Pixar Animation Studios has a lot of excellent feature films under its belt that can be enjoyed by both children and adults alike. Its movies tend to cover a variety of themes, such as familial relationships and following your dreams. Pixar’s movies are characterized by their beautiful animation, moving soundtrack and score, and, of course, their colorful characters, which have become some of the most recognizable in the medium.
With a lot of movies in its catalog, it’s unsurprising that each one is at least someone’s favorite. However, a selection of movies definitely stands out among the rest when it comes to representing Pixar’s overall standard.
10 Wall-E
Wall-E is a robot stationed on a dilapidated Earth whose job is to compact garbage into cubes to help clear it. Wall-E salvages relics from Earth’s past and, one day, while he is performing his duties, he meets Eve, a robot who has been sent to Earth to record evidence that the planet is viable for human life.
Wall-E and Eve quickly grow closer until Wall-E presents her with a plant sapling, which means Eve has to return to the human-filled Axiom ship to inform its captain about the discovery. Even with little dialogue, Eve and Wall-E’s relationship is brilliantly represented through the captivating animation and heartfelt music.
It also has a poignant message about forming connections, which is most successfully demonstrated through Eve and Wall-E.
9 Luca
When Luca Paguro meets fellow sea monster Alberto Scorfano, the two venture to Portorosso, an Italian seaside town, to obtain a Vespa. Pretending to be humans, Luca and Alberto meet Giulia Marcovaldo and enter the Portorosso cup, hoping to win the prize money to buy their dream Vespa.
Luca is a charming, feel-good movie with delightful animation and a setting that instantly puts you in a good mood. If you’re looking for a lighthearted movie that immerses you in its endearing characters and vibrant world, then Luca should be on your to-watch list.
8 Soul
On the day when Joe Gardner, a jazz enthusiast, and middle-school teacher, is set to perform his dream gig, he falls down a manhole and finds himself heading to the Great Beyond. Unwilling to accept his death, Joe attempts to return to Earth by agreeing to help a new soul, 22, discover what her ‘spark’ is.
Joe’s story about wanting your life to mean something more is relatable, with Soul exploring how you should appreciate your life for what it is - even those smaller moments that may seem insignificant. Even 22’s character is given depth, as she overcomes her fear of failure and trying new things.
7 Finding Nemo
When a young clownfish named Nemo is abducted by humans, his protective father Marlin, alongside Dory, an energetic fish with short-term memory loss, travels across the ocean to rescue Nemo.
Finding Nemo immediately grips you with its gut-wrenching opening scene where Marlin loses his wife and eggs, with only a singular egg surviving - Nemo. It contextualizes Marlin’s relationship with his son and creates a sense of urgency throughout the movie.
Dory’s energetic personality also perfectly balances Marlin’s overbearing one, with their interactions being a highlight. Overall, Finding Nemo immerses you in life under the sea through its vibrant animation and impactful score.
6 Coco
Miguel Rivera has a passion for music despite his family’s disapproval because of his great-great-grandfather who supposedly abandoned his family in pursuit of music. When Miguel accidentally travels to the Land of the Dead on Día de los Muertos, he meets the eccentric skeleton Héctor, who agrees to help Miguel reach Ernesto de la Cruz to get his blessing to be a musician.
Coco has a touching story that explores following your dreams, honoring your family, and how the two can sometimes be in conflict. Each member of the Rivera family is full of personality, and the Land of the Dead is a visually colorful and ‘lively’ depiction of the afterlife.
Coco also has one of Pixar’s most emotional endings that emphasizes its focus on how music connects people.
5 Toy Story 3
Toy Story 3 came out in 2010, 15 years after the original movie, and plays into how its audience has grown since then through Andy’s character. When Andy is packing for college, the toys believe Andy intentionally threw them away and decide to join Barbie, who has been put into a donation box.
Arriving at Sunnyside Daycare, the toys meet Lotso, the leader of the daycare toys, who is not as welcoming as he may seem. As a villain, Lotso is one of the most memorable parts of the movie - even though he has a tragic backstory, his actions revoke any sympathy you might have had.
The movie also gives a satisfying end to Andy’s character, though it’s bittersweet to see him move on from his toys.
4 Monsters, Inc.
In monster society, monsters use children’s fearful screams to generate energy, with Monsters, Inc. having some of the top scarers. When a human girl accidentally wanders into the monster world, employees of Monsters, Inc, Sulley and Mike Wazowski attempt to send her back, but Sulley grows too attached to her and names her Boo.
Monsters, Inc. has some of Pixar’s strongest characters and settings, with its bustling Monstropolis and factory, both filled with colorful monsters. Sulley and Boo’s relationship is heartwarming too, with Sulley initially being cautious but eventually forming a close bond with her that is the highlight of the movie.
3 Toy Story 2
Toy Story 2 managed to keep up the momentum of its predecessor with an entertaining narrative and cast of characters both new and returning. When Woody is stolen from a yardsale by a nefarious toy collector, he meets Jessie, Bullseye, and Stinky Pete, who will be headed to Japan to be displayed in a toy museum.
Meanwhile, Buzz Lightyear and some of Andy’s other toys leave Andy’s house to rescue Woody.
Toy Story 2’s strengths lie in its characters, especially newcomer Jessie, a cheerful cowgirl with a sad backstory. The scene where Jessie recounts how she was abandoned by her previous owner is heartbreaking, particularly in conjunction with the song “When She Loved Me.”
Overall, it’s a worthy sequel, even overtaking the original in many ways,
2 Ratatouille
Despite being a rat, Remy has ambitions of becoming a chef, which is put into motion when he becomes separated from his family and emerges on the streets of Paris, right outside of Gusteau's restaurant. Remy eventually strikes up an unlikely partnership with Alfredo Linguini, a worker in the restaurant, using his hair to control his movements and help him prepare dishes.
Ratatouille conveys how food can remind people of fond memories, even being able to take them back to their childhoods. The climax of the movie perfectly demonstrates this through the scene with food critic Anton Ego, where he eats Remy’s Ratatouille and remembers when his mother used to make it for him as a child.
1 The Incredibles
The Incredibles takes place in a universe where superheroes used to save the day, but they now lead normal lives. Bob Parr struggles to assimilate into normal life and wants to be Mr. Incredible again, despite having the responsibilities of being a father and husband.
Hoping to relive the “glory days”, he goes on a ‘business trip’ to take down a robot, but when he doesn’t return home, his wife Helen, aka Elastigirl, and his children attempt to rescue him.
Despite the superhero element, the Parr family has realistic interactions that uplift the movie’s themes. The Incredibles also encourages you to embrace the unique parts of you, which is highlighted through the family’s struggles to fit in as superheroes in normal society.