Pixar Movies Ranked

Pixar Animation Studios is an American CGI film production company based in Emeryville, California, United States. Pixar has produced 27 feature films, which were all released by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures through the Walt Disney Pictures banner, with their first being Toy Story (which was also the first theatrically released CGI-animated feature ever released) on November 22, 1995, and their latest being Elemental on June 16, 2023.

Here is our list of ranked Pixar movies. Enjoy!

1. Toy Story

Toy Story is a 1995 American computer-animated comedy film directed by John Lasseter (in his feature directorial debut), produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The first installment in the Toy Story franchise, it was the first entirely computer-animated feature film, as well as the first feature film from Pixar. It was written by Joss WhedonAndrew StantonJoel Cohen, and Alec Sokolow from a story by Lasseter, Stanton, Pete Docter, and Joe Ranft. The film features music by Randy Newman, was produced by Bonnie Arnold and Ralph Guggenheim, and was executive-produced by Steve Jobs and Edwin Catmull. The film features the voices of Tom HanksTim AllenDon RicklesJim VarneyWallace ShawnJohn RatzenbergerAnnie PottsR. Lee ErmeyJohn MorrisLaurie Metcalf, and Erik von Detten.

2. Monsters, Inc.

Monsters, Inc. (also known as Monsters, Incorporated) is a 2001 American computer-animated monster comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures.[2] Featuring the voices of John GoodmanBilly CrystalSteve BuscemiJames CoburnMary Gibbs and Jennifer Tilly, the film was directed by Pete Docter (in his feature directorial debut) from a screenplay by Andrew Stanton and Daniel Gerson. The film centers on two monsters, the hairy James P. "Sulley" Sullivan and his one-eyed partner and best friend Mike Wazowski, who are employed at the titular energy-producing factory Monsters, Inc., which generates power by scaring human children. However, the monster world believes that the children are toxic, and when a little human girl sneaks into the factory, she must be returned home before it is too late.

3. The Incredibles

The Incredibles is a 2004 American computer-animated superhero film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Written and directed by Brad Bird, it stars the voices of Craig T. NelsonHolly HunterSarah VowellSpencer FoxJason LeeSamuel L. Jackson, and Elizabeth Peña. Set in a retro-futuristic version of the 1960s,[5][6][7] the film follows Bob and Helen Parr, a couple of superheroes, known as Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl, who hide their powers in accordance with a government mandate, and attempt to live a quiet suburban life with their three children. However, Bob's desire to help people draws the entire family into a confrontation with a vengeful fan-turned-foe.

4. Finding Nemo

Finding Nemo is a 2003 American computer-animated comedy-drama adventure film[2] produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Andrew Stanton with co-direction by Lee Unkrich, the screenplay was written by Stanton, Bob Peterson, and David Reynolds from a story by Stanton. The film stars the voices of Albert BrooksEllen DeGeneresAlexander GouldWillem Dafoe, and Geoffrey Rush. It tells the story of an overprotective clownfish named Marlin who, along with a regal blue tang named Dory, searches for his missing son Nemo. Along the way, Marlin learns to take risks and comes to terms with Nemo taking care of himself.

5. Cars

Cars is a 2006 American computer-animated sports comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film was directed by John Lasseter from a screenplay by Dan Fogelman, Lasseter, Joe Ranft, Kiel Murray, Phil Lorin, and Jorgen Klubien and a story by Lasseter, Ranft, and Klubien, and was the final film independently produced by Pixar after its purchase by Disney in January 2006. Set in a world populated entirely by anthropomorphic talking cars and other vehicles, it follows on a hotshot rookie race car who, on the way to the biggest race of his life, gets stranded in a run down town and learns a thing or two about friendship, family, and the things in life that are truly worth waiting for.

6. Monsters University

Monsters University is a 2013 American computer-animated monster comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures.[6] It was directed by Dan Scanlon (in his feature directorial debut) and produced by Kori Rae, with John LasseterPete DocterAndrew Stanton, and Lee Unkrich serving as executive producers. Scanlon also wrote the screenplay and story with Dan Gerson and Robert L. Baird. The music for the film was composed and conducted by Randy Newman, making it his seventh collaboration with Pixar. It is a prequel to Monsters, Inc. (2001), making it the only time Pixar has made a prequel film.[7] Monsters University tells the story of the main characters of Monsters, Inc., James P. Sullivan and Mike Wazowski, and their time at college, where they start off as rivals, but slowly become best friends. During the time, they must learn to work together, along with Oozma Kappa members, in order to make his dream reality and things right. John GoodmanBilly CrystalSteve BuscemiBob Peterson, and John Ratzenberger reprise their roles as James P. Sullivan, Mike Wazowski, Randall Boggs, Roz, and the Abominable Snowman, respectively, while the new cast were joined by Helen MirrenAlfred MolinaPeter SohnJoel MurraySean HayesDave FoleyCharlie Day, and Nathan FillionBonnie Hunt, who voiced Ms. Flint in the first film, voices Mike's grade school teacher Ms. Karen Graves.

