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Picking the greatest PIXAR movies is no easy task. The studio has churned out 28 feature films over the last 30 years — with the first, Toy Story, being released in 1995 and the most recent, Inside Out 2, earlier this year. There aren’t any bad films among this group of 28. Today, we narrowed it down to the very best, and ranked the six greatest PIXAR films ever created. There were some tough omissions, and your favorite film may have been cut. But, we believe this is the very best PIXAR has to offer:
1. Inside Out (2015)
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With the recent release of Inside Out 2, it feels like a good time to heap some praise on the original. PIXAR gave us a fascinating entry with this 2015 release. The story revolves around a young girl and her emotions. Each emotion — sadness, fear, anger, disgust, and joy — is represented by a different character inside her brain. These emotions steal the show. It’s a star-studded cast from top-to-bottom. Amy Poehler as Joy, Bill Hader as Fear, Lewis Black as Anger, Mindy Kaling as Disgust, and Phyllis Smith as Sadness. The main reason Inside Out stands out among animated films is its ability to discuss complex subjects in a family-friendly film. It was awarded the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and earned over $850 million at the box office.
2. The Incredibles (2004)
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Before Marvel caused the superhero boon in the last decade, PIXAR found success within the genre with the 2004 release of The Incredibles. Following a family of superpowered heroes, The Incredibles won multiple awards including Best Animated Feature and Best Sound Editing at the 77th Academy Awards. This is still a film that people mention today. Even side characters like the family’s ice-powered ally Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) or fashion designer Edna (Brad Bird) became popular fan favorites among PIXAR enthusiasts. Marvel’s Iron Man wasn’t released until four years later, but the success of The Incredibles showed there was a massive interest in superheroes.
3. Up (2009)
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PIXAR really pulled at its audience’s heartstrings with this one. Their films have always been known for invoking different emotions from the viewers. However, Up turned it up a notch. The opening scene is a gut-wrenching sequence that left moviegoers in a daze. In less than 10 minutes, a story about a loving marriage is told from start to finish. In some ways, Up‘s opening is one of PIXAR’s crowning achievements. Following the passing of his wife, 70-year-old Carl Frederickson sets out to fulfill a promise of moving his home to Paradise Fall in South America. This is a truly unique film that belongs among the greatest PIXAR has to offer.
4. Finding Nemo (2003)
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There’s no denying the impact Finding Nemo had upon its release. Of course, the box office numbers were massive. It’s made over $940 million worldwide. And, it’s not hard to see why. Finding Nemo was a film that nails every aspect of what makes an animated film great. It has memorable characters, a fascinating setting, great storytelling, and epic adventure. What more could one possibly want? It was awarded Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards and spawned a sequel titled Finding Dory revolving around Ellen DeGeneres’ popular character.
5. Ratatouille (2007)
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2007’s Ratatouille took a rather simple premise — a rat wants to become a chef — and made it one of the best animated films of all-time. Fans are transported to Paris in this film. We follow a rat named Remy (Patton Oswald) whose one true desire is to become a chef at the biggest restaurant in the city. Of course, a rat in the kitchen would never pass health sanctions (even in a PIXAR film), so he’s forced to form a partnership with the restaurant’s janitor Alfredo Linguini (Lou Romano). Plenty of classic hijinks occur, and Remy is eventually able to live out his dream as a chef. This is just an overall feel-good film that can be enjoyed by anybody.
6. Toy Story (1995)
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Was there ever a doubt? PIXAR and Toy Story go hand-in-hand. It’s impossible to think of one without mentioning the other. The original 1995 film was a revelation that still holds up today. A story about toys that come to life when nobody is watching. The characters became pop culture icons thanks to excellent voiceover work from Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, and others. It spawned countless merchandise, videogames, tv shows, park attractions, three sequels, and a spin-off. No list is complete without Toy Story occupying the top spot. PIXAR wouldn’t be nearly where it is today without the first film from its collection.
