Pixar Animation Studios has been a beacon of creativity and emotion in the world of animation since its inception. With a catalog spanning over two decades, the studio has crafted films that resonate deeply with audiences of all ages. Each film is a testament to Pixar’s ability to blend high-concept ideas with universal themes creating stories that are as thought-provoking as they are entertaining.
However, even the most esteemed studios face challenges. In recent years, Pixar has navigated a rough patch with some films failing to capture the magic of their predecessors. Despite these setbacks, Pixar’s legacy remains intact, thanks to a wealth of classic films that continue to inspire and move viewers. This article aims to celebrate Pixar’s cinematic journey by ranking all 31 of its films, from the least to the most beloved.
Pixar’s struggles and triumphs
The studio’s recent output has been a mixed bag. While Turning Red (2026) was hailed as one of Pixar’s best, Lightyear (2026) was swiftly and broadly mocked. This trend of sequels and original films with diminishing returns has been evident since Cars 2 (2011). However, Pixar’s ability to create emotional and visually stunning films ensures that its legacy endures.
A ranking of Pixar’s films
To celebrate Pixar’s contributions to animation, we present a ranking of all 31 of its films. This ranking is based on a combination of critical receptionemotional impact and cultural significance.
31. Lightyear (2026)
Lightyear is often criticized for being Toy Story without its soul. The film attempts to explore the origin story of the human Buzz Lightyear but falls short, offering a charmless action adventure that does little to justify its existence. The film’s only lasting contribution to the wider culture is the quote from voice actor chris evans about it being the origin story of the human Buzz Lightyear that the toy is based on.
30. Cars 2 (2011)
Cars 2 shifts focus away from Lightning McQueen and onto his best friend Mater, who is mistaken for a secret agent. The film’s unbalanced narrative and reliance on Larry the Cable Guy’s charms result in an awkward and uninteresting story.
29. The Good Dinosaur (2015)
The Good Dinosaur tells the story of dinosaur/farmer Arlo and his journey back home with a wild human child. The film is often criticized for being dull and forgettable, with little to offer in terms of emotional depth or engaging storytelling.
28. Onward (2026)
Onward follows elf brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot as they attempt to revive their deceased father. While the film explores fraught family dynamics, it ultimately falls short of the tear-jerking impact that Pixar is known for.
27. Finding Dory (2016)
Finding Dory is an amusing but slight sequel to Finding Nemo. The film focuses on Dory’s journey to find her long-lost family, with Ed O’Neil’s Hank providing some much-needed friction against Dory’s perpetual optimism.
26. Elemental (2026)
Elemental is Pixar’s first rom-com and biggest stab at a love story. Directed by Peter Sohn, the film features innovative tech to animate the fire and water characters, Ember and Wade. The film culminates in an emotional expression of love between the star-crossed Elementals.
25. Inside Out 2 (2026)
Inside Out 2 explores the new emotions that enter the mind control room of human girl Riley as she grows into her teen years. However, the balance between the fantastical inner world storyline and the real-life coming-of-age storyline is fatally off, diluting the storytelling going on outside her head.
24. Elio (2026)
Elio is a scattered space opera with gorgeous animation and fun alien designs. However, the story of a young boy desperate to be abducted by extraterrestrials to escape his grief over his parents’ deaths never totally lifts off, with thin characters and surface-level writing.
23. Monster’s University (2013)
Monster’s University recounts how Mike and Sulley from the first Monster’s, Inc. became best friends. The film is a very kid-friendly and only entertaining enough college comedy, with Dean Hardscrabble being the breakout character.
22. Cars (2006)
The original Cars holds up well, especially as the company put out significantly weaker films in the years to come. Lightning McQueen’s forced stay at Radiator Springs is a low-key but sneakily well-written tale about friendship and community.
21. Luca (2026)
Luca is the story of Luca and Alberto, two preteen boys with an intense bond thanks to a secret they must hide. The film’s shallow writing doesn’t quite resonate as authentically queer, but it aims to get some nostalgic tears out of the audience with its sunny portrait of a youthful summer.
20. The Incredibles 2 (2018)
The decade-later sequel to The Incredibles is a fun affair, with Brad Bird and the original voice cast reuniting for a story about the super-powered family facing a brand new threat. However, weaker villains and retreaded elements from the original result in a movie that never quite lives up to the perfection of the original.