7. Toy Story 2

Toy Story 2 is a 1999 American computer-animated film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures.[5] The second installment in the Toy Story franchise and the sequel to Toy Story (1995), it was directed by John Lasseter, co-directed by Ash Brannon and Lee Unkrich, from a screenplay written by Andrew Stanton, Rita Hsiao, Doug Chamberlin, and Chris Webb from a story by Lasseter, Stanton, Brannon, and Pete Docter. In the film, Woody is stolen by a toy collector, prompting Buzz Lightyear and his friends to rescue him, but Woody is then tempted by the idea of immortality in a museum. Tom HanksTim AllenDon RicklesWallace ShawnJohn RatzenbergerJim VarneyAnnie PottsR. Lee ErmeyJohn Morris, and Laurie Metcalf reprise their roles from the first Toy Story film and are joined by Joan CusackKelsey GrammerEstelle HarrisWayne Knight, and Jodi Benson, who play the new characters introduced in this film.

8. WALL-E

WALL-E (stylized with an interpunct as WALL·E) is a 2008 American computer-animated science fiction film[4] produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It was directed and co-written by Andrew Stanton, produced by Jim Morris, and co-written by Jim Reardon. It stars the voices of Ben BurttElissa KnightJeff GarlinJohn RatzenbergerKathy Najimy, with Sigourney Weaver and Fred WillardThe overall ninth feature film produced by the studioWALL-E follows a solitary robot on a futureuninhabitable, deserted Earth in 2805, left to clean up garbage. He is visited by a probe sent by the starship Axiom, a robot called EVE, with whom he falls in love and pursues across the galaxy.

9. Turning Red

Turning Red is a 2022 American computer-animated fantasy comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It was directed by Domee Shi in her feature directorial debut, written by Shi and Julia Cho, and produced by Lindsey Collins. It stars the voices of Rosalie ChiangSandra Oh, Ava Morse, Hyein Park, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Orion Lee, Wai Ching Ho, Tristan Allerick Chen, and James Hong.

10. A Bug's Life

A Bug's Life is a 1998 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. It was the second film produced by Pixar. Directed by John Lasseter and co-directed by Andrew Stanton, the film involves a misfit ant, Flik, who is looking for "tough warriors" to save his colony from a protection racket run by Hopper's gang of grasshoppers. Unfortunately, the "warriors" he brings back turn out to be an inept troupe of Circus Bugs.

11. Onward

Onward is a 2020 American computer-animated urban fantasy adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film was directed by Dan Scanlon, produced by Kori Rae and written by Scanlon, Jason Headley, and Keith Bunin, and stars the voices of Tom HollandChris PrattJulia Louis-Dreyfus, and Octavia Spencer. Set in a suburban fantasy world, the film follows two elf brothers named Ian and Barley Lightfoot who set out on a quest to find an artifact that will temporarily bring back their deceased father for 24 hours before it is too late.[5]

12. Soul

Soul is a 2020 American computer-animated musical comedy-drama film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is directed by Pete Docter, co-directed by Kemp Powers (in his feature directorial debut), and produced by Dana Murray, with a screenplay written by Docter, Powers, and Mike Jones. The film stars the voices of Jamie FoxxTina FeyGraham NortonRachel HouseAlice BragaRichard AyoadePhylicia RashadDonnell RawlingsQuestlove, and Angela Bassett. It follows a pianist, Joe Gardner (Foxx), who is involved in an accident before his big break as a jazz musician and seeks to reunite his separated soul and body.

