![Everywar [THE RAGGEDY RAWNEY]](https://jonathanrosenbaum.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/theraggedyrawney-scope.jpg)
![Touch of Class [TITANIC]](https://jonathanrosenbaum.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/titanic-drawing.jpg)
![Lost in the Desert [THE SHELTERING SKY]](https://jonathanrosenbaum.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/the_sheltering_sky.jpg)
![The Man Who Fell to Sleep [SWITCH]](https://jonathanrosenbaum.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/switch-barkin.jpg)
![‘Andor’ Season 2: Genevieve O’Reilly On Mon Mothma’s Masks, Loss & Legacy, & Finally Getting Her Moment [The Rogue Ones Podcast]](https://cdn.theplaylist.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/30145243/PGM2-131986_R-2.jpg)
![“I’m Sober!” United Passenger Yells—Then Tries To Bite Police At DFW [Roundup]](https://viewfromthewing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/drunk-united-passenger-at-dfw.jpg?#)
.png?width=1920&height=1920&fit=bounds&quality=70&format=jpg&auto=webp#)
.png?width=1920&height=1920&fit=bounds&quality=70&format=jpg&auto=webp#)
The 9 Best Pixar Movies of All Time
Before 1995, Disney’s 2D fairy tales ruled animation. Then, in 1995, Toy Story (distributed by Disney as a winter alternative) crash-landed, and Pixar flipped the script forever with Woody and Buzz. Since then, Pixar’s been the cool kid in Hollywood’s animation sandbox, consistently cranking out flicks that dazzle with tech wizardry and enough emotion to rip our hearts out.Pixar tackles grown-up stuff—identity, loss, adolescence, culture, even eco-doom—with a kid-friendly wink and razor-sharp humor. Their worlds are so iconic, whether in a rat-run kitchen or the headquarters of Emotions inside a child’s mind, you’d never want to leave. With 28 movies under their banner so far, the studio’s meticulous attention to character development and world-building, integrated with high-end innovation in the craft, has resulted in its own legacy.In this article, let’s go through the best Pixar movies. The Best Pixar Movies Here’s a list curated with the top movies by Pixar in the order of their release:1. Toy Story (1995) and Toy Story 2 (1999) - YouTube . Toy Story unleashed a whole dang universe where our childhood playthings live, love, and squabble when we’re not looking. Pixar knit our nostalgic fuzzies into a secret world brimming with loyalty, jealousy, and existential crises. Using the toys and their conflicts as metaphors, Pixar compassionately addressed day-to-day emotions. Toy Story (1995) is the first fully computer-animated feature. It broke records upon release and became an entire franchise with four films so far. - YouTube Toy Story 2 deserves a special mention, as it is one such rare sequel in cinema that arguably improves on its predecessor. Personally, I’ll watch anything with Woody, Buzz, and the gang in it. 2. Monsters, Inc. (2001) - YouTube Another endearing Pixar world is one of monsters who can visit us through children’s closets. These monsters scare children to collect their screams to power Monstropolis. Sulley and Mike, Monstropolis’ top scarers, face chaos when fearless toddler Boo inadvertently crash-lands into their world. Monster, Inc. uses humor to explore themes of fear and friendship, hand-in-hand. The key takeaway from this Pixar movie is that balancing out emotions with humor creates lasting appeal. 3. Finding Nemo (2003) - YouTube This movie is all laughs, thrills, heartache, and unforgettable characterizations. Set against a magical underwater world, it is a simple story of a dad and his son. Marlin, a nervous clownfish, overly protective of his son Nemo, sets out to rescue him when he is caught in a diver’s net. Each frame is rendered in exquisite detail and vibrant colors, taking CGI to artistry. With memorable characters, Finding Nemo continues to be a masterpiece even over 20 years later. - YouTube Finding Nemo’s popularity led to a sequel, Finding Dory, based on the titular blue tang fish, who had accompanied Marlin on his quest for his missing son. Following another quest, this time, Nemo and Marlin help Dory find and save her parents from captivity, from whom she was separated as a child.The key filmmaking lesson here is that strong and relatable characters never fail to connect with the audience, and a story’s greatness lies in its simplicity. 