Collin Willis

Because all art should be forced into competition against other art, here are the Top Ten Pixar Movies.

Honorable Mentions

Onward

Luca

Toy Story 4

Ratatouille

Coco

10. Incredibles 2

Incredibles 2 came 14 years after the original, and several years after Pixar hit its sequel slump with films like Cars 2, Monsters University, and Finding Dory. It is, in my opinion, the only sequel of these four that comes remotely close to holding a candle to its predecessor. On nearly every level, Incredibles 2 matches pace with the original. It tells a compelling story with Elastigirl, a comedic and heartwarming one with Mr. Incredible, and a healthy dose of both reflection on the genre and hero worship in general. Its one major shortcoming is The Screenslaver, a villain who hardly ever stops preaching and never truly feels as menacing or as interesting as Syndrome.

9. Toy Story 2

Originally started out from Pixar’s gaze and set to skip a theatrical release, Toy Story 2 was soon taken over by Pixar’s core team and turned into one of the studio’s best. Toy Story 2 splits up Buzz and Woody and sets the tone for the following two sequels, with Woody faced with the first of several internal journey’s about what it means to be a toy and to watch your kid grow away from you. This film ups the stakes, makes better use of the ensemble, and introduces us to a gaggle of new characters and franchise staples.

8. Finding Nemo

A film that has heart, one which it is almost always wearing upon its sleeve. Finding Nemo takes time to mull over its vast scenery and explore the many different environments and characters found in the Ocean Blue, the East Australian Current, and even the fish tank in a dentist’s office. This is a bold standout from Pixar’s line-up to that point, pursuing its emotion and themes of fatherhood, loss, and progress despite setback ahead of its vibrant characters or need to fit itself for a children’s audience.

7. Toy Story

The film that started it all. Toy Story is a film that I would consider absolutely perfect. While not my personal favorite, there’s nothing that could have been added to or taken away from this movie to make it any better. It zips along an epic adventure for Buzz and Woody while exploring the world through a protagonist whom we see to be very flawed. Yet despite his selfishness and doubt, we always know where Woody’s heart is and we’re willing to follow him even through his mistakes.

6. Up

An absolute gut-punch. Paying great homage to classic adventure serials, Up is a film that is both thrilling and sweet. It utilizes a slow build to introduce you to the pain facing its protagonist before throwing this very grounded old man into the sky and upon an unbelievable adventure. Up is a heartfelt exploration about loss, about dreams, and about embracing the future despite your past. It’s also a bold stepping point for Pete Docter as he uses Up to pivot towards deeper, more adult themes in his Pixar work.

5. Soul

Speaking of Pete Docter. Soul is Pixar’s most ambitious film, biting off far more of an existential crisis than a movie aimed at children should be able to chew. Yet Soul does that perfectly, balancing a film that encourages reflection from the audience while still providing an eye-popping and fun adventure for the whole family. The entire film is an impossible balancing act that Pete Docter completes flawlessly. And as the credits roll you can feel yourself wondering the same things that plague (and later reveal themselves) to Joe Gardner.

4. Monsters, INC.

My personal favorite Pixar flick as a kid and one of the first films I remember buying on DVD. This movie balances the comedic chops of its leads far better than any other Pixar film. Despite having seen quite a bit of Goodman and Crystal outside of Monstropolis, you leave this film feeling like these are the only characters that they could ever portray, because of how well they embody them. Monsters, INC is a funny, cynical send up of corporate bureaucracy and the energy crisis that tackles complex issues without ever ceasing to feel like a family movie.

3. Toy Story 3

Seeing this in theaters was the first time I felt truly emotionally invested in the characters on screen to the point of tears. Toy Story 3 is a movie that is willing to disrupt its own formula and to address the fears and doubts of its audience. It compellingly places the end of the characters that we grew up with in sight and lets us feel their own pains as they (and we) learn to let go. Much like its predecessors, Toy Story 3 is humorous and a thrill of an adventure, but it pierces much emotionally deeper than either of its predecessors or its successor.

2. Inside Out

All four of Pete Docter’s Pixar films have landed a spot on this list, and that’s because Docter takes bigger swings than a studio known for taking big swings. Each one of his films feels more existentially ambitious than the last and Inside Out blends that thematic depth with the color, sound, and atmosphere of the fantastical worlds that animation is known for. Inside Out is another movie that strikes heavy emotional chords, while presenting you with the need for complex emoting and promoting the importance of understanding and processing our own feelings, even the bad ones.

1. The Incredibles

The first time I ever had a favorite director, it was Brad Bird. Though I don’t hold him in the #1 spot anymore, he’ll always have a place in my top five. One of the more seasoned members of Pixar’s original team, his first of three times at bat is the epitome of everything animation can be. Filled with witty banter, genre satire, and the complexities of a midlife crisis, The Incredibles succeeds on every level. It is a stylish, heartfelt, and exciting adventure that makes the most of its colorful cast of characters. The Incredibles pays homage to the comic books of the 40’s, the style of the 50’s, and the spy filled decade of the 60’s in a film that never ceases to amaze or entrance.