13. Brave

Brave is a 2012 American computer-animated fantasy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film was directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman (in the former's feature directorial debut), co-directed by Steve Purcell, and produced by Katherine Sarafian, with John LasseterAndrew Stanton, and Pete Docter serving as executive producers. The story was written by Chapman, who also wrote the film's screenplay with Andrews, Purcell, and Irene Mecchi. The film stars the voices of Kelly MacdonaldBilly ConnollyEmma ThompsonJulie WaltersRobbie ColtraneKevin McKidd, and Craig Ferguson. Set in the Scottish Highlands, the film tells the story of Princess Merida of DunBroch who defies an age-old custom, causing chaos in the kingdom by expressing the desire not to be betrothed. When Queen Elinor, her mother, falls victim to a beastly curse turning into a bear, Merida must look within herself and find the key to saving the kingdom. Merida is the first Disney Princess created by Pixar. The film is also dedicated to Pixar chairman and Apple co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs, who died before the film's release. Brave is Pixar's first film with a female protagonist, and the first one animated with a new proprietary animation system, called Presto.[3]

14. Inside Out

Inside Out is a 2015 American computer-animated film directed by Pete Docter from a screenplay he co-wrote with Meg LeFauve and Josh Cooley. Produced by Pixar Animation Studios, it stars the voices of Amy PoehlerPhyllis SmithRichard KindBill HaderLewis BlackMindy Kaling, Kaitlyn Dias, Diane Lane, and Kyle MacLachlan. The film follows the inner workings inside the mind of a young girl named Riley (Dias), as five personified emotions administer her thoughts and actions as she adapts to her family's relocation.

15. Up

Up is a 2009 American computer-animated film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film was directed by Pete Docter, co-directed by Bob Peterson (in his feature directorial debut), and produced by Jonas Rivera. Docter and Peterson also wrote the film's screenplay and story, with Tom McCarthy co-writing the latter. The film stars the voices of Ed AsnerChristopher PlummerJordan Nagai, and Peterson. The film centers on elderly widower Carl Fredricksen (Asner) and Wilderness Explorer Russell (Nagai), who go on a journey to South America in order to fulfill a promise that Carl made to his late wife Ellie. Along the way, they meet a talking dog named Dug (Peterson), and encounter a giant bird named Kevin, who is being hunted by the explorer Charles Muntz (Plummer).

16. Lightyear

Lightyear is a 2022 American computer-animated science-fiction action-adventure film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The film is a spin-off of the Toy Story film series, and the sixth overall installment in the franchise. It centers on the character Buzz Lightyear, although instead of following the cast of toy characters from the main franchise, the film presents itself as part of a franchise within the Toy Story films in which Lightyear is a character. It was co-written and directed by Angus MacLane in his feature directorial debut, produced by Galyn Susman, and stars Chris Evans as the voice of the titular character, with Keke PalmerPeter SohnTaika WaititiDale SoulesJames Brolin, and Uzo Aduba in supporting roles. The film follows Lightyear operating as a space ranger who, after being marooned on a hostile planet with his commander and crew, tries to find a way back home while confronting a threat to the universe's safety.

17. Incredibles 2

Incredibles 2 is a 2018 American computer-animated superhero film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Written and directed by Brad Bird, it is the sequel to The Incredibles (2004) and the second full-length installment of the franchise. The story follows the Incredibles as they try to restore the public's trust in superheroes while balancing their family life, only to combat a new foe who seeks to turn the populace against all superheroes. Craig T. NelsonHolly HunterSarah Vowell and Samuel L. Jackson reprise their roles from the first film; newcomers to the cast include Huckleberry Milner, Bob OdenkirkCatherine Keener and Jonathan BanksMichael Giacchino returned to compose the score.

18. Toy Story 3

Toy Story 3 is a 2010 American computer-animated comedy-drama film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. It is the third installment in the Toy Story series[2] and the sequel to Toy Story 2 (1999). It was directed by Lee Unkrich, the editor of the first two films and the co-director of Toy Story 2, written by Michael Arndt, while Unkrich wrote the story along with John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton, respectively, director and co-writer of the first two films.

19. The Good Dinosaur

The Good Dinosaur is a 2015 American computer-animated adventure film[7] produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It was directed by Peter Sohn (in his feature directorial debut), becoming the first Pixar film to be directed by a non-white director.[8] It stars the voices of Raymond Ochoa, Jack Bright, Steve ZahnSam ElliottAnna PaquinA. J. BuckleyJeffrey Wright, and Frances McDormand. The film explores an alternate history where non-avian dinosaurs never became extinct, following a young, timid Apatosaurus named Arlo, who meets an unlikely human friend while traveling through a dangerous and mysterious landscape in order to return home, after being washed downriver by rainstorm.