4. The Incredibles (2004) - YouTube Another film by Pixar that went on to inspire a sequel, Incredibles 2 (2018), this movie follows a crime-fighting superhero family through their adventures. At its core, the film celebrates the importance of family and individuality while commenting on the societal pressure to conform with humor, action, and a sprinkle of drama. - YouTube It also addresses the struggle to balance personal ambition with collective responsibility with Mr. Incredible’s journey, reflecting both midlife crises and the universal desire for self-fulfillment.The imagery is, as usual, detailed and vibrant, as you would expect in a Pixar movie. The Incredibles franchise represents the fact that the superhero genre isn’t just about extravagant action; rather, it’s a great space to explore complicated emotional themes with simplicity. 5. Ratatouille (2007) - YouTube Academy Award-winning director Brad Bird ("The Incredibles") and the amazing storytellers at Pixar Animation Studios ("Cars," ... Exploring the themes of creativity, passion, culture, and nostalgia, Ratatouille is the story of a rat who dreams of being a gourmet chef in a Parisian high-end restaurant. The animation is lush and detailed, capturing the ambiance of Paris and the artistry of fine cuisine so vividly that it almost becomes a sensory experience. Featuring one of the most iconic dramatic monologues by Anton Ego after he tastes “confit byaldi,” this movie is another cinematic masterpiece by Pixar that preaches creativity and inclusivity because “not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere.” Ratatouille is a testament to the fact that unconventional protagonists in unconventional settings can yield deeply o
Before 1995, Disney’s 2D fairy tales ruled animation. Then, in 1995, Toy Story (distributed by Disney as a winter alternative) crash-landed, and Pixar flipped the script forever with Woody and Buzz.
Since then, Pixar’s been the cool kid in Hollywood’s animation sandbox, consistently cranking out flicks that dazzle with tech wizardry and enough emotion to rip our hearts out.
Pixar tackles grown-up stuff—identity, loss, adolescence, culture, even eco-doom—with a kid-friendly wink and razor-sharp humor. Their worlds are so iconic, whether in a rat-run kitchen or the headquarters of Emotions inside a child’s mind, you’d never want to leave.
With 28 movies under their banner so far, the studio’s meticulous attention to character development and world-building, integrated with high-end innovation in the craft, has resulted in its own legacy.
In this article, let’s go through the best Pixar movies.
The Best Pixar Movies
Here’s a list curated with the top movies by Pixar in the order of their release:
1. Toy Story (1995) and Toy Story 2 (1999)
- YouTube .
Toy Story unleashed a whole dang universe where our childhood playthings live, love, and squabble when we’re not looking. Pixar knit our nostalgic fuzzies into a secret world brimming with loyalty, jealousy, and existential crises. Using the toys and their conflicts as metaphors, Pixar compassionately addressed day-to-day emotions.
Toy Story (1995) is the first fully computer-animated feature. It broke records upon release and became an entire franchise with four films so far.
- YouTube
Toy Story 2 deserves a special mention, as it is one such rare sequel in cinema that arguably improves on its predecessor. Personally, I’ll watch anything with Woody, Buzz, and the gang in it.
2. Monsters, Inc. (2001)
- YouTube
Another endearing Pixar world is one of monsters who can visit us through children’s closets. These monsters scare children to collect their screams to power Monstropolis.
Sulley and Mike, Monstropolis’ top scarers, face chaos when fearless toddler Boo inadvertently crash-lands into their world. Monster, Inc. uses humor to explore themes of fear and friendship, hand-in-hand.
The key takeaway from this Pixar movie is that balancing out emotions with humor creates lasting appeal.
3. Finding Nemo (2003)
- YouTube
This movie is all laughs, thrills, heartache, and unforgettable characterizations. Set against a magical underwater world, it is a simple story of a dad and his son.
Marlin, a nervous clownfish, overly protective of his son Nemo, sets out to rescue him when he is caught in a diver’s net. Each frame is rendered in exquisite detail and vibrant colors, taking CGI to artistry. With memorable characters, Finding Nemo continues to be a masterpiece even over 20 years later.
- YouTube
Finding Nemo’s popularity led to a sequel, Finding Dory, based on the titular blue tang fish, who had accompanied Marlin on his quest for his missing son. Following another quest, this time, Nemo and Marlin help Dory find and save her parents from captivity, from whom she was separated as a child.
