Pixar Movies Ranked: The Definitive List From Worst To Best

American media giant Disney and its Pixar studio have pumped out animated movies for three decades. Some are undeniable masterpieces. Others are corporate cash grabs meant to sell merchandise. With the new release of Toy Story 5, we now have 31 films in the Pixar catalog. Here is the definitive ranking from worst to best, judging exactly what these foreign studios are feeding our screens.

Why Are The Cars Movies At The Bottom Of The Pixar Ranking?

The Cars franchise is the weakest link in the Pixar chain, plain and simple. These films exist to sell toys, not to tell great stories.

• 31. Cars 2 (2011): The movie that made audiences lose faith in Pixar. We get why it exists, but we would rather pretend it does not.
• 30. Cars 3 (2017): Its main achievement is simply not being Cars 2. Despite adding Kerry Washington and Chris Cooper, it remains a disappointing ride.
• 29. Cars (2006): The sequels tarnished the original. Lightning McQueen and his crew lack the punch of other Pixar films.

Which Pixar Films Miss The Mark?

Not every movie can be a winner. These titles fall short, suffering from weak stories or confused messages.

• 28. The Good Dinosaur (2015): It gets a bad rap. The tale of a dino and a boy has a big heart, and Sam Elliott as a T. rex saves it from disaster.
• 27. Onward (2020): Known as the movie about the pants. Two elf brothers travel with their dead dad's sentient legs to say a final goodbye.
• 26. Monsters University (2013): A fun prequel, but it lacks the wonder and childhood themes that made the original great.
• 25. Elio (2025): A boy disaffected by Earth gets abducted and befriends an alien. Best for kids who have never seen E.T.
• 24. Elemental (2023): The film overreaches as a peppy rom-com and emotional immigrant story. Still, the couple Ember and Wade are adorable.
• 23. Brave (2012): Despite giving Pixar its first female protagonist, subpar humor and failed attempts at feminism keep it from clicking.
• 22. Lightyear (2022): A meta Star Wars spinoff starring Chris Evans as a young Buzz Lightyear. It features a meaningful LGBTQ moment but falls short of greatness.

What Are The Most Underrated Pixar Movies?

These films have their moments but do not get the respect they deserve.

• 21. Incredibles 2 (2018): Arriving 14 years after the original, superhero cinema has since dominated, making the visual style feel less novel. Still, the familial themes keep it afloat.
• 20. A Bug's Life (1998): An underrated gem. A simple premise, slapstick humor and an endearing cast of ants make this a refreshing watch.
• 19. Finding Dory (2016): This sequel recaptures themes of family and loneliness while giving depth to Ellen DeGeneres' forgetful title fish.
• 18. Toy Story 4 (2019): More adventure-driven than others, it delivers a poignant sendoff to Woody and Buzz. It also gave us Forky, a spork with a death wish who is pure chaos.
• 17. Luca (2021): A queer allegory about identity, prejudice and acceptance. Young sea creature Luca learns the meaning of chosen family over one memorable Italian summer.
• 16. Soul (2020): Pixar's first Black lead character, a band teacher voiced by Jamie Foxx, meets a jaded soul (Tina Fey) and asks big questions about the meaning of life.

How Does Toy Story 5 Compare To The Classics?

15. Toy Story 3 (2010): The most millennial movie Pixar has made. Andy heads to college in a tale about life transitions and the inevitability of death. It also depicts daycare as a deranged prison state.

14. Toy Story 5 (2026): Conan O'Brien's potty-training toy Smarty Pants steals the show in this relatable take on kids, tech and the wonders of in-person play. Jessie takes the franchise reins, butting heads with villainous tablet Lilypad (Greta Lee) and returning home for a journey of self-discovery.

Which Modern Pixar Films Stand Out?

• 13. Up (2009): More than its opening salvo of emotional devastation, this tale of an old man, an outcast kid and a talking dog is unexpectedly powerful.
• 12. Hoppers (2026): A quirky sci-fi comedy where Mabel (Piper Curda) has her mind hopped into a robotic beaver to stop a highway overpass. She ends up helping her nemesis, a greedy mayor (Jon Hamm).
• 11. Turning Red (2022): A brainy, boy-crazy Chinese-Canadian teen in the throes of puberty learns not to hide the messier parts of herself in this coming-of-age kaiju flick.

Which Pixar Movies Are The Best Of All Time?

The top 10 represents the absolute peak of animation and storytelling.

• 10. Toy Story (1995): The revolutionary film that pioneered computer animation and set the template for all Pixar movies that followed.
• 9. Ratatouille (2007): One of Pixar's most earnest films, turning a rat into an adorable hero. Food critic Anton Ego (Peter O'Toole) is one of the studio's best side characters.
• 8. Inside Out 2 (2024): Introduces Anxiety (Maya Hawke) into the emotional mix. A clever and ambitious exploration of puberty and mental-health struggles.
• 7. Finding Nemo (2003): The sea tale of an overprotective father searching for his lost son never lets sentiment overpower the comedy.
• 6. Toy Story 2 (1999): Introduces Jessie (Joan Cusack), a toy whose owner has grown up and moved on. It mournfully captures the pain of growing apart.
• 5. WALL-E (2008): A searing critique of consumerism featuring an innocent, wide-eyed trash-compacting robot left all alone on a destroyed planet Earth.
• 4. Inside Out (2015): Exquisitely brings a child's mind alive. Joy (Amy Poehler) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith) find common ground in a heartbreaking tale reminding parents that kids grow up quickly.
• 3. Coco (2017): A visually splendid adventure in the Land of the Dead that found a new way to examine loss and grief. The Oscar-winning song Remember Me will leave you weeping.
• 2. Monsters, Inc. (2001): Essentially a buddy comedy about two guys at a power plant that also tackles childhood, loss of innocence and the nature of good and evil.
• 1. The Incredibles (2004): Sorry, Marvel, this remains the best Fantastic Four movie ever. A family of superheroes stars in an entertaining masterpiece about identity and finding your place in the world.

What Makes The Incredibles The Top Ranked Pixar Movie?

The Incredibles holds the number one spot because it perfectly balances superhero action with deep themes of family identity. Directed by Brad Bird, the film features a family with secret identities trying to navigate a world that does not want them. It is an entertaining masterpiece that Marvel has still failed to top with its own Fantastic Four films.

Is Toy Story 5 Worth Watching?

Yes, Toy Story 5 ranks at number 14 on the list, making it a solid middle-tier entry. It offers a relatable and smart take on kids, technology and the importance of in-person play. Jessie taking the lead and battling a villainous tablet gives the franchise a fresh, modern angle that parents will appreciate.

Which Pixar Movie Has The Best Soundtrack?

Coco takes the crown for the best soundtrack. The Oscar-winning song Remember Me is a stirring, emotional centerpiece that drives the film's themes of grief and memory, making it impossible not to weep during the final scenes.