Turning Red marks Pixar’s 25th film. With the upcoming Disney+ release, here are all 25 Pixar films ranked from worst to best including Turning Red.
Pixar has and might always be my favorite Studio making movies today so deciding on the order of all Pixar movies ranked is almost impossible. This is because nearly half this list I grew up with, but with the release of Pixar’s latest, Turning Red, I knew it would be fun to dive back into all of these movies and rank them from worst to best — including Turning Red!
All 25 Pixar Movies RANKED From Worst To Best
(Including Turning Red)
25. Cars 2
Cars 2 is looked at as one of the worst Pixar Movies as well as a giant cash grab. Sure it might sell toys since the Cars brand grabs billions of dollars in revenue, but the thing is Cars 2 might be the worst Pixar movie (in my opinion) but many families and kids still enjoy this. Some of the spy elements are fun and the animation is always firing on all cylinders but at the end of the day this film should have focused more on McQueen and less of Mater.
24. The Good Dinosaur
It is crazy to me how long this movie was stuck in development hell but ended up being a solid charmer that while not very rewatchable has some of the best animation to date. The relationship between our two main heroes here brings a great message for young ones as well as a way for many of us to understand the process of grieving and how that might change our lives. I enjoy this one but I don’t go back too often to re-watch it.
23. Cars 3
A huge step up from the sequel but still not a great rewatchable movie. The original Cars is honestly a charmer and I think Cars 3 goes back to the basics of that in a way that might be too familiar. It is a fun time for sure but even then it really isn’t too memorable and I just find myself never really care to see this one again. In fact, it is the only Pixar movie I don’t own on Blu-ray.
22. Brave
At the time of release, I remember thinking Brave was going to be so UNDERRATED! BUT DAMN a second re-watch just hit on how generic this movie can be at times and even how off the rails the story goes. There was a simple and special story here between what you should be doing and what your family wants you to do. That message is so important for kids to understand and I wish the movie itself continued down that rabbit hole. Even then the brothers who turn into bears were fun but Brave itself has an awesome main character and that is really about it.
21. Finding Dory
The sequel so many were waiting for and it might be fun but it never hit the core emotions I wanted it to hit as the original did. I find Finding Dory to just be an enjoyable time, sort of a rehash of the original but with side characters that aren’t as memorable as the original Finding Nemo, I never find myself diving into Dory’s story as I would rather just go with the first all over again. BUT Dory’s Family story is really good and I wish would have been focused on more of it. I think This film would have worked better as a short Pixar Story on Disney+.
20. Cars
Here we are the original Cars Movie. Every movie from here and up I think is Good to GREAT. This first movie really had a great vibe to it all and a message of making sure to stay humble. Something so many of us needs to remember in today’s world. I really enjoy this one and while I don’t go back too often for the adventures in this one when I do I enjoy myself fully.
19. Monsters University
This film could have been PERFECT. For the entirety of the movie, there is so much fun to be had and I actually think it is one of Pixar’s Funniest Movies yet, but it lacks a ton of emotion that Pixar Films typically have and that emotional core that was really needed. While it doesn’t destroy the film it was just the missing aspect from pushing this into the top-tier Pixar movies. Just imagine if the movie ended with Mike and Sully telling a grown-up Boo who is about to go off to college their college story! We all would have been an emotional wreck.
18. Incredibles 2
For everything INCREDIBLE and PERFECT that The Incredibles 2 does right it also for some reason never hits the heights of the original. The original Incredibles is a Masterpiece/Classic in my eyes and I feel this is a worthy sequel that again just never has me building up this anticipation to go back and re-watch. Everything with Bob and Jack-Jack is hilarious, Mrs. Incredible getting the spotlight was a brilliant choice, and the animation is INCREDIBLE. The movie itself just has a weaker villain that brings a lacking feeling to the entire film. Still so GOOD THOUGH.