The key filmmaking lesson here is that strong and relatable characters never fail to connect with the audience, and a story’s greatness lies in its simplicity.
4. The Incredibles (2004)
- YouTube
Another film by Pixar that went on to inspire a sequel, Incredibles 2 (2018), this movie follows a crime-fighting superhero family through their adventures. At its core, the film celebrates the importance of family and individuality while commenting on the societal pressure to conform with humor, action, and a sprinkle of drama.
- YouTube
It also addresses the struggle to balance personal ambition with collective responsibility with Mr. Incredible’s journey, reflecting both midlife crises and the universal desire for self-fulfillment.
The imagery is, as usual, detailed and vibrant, as you would expect in a Pixar movie.
The Incredibles franchise represents the fact that the superhero genre isn’t just about extravagant action; rather, it’s a great space to explore complicated emotional themes with simplicity.
5. Ratatouille (2007)
Exploring the themes of creativity, passion, culture, and nostalgia, Ratatouille is the story of a rat who dreams of being a gourmet chef in a Parisian high-end restaurant.
The animation is lush and detailed, capturing the ambiance of Paris and the artistry of fine cuisine so vividly that it almost becomes a sensory experience. Featuring one of the most iconic dramatic monologues by Anton Ego after he tastes “confit byaldi,” this movie is another cinematic masterpiece by Pixar that preaches creativity and inclusivity because “not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere.”
Ratatouille is a testament to the fact that unconventional protagonists in unconventional settings can yield deeply original stories capable of delivering universal themes.
6. WALL-E (2008)
- YouTube
Gorgeous visuals (of the devastated, forlorn Earth), unmatched animation, and endearingly moving scenarios share a relatively simple love story between two robots in WALL-E.
Seven hundred years from now, humans have ditched Earth, leaving WALL-E—aka Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-class—to tidy up their mess. This boxy, lonely trash-bot’s mundane life flips when he spies EVE, a glossy probe with curves and a mission, sparking a wild, heart-tugging galactic adventure.
Visuals can be more impactful than dialogue, and WALL-E is “show, don’t tell,” done right. With minimal dialogue, WALL-E relies on imagery and sound design to deliver a powerful environmental message and a touching love story.
7. Up (2009)
This movie opens with a heartfelt montage, wordlessly capturing a lifetime of love and loss. Up follows Carl Fredricksen, an elderly widower, on an extraordinary journey to fulfill a promise to his late wife. He’s joined by the earnest teenager Russell.
Visually, Up is vibrant and inventive, with a color palette and camera work that enhance its humor and poignancy. The film’s pacing is tight, and its ability to appeal to audiences across all age groups without sacrificing narrative clarity or emotional impact demonstrates Pixar’s mastery of storytelling.
Character depth and backstory to create authentic emotional stakes are the highlights of every good story. Additionally, exploring mature themes such as grief, regret, and renewal, Up is one great story depicted through powerful animation.
8. Inside Out (2015)
- YouTube
Arguably one of Pixar's most remarkable and creative concepts, Inside Out is an in-depth analysis of emotions done with child-like innocence and sincere compassion. Both entertaining and psychologically insightful, this film explores complicated feelings like depression, loneliness, and unfamiliarity through the mind of an 11-year-old kid, Riley, by personifying emotions as individual entities that run a headquarters inside our mind.
After being widely loved by the audience, Inside Out inspired its sequel, Inside Out 2, which was released in 2024. In this sequel, Riley is seen battling two new emotions as she embraces adolescence.
Inside Out’s world-building and thematic maturity set a new bar for animated films and proves that even the most abstract concepts can be made accessible with clear visual metaphors.
9. Turning Red (2022)
- YouTube
One of our most loved coming-of-age animated movies, Turning Red is both culturally expansive and a candid exploration of sensitive topics like adolescence and puberty.
Pixar deftly tackles thorny issues like generational rifts and inherited traumas with heart and nuance. A tale of acceptance and forgiveness, Turning Red follows a mother-daughter duo who unite to break a generational curse in their Chinese family.
Further layered into the narrative are complicated themes of identity and self-worth through heartfelt humor and vibrant, light-hearted storytelling.
Pixar movies prove that amazing stories can be found in the most mundane experiences of our lives. It is all about perspective and how you choose to tell it. Which is your favorite Pixar movie?
