Added by MaxL on 13 Mar 2012 09:36

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Pixar: My Ranking, Best to Worst

Sort by: Showing 24 items

Decade: Rating: List Type:

1210

6.1

Cars 2 (2011)

I actually used to prefer this sequel to Cars 1, but now I can't deny how embarrassingly stupid this entire setup is. Why are we watching cars doing all this? Why are we watching cars in the role of secret agents? It's not an actively terrible movie, just perplexingly nonsensical.

MaxL's rating:

3594

6.4

7.1

Cars (2006)

I simply can't accept this movie's premise. It makes no sense for cars to literally be the people in this world. Even in Thomas the Tank Engine, they still need human crews. Still, it's harmless enough. I'll take the worst of Pixar over the best of Michael Bay any day.

MaxL's rating:

2000

6.9

7.1

Brave (2012)

This one is almost completely unremarkable; it's like a checklist of Disney princess clichés. It's annoyingly cartoonish as well, with exaggerated characters that look elastic. It does have its moments, like the mother and daughter bonding, but overall I'd say this is the one that feels the least like Pixar.

MaxL's rating:

267

5.7

6.7

Cars 3 (2017)

I still hate the core idea of Cars, but this one surprisingly has more merits than the other two. It develops the characters skilfully, and has genuinely compelling themes of maturity, aspirations and progress. So, of the three Cars movies, this is the one that comes closest to being decent.

MaxL's rating:

4583

6.7

7.2

A Bug's Life (1998)

The story is very basic and predictable, complete with some clichés I despise. However, it's told earnestly enough to be engaging, the characters are likable, and the music is great. On the whole, it's no masterpiece, but it's entertaining, and it leaves you with a happy feeling after watching it.

MaxL's rating:

1524

6.9

7.3

Monsters University (2013)

This may be inconsistent as a prequel, but for what it's worth, it's relentlessly fun. The various tasks of the Scare Games are enjoyable, and you can easily root for the heroes. So it's very entertaining in its own right, but I still think it has no reason to exist.

MaxL's rating:

392

7.5

Soul

Although it didn't resonate with me that much, mainly because its message about what really matters was a little too intangible for me to grasp, I still found the characters' journey in the second act amusing. It's definitely a good movie, but a little too abstract to blow my mind.

MaxL's rating:

217

6.3

Luca (2021)

It seems derivative of The Little Mermaid at first, but it soon becomes its own fun, if not stunningly poignant, coming-of-age story. The best part is Luca's imagination, and the heart of the story is how his eagerness to learn and explore new things affects his relationships with his friends.

MaxL's rating:

8370

7.5

8.1

Finding Nemo (2003)

Seeing this in the cinema was spellbinding, pure magic, because it made the underwater world look positively huge and awe-inspiring. However, on the small screen, a lot of that grandeur was lost. It's still a very good, suitably emotional story, but that small-screen upset will forever taint it for me.

MaxL's rating:

546

5.9

6.7

The Good Dinosaur (2015)

I really like this movie, and I feel like I'm alone in saying that. I do hate the character designs (even the Land Before Time dinosaurs look more realistic), but it's still a fun journey story that, thanks to its endearing characters, keeps you invested every step of the way.

MaxL's rating:

242

6.5

7.4

Onward

What I love about this quest tale, aside from the great characters to share the journey with (my favourite being the Manticore), is that it celebrates the fantasy genre in several ways, be it the brothers returning to their world's magical roots or a role-playing game serving as their guide.

MaxL's rating:

912

6.3

7.3

Finding Dory (2016)

This is a truly delightful sequel that I think is even better than the original. Not only does it not suffer from the big-to-small-screen issues that ruined Finding Nemo for me, but it dives into the back-story of one of our favourite characters, giving us some truly brilliant emotional moments.

