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 I personally have more fondness for Disney's classic hand drawn animation, I still can't dismiss the impact Pixar left on my childhood, as well as the impact it continues to leave on each new generation of kids. Thus, to celebrate their collected works, here's my own personal ranking of every original (non-sequel or spin-off) theatrically released Pixar movie. The list will be arranged from my absolute favorite on top, to the one I love least at the bottom, and to be clear, they’re simply arranged by my feelings on them, and not any objective merits. So, with all that said, here are all 20 animated Pixar movies ranked from favorite to least, and again … no sequels.
#1 “Toy Story” (1995)
It’s the first, and still most special to me of all the
animated Pixar offerings. While technology has improved over the years, “Toy
Story” is one of those special classics that has only gotten better with
age. It’s a simple tale of a child’s playthings coming to life to fight for the
most attention, and laced through that premise is terrific comedy, imagination,
adventure, and even a touch of humanity. While the film will always be
remembered for reinvigorating the world of animation, it’s the films humble
characters, top notch writing, clever wit, and near flawless execution of a
simple story that make it last through the ages … and my personal favorite of
Pixar’s original animated treasures.
#2 “Finding Nemo” (2003)
While “Toy Story” is what got Pixar started … “Finding
Nemo” is the reason it’s still going to this day, and why I’m still open to
whatever new project they have to offer next. It’s an engaging narrative, with unforgettable
characters, an infectiously captivating ocean setting, and a wholesome moral
that speaks to both children and adults alike. The colors and especially the
details of this ocean setting are still captivating all these years later, and
even the hummer has aged well. This was also one of the first to have a really
dramatic edge but balanced out with all the right seeds of heart and fun. I
don’t even need to comment further, if you’ve seen the movie already, then you
know just how great it is.
#3 “Inside Out” (2015)
You know that little voice in your head that always tells you
what to do in any given situation ... well, that’s an emotion, or more
precisely, one of five distinct emotions that live in your imagination, and
have creative influence on how you live each day. That’s the premise of Disney
and Pixar’s 2015 motion picture “Inside Out”. From the moment I saw this
movie, I felt it really had the makings of a classic, and has something to
offer to younger audiences, older audiences, and especially the young at heart.
Whenever Pixar flounders, a special quality film is right around the corner,
and “Inside Out” for me was one of their best returns to form pictures. It
was imaginative, colorful, innovative, touching, magical, and for lack of
better words ... a truly emotional experience.
#4 “Monsters, Inc.” (2001)
Much like “Toy Story”, “Monster’s Inc.” is a
treasured little gem from my youth and always manages to put me in a good mood.
While the lack of drama and depth dose keep it from reaching the same heights
as the “Toy Story” movies, it’s still very fun and creative. The
characters are charming and memorable, the story is simple, yet very innovative,
the villains are some of the absolute best that Pixar has to offer, and the
climax is especially fun to watch. I love the jazzy music theme, I enjoy the
world the film created, and it goes to show that Pixar can make a world full of
monsters feel warm and inviting.
#5 “Wall-E” (2008)
I remember when this film first came out, I thought for sure that I
was going to hate it, but to my surprise, it turned out of be a really good
film, and one that understands the value of patience. The lead character Wall-E
is so innocent, gentle and cute that it’s impossible not to like him. This is
also a rare Pixar movie to feature a romantic relationship that genuinely
touched me. It’s even more ironic that it’s a relationship between two robots,
but that just shows how great the presentation is. The two lead characters are
great, the visuals are stunning, the story is simple and fun, yet not without
some moral subtext, and it’s just a genuine, unique little picture that’s easy
to enjoy.
#6 “Coco”
(2018) - It's Mexico's Day of the dead, and a young boy is itching for music,
even though it's going against his families wishes. Soon, he finds himself
trapped in the land of the dead and is on a journey to find the secrets of his
past lineage. Truthfully, “Coco” contains just about everything I love …
it has insight into another cultures holiday, it talks about family ties, it
has an imaginative setting, it has visual marvels, and for once, a Pixar movie
has terrific songs that really stand out and give the film some character. It’s
yet again a very emotional movie experience, and one that absolutely got me
teary eyed by the end. Whenever I feel Pixar has gets too comfortable making
sequels, “Coco” reminds me that they’ve still got the talent and means
to provide both solid, and original family entertainment.
#7 “Hoppers”
(2026) – A unique venture about a human girl, transferred into the body of a
robot beaver, and goes off on a mission to bring animals back to their home
before the humans bulldoze it down … and then it gets weird. It might just be
the most outlandish and comedic offering from Pixar yet but still sustained by
the same heart and soul of any of their classics. It’s an animated family film,
unafraid to embrace outlandish mayhem and still feels wholesome in its
delivery. Somehow, “Hoppers” was another return to form for the studio,
while also feeling different from their other works.