20. Cars 2

Cars 2 is a 2011 American computer-animated spy comedy film[3] produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. It is a sequel to 2006's Cars and the second film in the Cars franchise. This was the final Pixar film animated with their old software system, Marionette, before it was officially replaced with Presto in 2012. It was directed by John Lasseter, written by Ben Queen, and produced by Denise Ream.[4][5][6] In the film's ensemble voice castOwen WilsonLarry the Cable GuyTony ShalhoubGuido QuaroniBonnie Hunt, and John Ratzenberger reprise their roles from the first film. Paul Newman, who voiced Doc Hudson in the previous film, died in September 2008, so his character was written out of the film; George Carlin, who previously voiced Fillmore, died during the same year, and his role was passed to Lloyd Sherr. The returning cast is joined by Michael CaineEmily MortimerJohn TurturroEddie Izzard, and Thomas Kretschmann, who voice the new characters introduced in this film.

21. Finding Dory

Finding Dory is a 2016 American computer-animated comedy-drama adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Andrew Stanton and written by Stanton and Victoria Strouse, it is the sequel/spin-off[a] to Finding Nemo (2003) and features the returning voices of Ellen DeGeneres and Albert Brooks, with Hayden Rolence (replacing Alexander Gould), Ed O'NeillKaitlin OlsonTy BurrellDiane Keaton, and Eugene Levy joining the cast. The film focuses on the amnesiac fish Dory (DeGeneres), who journeys to be reunited with her parents (Keaton and Levy).

22. Ratatouille

Ratatouille is a 2007 American computer-animated comedy-drama film[3] produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney PicturesThe eighth film produced by Pixar, it was written and directed by Brad Bird, who took over from Jan Pinkava in 2005, and produced by Brad Lewis, from an original idea by Jan Pinkava.[4] The title refers to the French dish ratatouille, which is served at the end of the film, and also references the species of the main character, a rat. Set in Paris, the plot follows a rat who dreams of becoming a chef and tries to achieve his goal by forming an unlikely alliance with a restaurant's garbage boy.

23. Toy Story 4

Toy Story 4 is a 2019 American computer-animated comedy-drama film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the fourth installment in Pixar's Toy Story series and the sequel/epilogue to Toy Story 3 (2010). It was directed by Josh Cooley (in his feature directorial debut) from a screenplay by Andrew Stanton and Stephany Folsom; the three also conceived the story alongside John LasseterRashida JonesWill McCormack, Valerie LaPointe, and Martin Hynes.[4] Tom HanksTim AllenAnnie PottsJoan CusackDon Rickles,[a] Wallace ShawnJohn RatzenbergerEstelle HarrisBlake ClarkJeff PidgeonBonnie HuntJeff GarlinKristen Schaal, and Timothy Dalton reprise their character roles from the first three films, and are joined by Tony HaleKeegan-Michael KeyJordan PeeleChristina HendricksKeanu Reeves, and Ally Maki, who voice new characters introduced in this film.

24. Coco

Coco is a 2017 American computer-animated fantasy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Based on an original idea by Lee Unkrich, it is directed by him and co-directed by Adrian Molina. The film's voice cast stars Anthony GonzalezGael García BernalBenjamin BrattAlanna UbachRenée VictorAna Ofelia Murguía and Edward James Olmos. The story follows a 12-year-old boy named Miguel who is accidentally transported to the Land of the Dead, where he seeks the help of his deceased musician great-great-grandfather to return him to his family among the living and to reverse his family's ban on music.

25. Cars 3

Cars 3 is a 2017 American computer-animated sports comedy-adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Brian Fee in his directorial debut and written by Kiel Murray, Bob Peterson, and Mike Rich, it is the sequel to Cars 2 (2011) and the third installment of the Cars film series. It was executive-produced by John Lasseter, who directed the first two Cars films. The returning voices of Owen WilsonLarry the Cable GuyBonnie HuntTony ShalhoubGuido QuaroniCheech MarinJenifer LewisPaul DooleyLloyd SherrMichael WallisKatherine Helmond and John Ratzenberger are joined by Cristela AlonzoChris CooperArmie HammerNathan FillionKerry Washington, and Lea DeLaria, in addition to a dozen NASCAR personalities.[5]

26. Luca

Luca is a 2021 American computer-animated coming-of-age fantasy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The film was directed by Enrico Casarosa, produced by Andrea Warren and written by Jesse Andrews and Mike Jones from a story by Casarosa, Andrews, and Simon Stephenson. It stars the voices of Jacob Tremblay and Jack Dylan Grazer, with Emma Berman, Saverio Raimondo, Marco Barricelli, Maya RudolphJim GaffiganPeter Sohn, Lorenzo Crisci, Marina Massironi, and Sandy Martin in supporting roles. It is Casarosa's feature-length directorial debut and the second movie he directed after the 2011 short film La Luna.