicopter and slowly walks away with it blowing up in the background. There’s actually going to be a couple scenes on my list in which a hero will walk away with an explosion behind them, but this one makes my list for one reason. For as cliché as it is, Wolverine has always been one of my favorite action hero’s, and he looks pretty darn cool with a big explosion behind him.

#9 Final Flight of the Enterprise from “Star Trek 3: The Search for Spock” 

Long time Star Trek fans always regarded the Enterprise as more than just a cool spaceship, it was a home and to see it get blown sky high at the hands of Klingons left quiet the effect. It shows that the movie isn't afraid to take chances, and it all results with a bitter sweet but memorable explosion.   

#8 Night Security Ambush from “The Matrix Reloaded” 

Talk about starting you action movie with a bang, when a lone assailant named Trinity launches an attack on a security tower, she literally gets the drop on them thanks to her motorcycle and one big explosion. It may be completely implausible but it’s just so sweet that I couldn’t keep it off my list.   

#7 Liberating an Afghanistan village from “Iron Man” 

When the small Afghanistan village called Gulmira is attacked by terrorists, it’s up to the lone Avenger named Iron Man to put the bad guys in their place, free the civilians and just before departing, he blows up the enemy weapons leading into the most bad ass shot of a hero slowly walking away with an explosion in the background.  

#6 The White House from “Independence Day” 

There have been lots of classic alien invasion movies over the years, but none of them ever felt as iconic or threatening as these massive ships that decimate most of our nations landmarks. The most unforgettable of all being the destruction of the White House, which in many respects is an iconic movie moment and one of the most frightening explosions ever featured in a motion picture.    

#5 The Big Yeha! from "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" 

This one doesn't make my list just for the sake of eye candy, but because it's one of the most classic movie scenes from a comedy. As a nuclear bomb ship fails to drop it's missal, it's up to a crazy cowboy to put in a little elbow grease and release the weapon, unfortunately that means going down with it. Well, being a true cowboy he decides to relish his blaze of glory just before erupting into a massive nuclear explosion.

#4 Slaying the shark from “Jaws” 

This really is one of the greatest explosions in cinematic history because it’s the finally of the film and it goes out with a bang. A hunt for a ferocious great white shark leads into a thrilling climax, as Roy Scheider sticks an oil drum in the beasts mouth, then with one lucky shot from his riffle, he blows that smiling son of bitch back to hell where it belongs, it’s awesome.  


  

#3 Old Bailey and Parliament from “V for Vendetta” 

“Remember, Remember, the fifth of November”, and always remember that explosions are the most awesome when a masked revolutionary ignites his destruction, along with classic music like Shokalskiy’s “1812 Overture” and lots of fireworks to further emphasize how triumphant this explosion really is.  

#2 Nakatomi Plaza Roof from “Die Hard” 

Not only is this one of my favorite explosions, it’s also one of the most thrilling, near death escape scenes ever featured in an action movie. As our hero John McClain is trapped on the ruff off a huge building and pinned down from gun fire, his only option is to tie himself to a fire hose and take a daring leap off, just as the roof erupts into a massive explosion. It’s one of the most unforgettable moments from an action movie and one of the reasons that “Die Hard” remains a classic.   

#1 Death Star Raid from “Star Wars 6: Return of the Jedi” 

I know most people prefer the Death Star Raid from the original but this one’s personally my favorite as the Millennium Falcon makes a thrilling dash through the interiors of the station and escapes just before it goes Boom! This made it far more thrilling, the shot of the Falcon silhouetted against the explosion made it feel more triumphant and hearing Billy Dee Williams shout Yee Ha at the top of his lungs made it so much more awesome.   

My Top 10 Favorite Off-Brand Movie Princesses

  It’s every girls dream to be a princess, right, and in today’s pop culture, there seem to be more princesses than ever before, so plenty of young actresses have the golden opportunity to live out that dream. I knew I’d eventually have to do a list of my own personal favorite Princesses portrayed in movies, so I’ll just take this as my golden opportunity. Now when I say my own personal favorite, I really mean it because, if you’re expecting more traditional princesses like Buttercup from “The Princess Bride”, or Princess Danielle from “Ever After”, there’s a strong chance you’ll be disappointed with this list. Most of my favorite Princesses are very different from the more traditional stereotypes and may come off as very odd choices, but so be it, this is my list and I’ll just be plain and honest with my choices. So, agree or disagree, these are my personal, top 10 personal favorite movie Princesses.     

