Pixar Films Ranked
Every film from Pixar Studios Ranked and Rated by my perceived quality. This does not include Pixar’s shorts. (Eventually I will add my brief thoughts to each one and some of them have been reviewed.)
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Many of these movies I hadn’t watched in years. For the ones I have rewatched, below the current score, I added a “First Watches” score which is a range of my old scores I remember for these movies. If I didn’t add it, it’s either my first watch, or it hasn’t changed on rewatch. To be clear I’ve rewatched nearly all of them. (Note: At one point I remember dropping the score for most of the lower tier Pixar movies arbitrarily because I used to be way more lenient with kids animated films.)
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Many of these movies I hadn’t watched in years. For the ones I have rewatched, below the current score, I added a “First Watches” score which is a range of my old scores I remember for these movies. If I didn’t add it, it’s either my first watch, or it hasn’t changed on rewatch. To be clear I’ve rewatched nearly all of them. (Note: At one point I remember dropping the score for most of the lower tier Pixar movies arbitrarily because I used to be way more lenient with kids animated films.)
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- DirectorBrad BirdStarsCraig T. NelsonSamuel L. JacksonHolly HunterWhile trying to lead a quiet suburban life, a family of undercover superheroes are forced into action to save the world.9.5/10
(Best and Favorite Animated Movie!) - DirectorAndrew StantonStarsBen BurttElissa KnightJeff GarlinIn the distant future, a small waste-collecting robot inadvertently embarks on a space journey that will ultimately decide the fate of mankind.9.2/10
(First Watches: 9.2-9.6/10) - DirectorBrad BirdJan PinkavaStarsBrad GarrettLou RomanoPatton OswaltA rat who can cook makes an unusual alliance with a young kitchen worker at a famous Paris restaurant.8.7/10
(First Watches: 9.2/10) - DirectorJohn LasseterStarsTom HanksTim AllenDon RicklesA cowboy doll is profoundly threatened and jealous when a new spaceman action figure supplants him as top toy in a boy's bedroom.8.5/10
(First Watches: 8.7-9.4/10)
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Reviewed - DirectorLee UnkrichAdrian MolinaStarsAnthony GonzalezGael García BernalBenjamin BrattAspiring musician Miguel, confronted with his family's ancestral ban on music, enters the Land of the Dead to find his great-great-grandfather, a legendary singer.8.3/10
(First Watches: 8.3-8.5/10) - DirectorLee UnkrichStarsTom HanksTim AllenJoan CusackThe toys are mistakenly delivered to a day-care center instead of the attic right before Andy leaves for college, and it's up to Woody to convince the other toys that they weren't abandoned and to return home.8.3/10
(First Watches: 8.7-9.2/10) - DirectorAndrew StantonLee UnkrichStarsAlbert BrooksEllen DeGeneresAlexander GouldAfter his son is captured in the Great Barrier Reef and taken to Sydney, a timid clownfish sets out on a journey to bring him home.7.9/10
(First Watches: 8/10) - DirectorPete DocterKemp PowersStarsJamie FoxxTina FeyGraham NortonJoe is a middle-school band teacher whose life hasn't quite gone the way he expected. His true passion is jazz. But when he travels to another realm to help someone find their passion, he soon discovers what it means to have soul.7.9/10
(First Watch: 8.3-8.5/10) - DirectorPete DocterDavid SilvermanLee UnkrichStarsBilly CrystalJohn GoodmanMary GibbsIn order to power the city, monsters have to scare children so that they scream. However, the children are toxic to the monsters, and after a child gets through, two monsters realize things may not be what they think.7.7/10
(First Watches: 8.5-8.7/10) - DirectorJohn LasseterAsh BrannonLee UnkrichStarsTom HanksTim AllenJoan CusackWhen Woody is stolen by a toy collector, Buzz and his friends set out on a rescue mission to save Woody before he becomes a museum toy property with his roundup gang Jessie, Prospector, and Bullseye.7.7/10
(First Watches: 8.3-8.7/10) - DirectorPete DocterBob PetersonStarsEdward AsnerJordan NagaiJohn Ratzenberger78-year-old Carl Fredricksen travels to Paradise Falls in his house equipped with balloons, inadvertently taking a young stowaway.7.5/10
(First Watches: 8.7-9.4/10) - DirectorDan ScanlonStarsBilly CrystalJohn GoodmanSteve BuscemiA look at the relationship between Mike Wazowski and James P. "Sully" Sullivan during their days at Monsters University, when they weren't necessarily the best of friends.7/10
(First Watches: 7.3/10)
