PIXAR: Ranking the 15 Films

With PIXAR's latest film 'Inside Out', tearing up the box office I take a look back at the studio's previous endeavors and rank them from my least favorite to favorite.

15. Cars 2

If 'Cars 2' belonged to any other animation studio it'd be fine, but this spy centric sequel to an already uninteresting property seemed like a real step down for the studio, especially being right off the heels of 'Toy Story 3'.

Grade: C-

14. Cars

The first 'Cars' film is cute enough, but PIXAR had just been picking up so much steam as a studio that could tell stories the whole family could enjoy. It seemed strange for them to be involved with a movie that was specifically designed for the six to seven year old demographic.

Grade: C+

13. Brave

The lead character in 'Brave', Merida, is a fantastic protagonist. She has personality, strength and is a fantastic role model. Sadly, the movie shifts focus from her in the second act and becomes too focused on a fantastical element that feels truly out of place. Somewhat wasted potential.

Grade: B-

12. Monsters University

'Monsters University' is actually a pretty great prequel and features some of the studio's best comedic moments. While it's in no means a bad movie, it just doesn't quite carry the emotional heft that many of the other films are blessed with.

Grade: B+

11. A Bug's Life

A certainly underrated and lovable second film by PIXAR. Definitely not the "sophomore slump" critics accuse it of being. While, again, not being the most emotionally satisfying film by the studio, it still features some fantastic elements including an incredible voice performance from Kevin Spacey as the villainous Hopper.

Grade: B+

10. Monsters Inc.

Great performances from both John Goodman and Billy Crystal as the leads, Sully and Mike Wasowski. The animation on the little girl, Boo, is fantastic and still holds up almost fifteen years later. 'Monsters Inc.' also features one of the most well realized worlds PIXAR has ever put to screen.

Grade: A-

9. Up

The opening ten minutes of 'Up' are some of the greatest in cinema within the past decade. It sets up a beautiful and eventually tragic marriage throughout the decades all set to Michael Giachinno's wonderful score with absolutely no dialogue. In the end, 'Up' is still fantastic, but the following hour and a half can't quite match the beauty set by the film's start.

Grade: A-

8. Inside Out

PIXAR's latest venture is a fantastic look inside our heads. All five emotions are brought to life by lovely animation and amazing voice work from one of the studio's best ensemble casts yet. Funny, heart-wrenching and poignant.

Grade: A

7. Ratatouille 

Brad Bird's second collaboration with PIXAR features what may be the studio's smartest and most adult script. The characters are all fantastic and the computer recreation of Paris is astoundingly beautiful. Plus, no matter how many times I watch 'Ratatouille' it still makes me hungry.

Grade: A

6. Wall-E

'Wall-E' is a charming love story and fantastic science fiction film. The relationship between our titular hero and the advanced robot, Eve is wonderfully well realized and is all the more impressive when you take into account their limited vocabulary. Not to mention a frighteningly detailed interpretation of our planet's future.

Grade: A+

5. The Incredibles

'The Incredibles' is not only one of PIXAR's best movies, it ranks among 'The Dark Knight' and 'Superman: The Movie' as one of the greatest superhero films of all time. The characters are so wonderful and seeing the family work together in the movie's action packed finale still gets me pumped no matter how many times I put it on.

Grade: A+

4. Toy Story 2

'Toy Story 2' is a beautiful second act in 'Toy Story's three act arc of growing up. It introduces new characters, new stakes and one of PIXAR's most heart-wrenching moments. Seriously, Jessie's backstory was the studio's first truly emotional sequence and it ends up being an absolute gut punch.

Grade: A+

3. Toy Story

PIXAR's first feature film still proves to be one of their smartest and wonderfully perfected. The idea is so simple, yet so masterfully crafted that it's amazing to think the studio had never put together a full movie before it. A movie that shaped not only my childhood, but countless others as well.

Grade: A+

2. Finding Nemo

From the opening sequence till the very last frame 'Finding Nemo' is an emotional roller coaster that works on every level. Up until 2003 audiences weren't used to seeing a film by the studio that was quite this intense and tear jerking. In some moments 'Nemo' is truly devastating. But the amazing thing is how director Andrew Stanton is able to balance the sadness and pure fun in such a perfect way. A true marvel of animation and storytelling in general.

Grade: A+

1. Toy Story 3

The best PIXAR film, the best threequel ever and one of the best animated films of all time. 'Toy Story 3' is a very personal choice for me. I grew up with this franchise and watching it all build up to the final adventure with Andy is something that breaks the filter of just watching a movie; it's almost spiritual. For many born around the time I was, 'Toy Story 3' felt like the closing of a certain chapter for not only the series itself, but for the viewer. It showed what happens when one has to leave what they love behind in order to go on a new chapter in their lives. It remains fun for the whole family, but the theme of leaving behind what's past isn't sugar coated by the masterminds at PIXAR. The greatest and most important film PIXAR has ever released.

Grade: A+

List by: Josh McCormack