#10 Princess Vespa from “Spaceballs” 

In this comedy classic, Princess Vespa comes from the planet Druidia and is a direct satire of Princess Leia from the “Star Wars” series. From the bun hair, to her snippy attitude, Vespa is an affectionate and funny spoof of the classic princess, but with her own charms and likability that also makes her stand on her own. Vespa seems to represent every classic trait of a Princess stereotype, and at the same time she’s nothing like traditional movie royalty. Vespa’s more of a stick in the mud, and her personality is that of a child that aged but never grew up, making her a fun offset to all the other princesses out there and an amusing start for my countdown.      

#9 Princess Anna from “Van Helsing” 

In the 2004 motion picture “Van Helsing”, the oh so beautiful Kate Beckinsale plays the princess of the Gypsies, who spends her time hunting down the monsters that terrorize Transylvania, honestly, what’s not to like. This is another character that you’d never associate with a princess stereotype, but she is in fact a princess and she can kick some serious butt. While she knows how to swing a sword and be strong, she still keeps her femininity in tacked and she still has her share of charm and charisma to boot. Kate Beckinsale dose a good job giving this albeit generic action character plenty of personality, emotional strengths and passion to stand as another favorite princess for my list.  

#8 Princess Nuala from “Hellboy 2: The Golden Army” 

From a world of monsters and mystical creatures comes Princess Nuala, one of the most underrated and unique Princesses ever featured in a motion picture. She may belong to a nightmarish world of monsters, but honestly, this Princess is the stuff of dreams. When tensions rise between humans and monsters, her evil brother plots to overthrow humanity, now princess Nuala dose all in her power to maintain peace between the two worlds. Despite the fact that humans hate mystical creatures, she’s still willing to give it all to see that our world stays safe, even if that means giving up her own life in the process, making her one of the bravest and most companionate royals on my list. With her soft and sweet voice, love for poetry and selfless nature, princess Nuala is a personal favorite and not one to underestimate. 
      

#7 Princess Anastasia from “Anastasia” (1997) 

In this Don Bluth classic, Princess Anastasia imparks on a journey of self discovery to reunite with her Grandmother and learn that she’s in fact the last surviving air the to the Russian thrown. Traditional animated Princesses are a dime a dozen, but Anastasia is a special case because this is a character who had forgotten her heritage all together and has to learn what it means to be in a Royal family. I’ve never seen anything like this before, usually an animated princess is against her heritage but Anastasia just wants something to belong too, she could even care less about the perks of being a royal, it just happens to be something in her family line and she’ll do all in her power to fit in with it. Plus, the character of Anastasia is just brimming with personality and voice actress Meg Ryan brings her to life with attitude, charisma and charm, making Anastasia one of my favorite Princess from an animated motion picture.  

#6 Princess Nefertiri from “The Mummy series” 

Over 3000 years ago, Nefertiri was the princess of Egypt, an expert sword fighter and protector of mystical items. But when her father is murdered by an evil high priest named Imhotep, everything falls to ruin. Now in present day, the princess has been reincarnated as a librarian named Evie, who soon finds herself battling a re-animated mummy of the man who murdered her father centuries ago. This is a very different character for my list because it’s the reincarnated spirit of a princess in the body of a regular everyday woman, but that only makes her more special. I absolutely love the character of Evie, she’s adventurous, energetic and actress Rachel Weisz is so charming and likable in the role. Plus, she has plenty of really cool actions scenes and sword fights to boot.   

#5 Any one of Disney’s Classic Animated Princesses 

This may seem a little absurd giving a single spot on my list to an entire caravan of princesses but honestly, I just couldn’t leave any off my list and I couldn’t fill this list entirely with them either. But let’s face it, whenever we hear the word “princess”, we immediately associate it with one of Disney's classic animated ladies. We all know there colorful designs, we all remember their classic songs and we know them all off by heart, Snow White from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, Jasmine from “Aladdin”, Ariel from “The Little Mermaid”, Repunzel from “Tangled”, Cinderella from “Cinderella”, the list goes on and on.

Actually, I really like some of the more underrated characters like Princess Eilonwy from Disney’s “The Black Cauldron”, who in my opinion has the cutest voice of any of them. I’ve never had an official favorite Disney princess, but if I was forced to pick one, it would be either Belle from “Beauty and the Beast” or Pocahontas from Disney’s “Pocahontas”. These are the two princesses that broke out of the traditional royal stereotypes and had so much more to offer. Whichever character you like best, there’s no denying that the Disney Princesses are some of the most classic and belong on any Princess list.  