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This has one of the most important and impactful messages of any Pixar film. The scene by the lake and stuff surrounding it is so real and heartbreaking. Something that I really relate to, and it brings everything together so strongly. This should’ve been so great, but unfortunately, the rest of the movie is just pretty decent. Sully is a Chad, and Mike is literally me. They’re the only good characters in the movie and it works for Monster’s Inc., but they don’t do much else with the prequel concept, which is a shame because the world could be so interesting. It’s enjoyable enough but it doesn’t quite do anything really good, or have any glaring flaws. It’s simply just solid. The soundtrack is a good representation of this. The score is generic, but the use of “Gospel," by MarchFourth Marching Band is so good and ever since I watched the movie the first time it’s been stuck in my head. Also every line Art said made me laugh, I love him. - DirectorPete DocterRonnie Del CarmenStarsAmy PoehlerBill HaderLewis BlackAfter young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions - Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness - conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house, and school.6.9/10
(First Watches: 7.3-8.3/10) - DirectorAndrew StantonAngus MacLaneStarsEllen DeGeneresAlbert BrooksEd O'NeillFriendly but forgetful blue tang Dory begins a search for her long-lost parents and everyone learns a few things about the real meaning of family along the way.6.9/10
(First Watch: 6-6.5/10) - DirectorJohn LasseterJoe RanftStarsOwen WilsonBonnie HuntPaul NewmanOn the way to the biggest race of his life, a hotshot rookie race car gets stranded in a rundown town and learns that winning isn't everything in life.6.9/10
(First Watches: 6.9-7.3/10) - DirectorJohn LasseterAndrew StantonStarsKevin SpaceyDave FoleyJulia Louis-DreyfusA misfit ant, looking for "warriors" to save his colony from greedy grasshoppers, recruits a group of bugs that turn out to be an inept circus troupe.6.5/10
(First Rewatches: 6.9-7.3/10) - DirectorEnrico CasarosaStarsJacob TremblayJack Dylan GrazerEmma BermanOn the Italian Riviera, an unlikely but strong friendship grows between a human being and a sea monster disguised as a human.6.5/10
(No Rewatches)
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Reviewed - DirectorBrian FeeStarsOwen WilsonCristela AlonzoChris CooperLightning McQueen sets out to prove to a new generation of racers that he's still the best race car in the world.6.5/10
(No Rewatches) - DirectorBrad BirdStarsCraig T. NelsonHolly HunterSarah VowellThe Incredibles family takes on a new mission which involves a change in family roles: Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible) must manage the house while his wife Helen (Elastigirl) goes out to save the world.5.5/10
(First Watches: 7.3-7.9/10) - DirectorDan ScanlonStarsTom HollandChris PrattJulia Louis-DreyfusIn a magical world full of technological advances, elven brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot set out on an adventure to resurrect their late father for a day.5.5/10
(First Watch: 6.5/10)
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I rewatched this with a friend which thankfully made this incredibly mediocre movie an enjoyable experience as we both joked about it. It’s got to be one of the unfunniest Pixar movies, with painfully mediocre direction, and the 2 biggest losers as protagonists. I really like the concept of magic dying out and things becoming more commercialized but they don’t do much with this concept. Gotta be one of the most wasted settings ever. The plot actually has potential, with the dad only coming back as legs actually being kind of a terrifying concept from his perspective, but they barely do anything with this. His only sense is feeling, so do something with that. We also have the B-plot dragging his movie down with the mom and an annoying psychopathic side character. The whole point of that was just to have a Deus Ex Machina at the end. It seems like I’m about to call this movie bad, but the third act surprisingly starts improving with some decent scenes, utilizing the magic more, bringing the brothers together, giving them lessons. It’s actually decent stuff, and the climax of the little brother realizing he had lived what he dreamed of doing with his dad with his big brother was a really beautiful moment with a great message. Then letting go of having his moment with his father to stop the monster (cause we need action, but cool to pay off the magic he learned and show his bravery) so his brother could have his big brother can get his moment was a really mature choice. The brothers embracing was actually a really nice ending… until they ruined it with the pointless epilogue. But yeah, there’s some nice stuff here. It’s a shame this is one of the most boring, charmless Pixar movies out there for almost 90% of the runtime. - DirectorDomee ShiStarsRosalie ChiangSandra OhAva MorseA thirteen-year-old girl named Mei Lee is torn between staying her mother's dutiful daughter and the changes of adolescence. And as if the challenges were not enough, whenever she gets overly excited she transforms into a giant red panda.5.5/10
(No Rewatches - Originally a 6/10, got slightly worse with thought)
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This feels like if Norma Bates was a Chinese-Canadian Pixar mom. Mei’s dad was the GOAT.