17. A Bugs Life
Many claim this as the underrated misunderstood masterpiece — I don’t. But it is a film that has grown on me over the years with its impressive charm, weird characters, scary moments, and an era of animated kid films that we literally do not get anymore. The circus bugs work so well and there is just something about this film that so many animated movies are afraid to do today.
16. Onward
I LOVED ONWARD. So putting Onward this low hurts my heart but that just shows how great PIXAR really is as a studio. The fantasy world is a world I never wanted to leave. Our main characters were hilarious and had such a great charm to them that I loved being around them. The entire mission – to spend one last day with their father – will make you weep and want to hug the nearest person next to you. A beautiful film that I hope we get more of from this world.
15. Turning Red
Yes, the newest Pixar Movie comes in the middle of this entire list. This is Pixar’s Most Personal Story Yet as well as one of their best comedies yet. A straight coming of age story that really dives into what puberty can do to teens as they are exploring themselves and even how parents should react to this all. I feel there is a real understanding here that is unlike other things that Pixar has done before. Domee Shi’s directing here never steers too far away from what makes a Pixar Movie special but also grants this new fond animation that is a mix of anime and Pixar’s regular style. There is so much to love in here and very few nitpicks.
14. Luca
The smallest adventure you will ever have with a PIXAR movie but one that is more memorable than most summer vacations. Two friends just want to win a race to buy a Vespa. That really is it. Okay fine, you got me there. Luca’s charm is given with the relationship told in this small Italian city and the way it brings the culture to life. This was a comfortable movie for me in 2021 and one that I truly just think about randomly.
13. UP
I know many people have UP above and beyond most Pixar Movies and for me, I LOVE ABOUT 95 percent of this film. The Other five percent I find goes a bit off the rails. The entire opening might be one of the most emotional and powerful openings to a movie ever created. The score is impeccable and brings each moment to life. The dynamic between all the characters and the adventure they go on for the most part is so genuine. The piece that loses me is the main villain and the evil dogs. Besides that, this movie is near perfection.
12. Wall-E
I can’t believe Pixar made almost an entire silent movie in the 2000s. This is pretty much unheard of but if one studio is going to create something this amazing it would have to be Wall-E. I personally LOVE this movie more and more each time as its exploration into a decaying world that we call home, but at its center, it’s a love story first between two robots, whereas the entire first act is almost an entire silent movie — it’s just brilliant.
11. Monsters Inc
Classic Territory is where we are now with the movie Monsters, Inc a movie that I completely adore to pieces and fall more in love with each and every time I view the film. The buddying duo of Mike and Sully is so impressive to see and really relatable to many of our friends that we know today. Then when Boo comes in and ruins their lives it really flips the term on scary for them. I love the way they bring this world to life and the usage of helping young kids get over their fear of the monster in the closet. Hilarious, poignant, and just downright perfect.
10. Inside Out
At the time of release, Pixar really needed a movie to come in and win. Pixar had been in the gutter before the release of this releasing some of the worst films in their history, thankfully Inside Out came out with the truly impeccable design. Diving into our minds and playing around with our feelings. Inside Out was not just a hilarious awe-inspiring adventure it was one that showcases so much of our childhood and the detatchings that can affect our emotions. This movie makes me an emotional wreck each time I see it but the entire subplot of Bing Bong just guts me right in my feels.
9. Soul
My favorite movie of 2020 and one of the best-animated movies to ever be released. Yes, I mean that even if it is only at number 9 on this list. There is something special to be said when you’re this many movies in as a studio and you release a poignant piece that displays the meaning of life. That in such way kids can even understand and be entertained. In some ways a semi-spiritual sequel to Inside Out I fully believe that Soul grasps something that many humans want to know and that is what is our purpose on this earth. We might think it is one thing but it could be another. These two messages hit me harder than a train and I love this viewpoint that was given to us in an incredible light.
8. COCO
Coco gives you that feeling of being invited to a culture that you may not be too familiar with but feeling so welcomed. With the swelling music that you will continue to listen to for years to come, an amazing character that comes to understand his past, as well as the wonderful things that will make us look back on in our family linage. Pixar does great at grasping such amazing elements for us to deep dive into and the way that Coco knows how to give us an emotional ending that will make you want to hug all of your family right next to you, especially your grandmother. Pixar just does it best.
