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!