#8 “The
Incredibles” (2004) - Of all the Pixar movies, “The Incredibles” is
the one that I feel I should love more than I do, but make no mistake … I think
this is one of the better Pixar offerings. From the perspective of a superhero
comedy, this film was done very well, the characters were great, the action is
awesome, the jokes are funny, and the story holds my interest. However, I will
admit, the shifts in tone didn't always work for me, but regardless, it’s still
a terrific film. Not one of my top Pixar favorites, but still a classic, and
one that fits nicely in that box of good Pixar movies that I have fondness for.
#9 “Ratatouille”
(2007) - Here's one of many fine examples in which I was initially expecting to
dislike a Pixar film, but it snuck up on me and left me smiling from ear to
ear. When a rat and human chef work together to perfect their dish, they end up
turning their restaurant into a smashing success. The characters are likable,
the story is refreshingly simple, and the experience feels light as air. Also,
I absolutely love this movies atmosphere, with its warm colors, and the setting
of Pairs feels like a character in of itself. The ending is a real joy, and one
of the best from Pixar’s roster. It's simply one of those movies that just gets
a little better every time I watch it, and while not one of my absolute
favorites, it’s still a gem in its own subtle way.
#10 “Brave”
(2012) – Arguably my biggest guilty pleasure of the Pixar line-up, as I know
the quality isn’t on par with their best … but I still find it one of the most
comforting, warts and all. Despite all its shortcomings, it's a film that fits
comfortably in my wheelhouse of mystical fantasy and heroic princesses. I like
that for once we have a movie centered around both the struggles and bonding
between a mother and doubter. The lead princess is also a winning main
character, with an awesome design, but it’s also a double edge sword, as she’s
better than the movie as a whole. Admittedly, the execution was far from
perfect, as it struggled to find the right direction, and tone, as more care
and attention was clearly given to the environment rather than an engaging
narrative. Still, there’s a lot to love, as the animation is stellar, the
mystical atmosphere is effective, the music is really nice, and I do like the
set-world of this movie … I just wish the plot was more interesting. All the
same, I loved seeing Pixar tackle the fantasy adventure genre, even if the
final product was a bit of a mess.
#11 “Soul”
(2020) - When a jazz performer suddenly meets his demise, his soul finds its
way to a land where new souls are created, and he in turn forms a partnership
with a soul that doesn’t want to be born. It leads into a crazy journey though
the spirit world, soul swapping with bodies on earth, and maybe in the end …
both these souls will discover their own special view on the meaning of life.
In many respects, this film borrows from a number of movies that I’ve been
conditioned to, like “Coco”, “Inside Out”, and obviously “It’s
a Wonderful Life”. As such, the message really couldn’t leave as big an
impact, as it’s already impacted me on other films and stories. Having said
that, the execution of this movie is nearly flawless, with powerful vocal
performances, inspired ideas, a brilliantly layered screenplay, and some of the
best animation the studio has ever produced. Perhaps I’m just a little too
familiar with its virtues to rank this film higher, but I know a great movie
when I see one … and “Soul” is without question one of the studio’s most
inspired, and humble offerings.
#12 “A
Bug’s Life” (1998) - Following on the landmark event of “Toy Story”,
and even the surprise enjoyment of DreamWorks “Ants”, “A Bugs Life”
has always felt somewhat mediocre to me. The characters, while generally
appealing, were just kind of average, the story was basic, and once again, I
felt some of it got a little too intense for its own good. Still, looking back
on this film as an adult, it certainly has its charms, most of the side
characters are appealing, the film is bright and colorful, the musical score is
one of the absolute best of the whole studio's offerings, and while it’s
certainly not one of Pixar's greatest, it’s at least charming enough for repeat
viewings, and it's grown on me over the years.
#13 “Elemental”
(2023) - Pixar returns to its wheelhouse of colorful creativity and imagination
in the world of "Elemental" ... although, the freshness has
lost some of its bight. Had this come out years earlier, like around 2009, the
wonder and visual design of the film would have left more of a memorable
impression. It's just a victim of being released in a time where the "wow
factor" really isn't there anymore. Even the star cross lovers angle was a
very familiar one, with the only new element literally being the elements on
display. All that being said, "Elemental" still has a lot of
merit in its production, themes and ideas, that it makes for a decent enough
watch. It may not be on par with Pixar's best works, but I'll take this over a
lesser sequel or spin-off, as it's at least trying to be something unique and
special. For any long time Pixar fan, I'd say it's worth viewing, just don't
set your expectations too high.