7. Ratatouille
A Rat that wants to become a chef? Who knew this would work I certainly didn’t and so did many others. What might be the most underrated Pixar movie ever created is also one of the most delightful ones. The film’s message of not judging a book by its cover but also the exploration of how some of our talents come from our hearts. That passion that needs to be explored and pursued — sometimes our callings need to be head up without explanation. Remy has this passion for cooking and while the movie makes me incredibly hungry I LOVE THIS FILM.
6. Finding Nemo
Finding Nemo is one part adventure another part Father-Son story. A father loses the only meaningful thing in his life and must go on a journey across the ocean to find him. While his son is trapped in a fish tank. There are so many memorable lines, moments, and even sequences that happen but each one makes for some of the best aspects of the film. The entire animation of the ocean still blows me away on how it was created and each character is so built with life that just seeing one of the minor ones you can remember their name. Finding Nemo gives parents the message that it is okay to let your children go off on their own but still to be strict. As Marlin learns the hard way of pushing his son away from this. Truly a classic that I must revisit every year.
5. Incredibles
What might be the best Fantastic Four film we ever get is Brad Bird’s Masterpiece. A movie that I truly cannot get enough of. An everlasting rewatchable movie that completely grabs me and never lets go till the finale of the entire family working together. One part spy movie another part superhero there is something so special to the entire film that I love. The world, the vibe, the characters, and the midlife crisis that Mr. Incredible has. Pixar displays here why they are the best in the business where at times they might make movies that kids can watch but sometimes their actually movies for adults.
1-4 Toy Story Franchise
Yes I might be cheating but nothing comes close in my eyes. As I grew up with the first two movies and the other two came into my life when I exactly needed them most. An icon franchise and literally one of the game changers for 3d animation. Without the first Toy Story who knows what the animation landscape might be. While this is truly a total bias pick I understand many might not feel the same as I do when discussing Pixar’s Films and what film hits them the hardest.
As Pixar has made countless classics and depending on which one you grew up with will be the one you choose. The first Toy Story made me believe my toys were real, but also that I should keep an open mind and not get jealous when my sister would come into my life and take all the attention away. The second Toy Story establishes the thought of what is my purpose and is my purpose right now the right thing. Stringing alongside an amazing Indiana Jones-esque adventure.
The third toy story was meant to be the conclusion to Andy’s story and the toy’s time with him. Hitting me the hardest as the toys were moving on to their next adventure and showing that some friends even if gone forever those memories will always be with you. And then the controversial pick of Toy Story 4.
A film that I LOVE to pieces and understand if others might not love it but as an epilogue to the entire toy story franchise and finishing out Woody’s story it is perfect in my eyes. Woody learns that maybe his purpose isn’t with his new owner and that depression starts to sink in — until he meets Bo Peep again and finds that next chapter of his life. He might be leaving his friends but just as Toy Story 3 taught us, they will always be with us.
Thank you so much for reading my Pixar movies ranked article!
I hope you enjoy Turning Red and make sure to share your ranking with us!
NEXT: How Anime Inspired Pixar’s Turning Red
About Turning Red
Disney and Pixar’s “Turning Red” introduces Mei Lee (voice of Rosalie Chiang), a confident, dorky 13-year-old torn between staying her mother’s dutiful daughter and the chaos of adolescence. Her protective, if not slightly overbearing mother, Ming (voice of Sandra Oh), is never far from her daughter—an unfortunate reality for the teenager.
And as if changes to her interests, relationships and body weren’t enough, whenever she gets too excited (which is practically ALWAYS), she “poofs” into a giant red panda! Directed by Academy Award® winner Domee Shi (Pixar short “Bao”) and produced by Lindsey Collins “Turning Red releases on March 11, 2022.
Turning Red comes exclusively to Disney+ on March 11th.