   

#4 Princess Neytiri from “Avatar” 

From the planet Pandora comes a race of aliens called Navi, which resemble Native American Indians and the princess of the tribe is a kind hearted, but also fierce warrior named Neytiri. Being a tall, blue skinned, cat like alien from another world definitely makes her stand out on my list of royals. But she sure has all the conventions of a great princess. She isn’t afraid to follow her heart, willingly breaks tradition and trusts her instincts, which leads her to fall in love with a human visitor named Jake. Zoe Saldana is personally one of my favorite actresses and has played some unforgettable Sci-Fi characters ranging from Uhura in “Star Trek” to Gamora in “Guardians of the Galaxy”, but it’s her portrayal of this exotic but wise and compassionate, blue skinned alien princess that stands as my favorite character of hers to date.   
  

#3 Princess Leia from “Star Wars” 

  

Like I even need to explain why Princess Leia makes my list, she’s pretty much the proclaimed icon of Princesses in the media. Obviously she’s famous for her bun hair, golden bikini, and limited but capable fighting abilities. Personally, I just love how involved she get’s. Leia never once gets held back by her Princess status, she’s always out there on the front line, leading the Rebels in battle, and she has just as much of a tough attitude to boot. What else do I need to say, it’s Princess Leia, one of the greatest Princesses of all time and for all the right reasons. 
     
  

#2 Princess Andromeda from “Clash of the Titans” (1981) 

In the Greek legend of Perceus, Andromeda was the Princess of Joppa, and sentenced to death at the hands of a sea monster, but she was rescued by our Greek hero Perceus before being consumed by the beast. Andromeda may not be a house hold name like Princess Leia or any of the classic Disney Princesses, but she is one of the most classic and iconic, especially in Greek Mythology. Heck, this princess actually has a star constellation named after her. No joke, the Great Andromeda Galaxy, also known as the Andromeda Nebula, got its name from an area of the sky, which in Greek literature outlines the appearance of the mythological princess chained to the sacrificial stone. That’s how the constellation of Andromeda got its name, but Astronomy lesions aside, why is she one of my favorite Princesses. While I’ve always been a fan of Greek mythology, I also loved her portrayal in the 1981 motion picture, “Clash of the Titans”. This is the classic princess that any man would fantasized about rescuing. She was so young, innocent and cute that it’s no wonder Perceus put himself through so much for her. The two had a sweet relation and I love how she doesn’t let the status of being a princess keep her from going on a paroles adventure. She may be the epitome of a classic damsel in distress, but she’s also lovable, cute, and she’s the Princess that’s always worth fighting for.   

Before I crown my number one pick, here are my Honorable Mentions ...

Princess Buttercup from “The Princess Bride”, 
Princess Lily from “Legend”, 
Princess Danielle from “Ever After”, 
Princess Odette from “The Swan Princess” 
Princess Fiona from “Shrek”

#1 Princess Nausicaa from “Nausicaa of the Vally of the Wind”

Taking the top spot on my list is a princess that most main stream movie goers have probably never heard of, but shouldn’t be ignored, nor should her movie. In an apocalyptic future, civilizations wage war for ownership of the last surviving human populations, and cot in the middle is a brave young Princess named Nausicaa who’ll fight to her dying breath to insure peace is made across the land. So what, is she another stereotypical Princess that switches between being a soft spoken mediator, and a cunning, sword wielding action heroin, well, yeah she is ... and more. Princess Nausicaa has a warm heart and charming personality, but she also commands authority, takes serious action and always takes charge in any given situation. If a sudden attack happens, she’ll quickly think of a plan on her feet, and take charge the way a strong leader should. She never talks down to her people like their in any way beneath her, in fact she see’s everyone on the same equal ground, and has the same love and devotion to the smallest inhabitant of her Kingdom that she has for her own family. More than anything, this is a Princess who really inspires her people, raises their hopes, and you just feel that warm connection she has with everyone in her home valley. Also, like any animated princess, she has a real love for nature and can form an instant connection with animals. Now underneath her warm smile and selfless devotion to a just cause, Princess Nausicaa dose in fact have a dark side, an unstoppable rage that lashes our, and it terrifies her when she looses herself. This add’s a lair of complexity to the character which keeps her from being a stereotypical good role model. She is in fact a person bound by the human condition, but that only makes us respect her all the more when she acts heroically. In my opinion, she’s just an all around perfect character who earns her title, and set’s a new standard for other Princess characters to aspire from.

    Now go and live happily ever after! 

          

                                                                   The End