Most of the movie was very cliched/basic but I do appreciate that despite the initial shock of the transformation, a character actually uses the unusually cool powers for profit and embraces them instead of whining the entire movie about “muh powers.” Somewhat funny and cute but I wasn’t the target audience so it’s hard to judge and I didn’t connect to it. Some questionable morality and the ending getting over the top brought it down for me. Don’t have much else to add because this is truly one of those movies everyone has already said what I wanted to say so I won’t bother. - DirectorPeter SohnStarsJeffrey WrightFrances McDormandMaleah Nipay-PadillaIn a world where dinosaurs and humans live side-by-side, an Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend.5/10
(First Watch: 6-7/10)
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Incredibly cliche. Incredible animation though, but I don’t like the main dinosaurs design. Once you see the knees you cannot unsee them. A few good scenes with strong visual storytelling, plus a good score stop this from being bad. The rest is just so bland and has a few dumb moments, but honestly not as much as some other Pixar films. The only other thing that stands out is the weird editing due to the story just feeling like moments. You can cut out multiple scenes and nothing really changes. It’s just really inoffensive, and forgettable so I don’t know what else to say. Would’ve been better if it was silent and a short. - DirectorAngus MacLaneStarsChris EvansKeke PalmerPeter SohnWhile spending years attempting to return home, marooned Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear encounters an army of ruthless robots commanded by Zurg who are attempting to steal his fuel source.4/10
(No Rewatches - Originally a 5/10, got worse with thought)
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Remember when everyone was hyped for this movie and then as soon as it came out literally nobody cared? You don’t understand my disappointment when the movie began and it has the most cliched and worst humor imaginable. I can’t believe this came from Pixar and the animation went so hard only to be quite possibly the most mediocre movie I’ve ever seen. It had so much potential, and interesting concepts despite none of them being original, but it’s all executed so blegh. The plot is also quite dumb which caused me to drop my rating after I thought about this more. Wtf happened Pixar? Also wtf please Taika Watiti stop being the quirky comedy relief side character, I had no idea you were in this movie and I wanted to blow my head off when I hear your voice. Stop destroy the Toy Story franchise. - DirectorJohn LasseterBradford LewisStarsOwen WilsonLarry the Cable GuyMichael CaineStar race car Lightning McQueen and his pal Mater head overseas to compete in the World Grand Prix race. But the road to the championship becomes rocky as Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage.3/10
(First Watches: 5.5/10)
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This is such a stupid concept for a sequel and so over the top and goofy, but I cannot deny I love this movie. It is so damn enjoyable and as a espionage fan I loved all the spoof elements. Michael Caine is awesome. The humor is mostly bad but it’s still funny ironically. There’s actually some decent stuff in the plot if it wasn’t executed so goofily, and at least it didn’t ruin the characters like other sequels. I also want to praise the direction, which is still quite strong, with some genuinely gorgeous animation at times, and really excitingly shot action despite how over the top it is. Finally, that soundtrack, the main theme is so good it’s stuck in my head. - DirectorJosh CooleyStarsTom HanksTim AllenAnnie PottsWhen a new toy called "Forky" joins Woody and the gang, a road trip alongside old and new friends reveals how big the world can be for a toy.2/10
(First Watch: 6-7.5/10)