#14 “Elio”
(2025) - Like the previously mentioned "Elemental", "Elio"
came a decade too late, and is at the mercy of familiar narrative beats from
other memorable animated offerings. That said, this film certainly captured the
wonder and fascination missing from a number of recent family films and has a good
heart at the center. Also, as a boy who grew up fantasizing about aliens and
space adventures, this film certainly rekindled some childhood magic of mine.
Visually, the film is quite dazzling, with details in every frame and colorful
designs that pop. Lastly, the film isn't afraid to have fun with some creepy
imagery and moments ... but a very fun creepy. All around, "Elio"
doesn't quite soar with the absolute best of Pixar, but it's far from the
bottom run, and it at least tried to bring back the magic of original Pixar
content again.
#15 “Up”
(2009) - I certainly admire “Up” for being a mature film with some very
adult themes, but perhaps the film just feels a little too cynical to really
win me over. I certainly don’t have any animosity for “Up”, I just
didn’t feel that same magical balance between comedy and drama that I felt in
films like “Finding Nemo” or “Toy Story 3”. When I first saw this
movie, I kept saying to myself “I should be enjoying this”, but I just wasn’t.
I think it’s simply a case of good material going a little too far for its own
good. Having said all of that, this is still a very mature children's film, one
that is absolutely worth viewing, especially for the opening 10 minutes, and if
you were able to enjoy this from beginning to end, like any other Pixar film, then
good for you, I really wish it worked like that for me.
#16 “Turning
Red” (2022) - For young teens going through big changes in their lives, you
might find something you can relate to in this coming of age, family
comedy/drama. Over on the East side of the world, a young, quirky teenager is
torn between the adolescence of youth, and upholding her perfect image for her
mother. During moments of intense stress, she manifests into a giant Panda/Fox
beast, which suddenly gains her newfound attention at school. In the plus
column, this film takes clear influence from Japanize Anime, and the love for
the genre is all over the picture. The film is also generally a well-intended
picture, albeit a little misguided, and the message could send mixed signals
for some. For me, I felt it misses about as often as it hits, as it was
challenging to get behind the emotions when I found every character got just a
little irritating at times.
#17 “Onward”
(2020) - Pixar seemed to take a page from DreamWorks, as this feature combined
fantasy creatures with a contemporary setting, and a heavy lean on modern
comedy. Beyond that, it’s also a film about family togetherness, as two
brothers set off on a journey to bring back their missing father … at least his
upper half. I’ll be honest, this movie did not grab my interest from the start,
and I found it a mostly dull sit. However, the film thankfully redeemed itself
with a smart, entertaining, and emotionally satisfying third act. The result is
a movie that I found to be okay at best, the ending made it worthwhile, but the
rest of the movie had me longing for Pixar when it was at its peak.
#18 “Cars”
(2006) - I always regarded this one as just a perfectly harmless and wholesome
family film, but still average. I was mid-way through middle school at the time
this premiered, and I really didn’t make any kind of nostalgic connection to
it. It’s also a very predictable story, with kind of an odd premise, and in a
very strange setting. It still has its moments, it has its morals, and it even
has some fine animation, so take it for what it’s worth.
#19 “Luca”
(2021) - When two fishy-creatures from the ocean arrive on shore, they take on
the likeness of normal young boys, and with the help of a local friend aim to
compete in a town race. Needless to say, it’s a very simple premise, but for
fans of quiet walkabouts in a small community area, you may find some charming
and pleasant moments in this film. I can't say the movie is a demanding
experience, but there's plenty to like and enjoy if you choose to watch it.
While “Luca” was a safe one and done experience for me, it certainly was
worth diving into, just for a simple, and pleasant little diversion ...
although I must admit, the experience is very forgettable by Pixar standards.
#20 “The Good Dinosaur” (2015) - While the film accomplished some stunning photo realistic scenery, everything else unfortunately just feels … “meh”. If you’re familiar with tales revolving around either a boy and his pet, or creatures in a prehistoric environment trying to find a way home, then this film just goes through the motions with nothing new added. The characters are boring, the cartoony creature designs don’t match the real looking backgrounds, and the tone is way off. While past Pixar films have had mixed tones, this film just felt completely joyless to experience. It’s easily my personal least favorite non-sequel in Pixar’s roaster, and for a genuinely good film revolving around animated dinosaurs, I highly recommend sticking with “The Land Before Time” instead of this.
Thanks for
reading my Pixar countdown and continue to enjoy the movies you love!
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