MaxL's rating:

606

6.3

7.6

Incredibles 2 (2018)

Another laudable sequel. A lot of what made the original great is still present here. The animation is spectacular, and I love the characters' interactions as a family. Overall, though, it's not as strong as the first one, particularly the villain. It's still really good, but it's not as good.

MaxL's rating:

4751

7.5

Ratatouille (2007)

I just adore how well this movie presents its premise. Even if you're not a foodie, you can still sense the passion in both the characters and the filmmakers. It keeps you engrossed from start to finish. Plus, it ends with one of my favourite speeches in all of cinema.

MaxL's rating:

512

6.8

7.8

Toy Story 4 (2019)

It may be the weakest of the series, but even a second-rate Toy Story can still be a first-rate movie! :-) It's not quite as strong a finale as Toy Story 3, but still packed with enough adventure, humour and emotion (not to mention outstanding animation) to pack a worthy punch.

MaxL's rating:

769

7.4

8.4

Coco (2017)

This one keeps getting better on every viewing. The story, involving the central theme of family, is just beautiful. I also love its imaginative take on the Land of the Dead. But its biggest asset is how it kept subverting my expectations, almost immediately defying every cliché it sets up.

MaxL's rating:

6659

7.5

Monsters, Inc. (2001)

This movie's main strength is its sheer overwhelming creativity. The world is set up magnificently, and complements the story itself flawlessly. There are a number of plot holes, but I don't really care because the whole thing is so immensely fun to watch. It's a witty and all-around endearing ride.

MaxL's rating:

4012

7.9

8.2

Toy Story 3 (2010)

This sequel's writing is just as brilliant as its predecessors', offering brand new toy-related scenarios to explore – including, of course, being outgrown. That's the main way it uses the passage of time to its advantage. It is, in every respect, the perfect ending to our beloved characters' journey with Andy.

MaxL's rating:

5329

7.3

7.9

Toy Story 2 (1999)

While not quite as good as the original, I think this is an outstanding follow-up. It's part rescue mission and part further exploration of Woody's character, and the choice he's offered – whether to last forever in a museum or stay with Andy for the few remaining years – is pure genius.

MaxL's rating:

1607

7.4

8.1

Inside Out (2015)

It's a fantastically clever look at psychology and the conflicting emotions that come with growing up, and it even works as a straightforward adventure. It even pulled off an exceptionally rare feat for movies: it made me cry twice! It's truly marvellous. Seriously, one of the best movies ever made.

MaxL's rating:

4803

8.2

Up (2009)

If anyone tells you animated movies are just kids' stuff, point them in the direction of this movie! The characters' affection and thirst for adventure strikes a perfect chord – as does the core idea: I think everyone dreams of flying. It's a spectacularly heartfelt drama and an endlessly fun adventure.

MaxL's rating:

5438

8.4

WALL·E (2008)

I love how this movie presents a believable world run by technology, but never loses sight of the robot love story at its heart. Unlike many kids' movies, the first half is mostly told visually. Some people don't like the second half as much, but I adore the whole thing.

MaxL's rating:

7132

7.2

The Incredibles (2004)

I'd say this is the ultimate animated action movie. It has a great story bursting with clever ideas, riveting action scenes, characters who are actually intelligent and resourceful, and even manages to poke fun at some superhero clichés. It's a movie that leaves me amazed at how clever it is.

MaxL's rating:

7775

7.6

8.3

Toy Story

Anyone who lives on Planet Earth has got to love this movie! It treats its premise seriously and, like all good kids' movies, it's packed with plenty of wit and charm to satisfy all ages. It was a huge part of my childhood, and still remains my favourite Pixar film.

MaxL's rating:

Voters of this movie list - View all

The name of this list pretty much speaks for itself! :-)
When it comes to animation studios, Pixar is one of the three kings for me – the other two being Disney and Studio Ghibli. Nearly every movie they've ever released is a frigging masterpiece. Even for the ones that aren't, though, I still feel it would be a disservice to let any of them go unmentioned, so I've decided to list all of Pixar's movies in my personal order of preference.