19. Cars 3 (2017)
In a decent enough conclusion to the Cars franchise, an accident puts Lightning McQueen’s career in jeopardy, and forces him under the care of Cruz Ramirez, a personal trainer with racing ambitions of her own.
18. A Bug’s Life (1998)
A Bug’s Life is a fun kids movie about an ant attempting to save his colony from a terrorizing group of grasshoppers. It’s a bit basic compared to what was in Pixar’s future but remains a memorable entry in the studio’s catalog.
17. Toy Story 4 (2019)
The fourth Toy Story movie never quite justifies its existence but spins a decently enjoyable story for main character Woody, as his struggles to adjust to his new owner send him on a quest to find his place in the world.
16. Toy Story 5 (2026)
The fifth entry in Pixar’s flagship franchise always feels a little like an epilogue that wasn’t totally needed. However, it smartly makes Woody and Buzz sidekicks in favor of Jessie, who takes the lead in an adventure that forces her to confront her past heartbreaks.
15. Coco (2017)
Coco focuses on Miguel, a 12-year-old boy whose musical aspirations conflict with his family’s longtime ban of music. The film is lifted up by its genuine emotions and cultural specificity, making it a standout in Pixar’s catalog.
14. Brave (2012)
Brave is the story of Merida’s struggles to break free from the constraints she deals with as a princess in her Scottish kingdom. The film is inconsistent but features a compelling story of a young girl’s journey to independence.
13. Soul (2026)
Soul follows Joe, a jazz pianist who falls into a coma and wakes in the realm of souls. The film features a spectacular soundtrack and explores the complexities of human emotions and the pursuit of greatness.
12. Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Monsters, Inc. is a full-on tribute to the power of being funny. The film sees workers Sulley and Mike accidentally harbor a human child that escapes into the monsters’ world, where they soon learn that laughter is far more powerful an energy source than screams.
11. Turning Red (2026)
Turning Red is a lovely coming-of-age story for Mei Lee, a hyperactive girl in Toronto whose strained relationship with her mother turns all the more complicated when she discovers her ability to turn into a gigantic red panda.
10. Toy Story (1995)
The original Toy Story introduced audiences to the living toys that would become cultural icons. The film follows Woody and Buzz Lightyear as they team up and become friends to survive after ending up in the home of Andy’s neighbor Sid.
9. Up (2009)
Up is the story of Carl, a retiree who turns his home into an airship with balloons in order to visit Paradise Falls. The film features a heartwarming journey of self-discovery and the importance of letting go of the past.
8. Hoppers (2026)
Hoppers follows environmental activist Mabel as she inhabits the body of a robot beaver and infiltrates the animal kingdom to stop the construction of a highway and save a beloved glade near her home. The film is a total delight with its quirky humor and lovable characters.
7. Toy Story 3 (2010)
The incredibly emotional finale to the Toy Story saga sees Andy all grown up and on the verge of heading to college. The toys wind up in Sunnyside Daycare, a seemingly peaceful place ruled with an iron fist by the psychotic Lots-O’-Huggin’ Bear.
6. Toy Story 2 (1999)
Toy Story 2 is basically the first Toy Story but better. When Woody gets a tear in his arm, he develops anxieties about getting thrown away by Andy and ends up stolen by toy collector Al, who intends to sell him to a toy museum in Japan.
5. Inside Out (2015)
Inside Out is a film about emotions. In the mind of Riley, an ordinary kid going through a big life change, five emotions control her reactions to the world around her. The film explores the complexities of human emotions and their impact on personal growth.
4. WALL-E (2008)
WALL-E is Pixar’s greatest romance, focusing on WALL-E, a cleanup robot on a ruined earth who meets EVE, a tracking robot trying to find habitable life on the polluted world. The film features a dialogue-less opening half and a powerful message of environmental protection.
3. The Incredibles (2004)
The Incredibles focuses on the Parr family, a superhero clan living in a world where those with powers are outlawed. The family takes on the devious Syndrome in an adventure that’s a perfect mix of funny, action-packed, and emotional.
2. Ratatouille (2007)
Ratatouille follows Remy, a French rat who dreams of becoming a great chef. The film explores themes of community, art, and the pursuit of greatness, making it one of Pixar’s smartest and deepest films.
1. Finding Nemo (2003)
Finding Nemo is a comedy flick, a road trip film, and a prison break movie all in one. The film grounds its adventure in the vividly rendered relationship between fish father Marvin and his son Nemo, making it Pixar’s best and most emotionally satisfying journey.
