The best Pixar movies on Disney+ (October 2022)

Monsters, Inc. (2001)

Genre Animation, Comedy, Family

Stars John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Mary Gibbs

Directed by Pete Docter

At Monsters Incorporated, the monster world’s largest scare factory, James P. Sullivan (John Goodman) rules the roost as the top scarer around. His best friend and scare assistant Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) helps him stay on top of his game. But when Sully accidentally brings a human girl back from the human world, his entire reputation is at stake. Not only are humans extremely dirty and toxic, but they’re also expressly forbidden from seeing the monster world. Now, Sully and Mike must get the baby back without getting caught — all while stumbling dangerously close to a far-reaching conspiracy.

Turning Red (2022) new

Genre Animation, Family, Comedy, Fantasy

Stars Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Jordan Fisher

Directed by Domee Shi

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Pixar’s first 2022 release Turning Red follows Mei Lee, a confident, dorky 13-year-old girl who works hard to be the perfect daughter, friend, and student. But when she starts to enter puberty, a family quirk reveals itself: Every time she feels a strong emotion, she turns into a giant red panda. Now, in addition to navigating life as a teenager, she also has to navigate life as a red panda.

Turning Red | Official Trailer

Luca (2021) new

Genre Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Stars Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer, Emma Berman

Directed by Enrico Casarosa

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Pixar’s newest release went directly to Disney+. Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, two worlds exist in constant fear of one another: The town above the sea and the town below the sea. But there will always be trailblazers, and when young Luca, who has always dreamt of seeing the surface, follows Alberto, a fellow “sea monster,” out of the water, he finds that the air magically turns them both into regular surface-dwelling humans. Unfortunately, if they get wet, they revert to their below-sea form. On land, the two boys team up with a surface girl to help her win a race in which the grand prize is a Vespa scooter, the perfect thing to take the boys away from their upsetting home lives. Luca is gorgeously animated, of course, and it’s a delightful coming-of-age tale. The clear romantic undertones between the two boys also mark a step — albeit a small one — toward greater inclusion in the Pixar world.

Ratatouille (2007)

Genre Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Stars Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano

Directed by Brad Bird

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In most cases, a rat in the kitchen would be a nightmare. In Remy’s (Patton Oswalt) case, it’s a dream. Both for himself — a rat with an extremely sophisticated palate — and for the patrons at one of Paris’ finest (but faltering) restaurants. Remy finds an opportunity to reach his culinary dreams when he stumbles into the restaurant’s kitchen, fixing a soup, but gets caught by young human custodian Linguini in the process. To Linguini’s shock, the customers love the soup, and the staff quickly dub him a prodigy. Needing the job, Linguini forms a partnership with Remy to help the rat create extraordinary food and revitalize the restaurant’s image in Paris.

Soul (2020)

Genre Animation, Comedy, Fantasy, Family

Stars Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Graham Norton

Directed by Pete Docter

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Jamie Foxx voices Joe Gardner, a middle school band teacher whose jazz career never quite took off. But when one of his former students calls him with an opportunity to play a gig with the renowned Dorothea Williams Quartet, he thinks his life is about to finally change. Unfortunately, in his excitement, he falls into a manhole and is shipped off to The Great Beyond. Unwilling to give up his shot, Joe panics, finding himself instead in The Great Before, where he meets an intransigent soul named 22 who has refused for millennia to go to Earth. They strike a deal in which Joe will help 22 finally earn the Earth Pass, which he’ll use as his ticket back to his body.

Toy Story (1995)

Genre Animation, Adventure, Family, Comedy

Stars Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles

Directed by John Lasseter

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The one that started it all! It’s not just the original Pixar film, however; it’s the first entirely computer-animated film in history. But Toy Story was groundbreaking when it released in 1995 not just because of the animation but due to its surprising depth and heart that hadn’t really been seen in an ostensibly children’s movie before. It’s a film for the kid in everyone, that believes that imagination and childhood are the ultimate gifts. Through Woody, Buzz, Mr. Potato Head, Rex, and the rest of the toys in Andy’s bedroom, we see a magical world that delightfully mirrors our own but refuses to grow up. Adults, frankly, may learn more from this film than children do. It’s rare in life that your first attempt at something is your best work, but considering Toy Story has spawned three sequels, it feels safe to say this is one of the most successful and enduring film franchises on the planet.

Onward (2020)

Genre Family, Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy

Stars Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Directed by Dan Scanlon

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Onward takes place in a fairy tale world that looks a whole lot like modern-day Los Angeles. You see, the world was once full of magic, but magic was tough to master. When technology made things more convenient, magic all but disappeared from the world. Now, there are trash-eating unicorns on every block and once-powerful creatures like the Manticore operate kitschy family restaurants. But when two teenage boys are given a magical staff by their late father, they perform a magical spell to bring their dad back for one day. Unfortunately, the spell goes wrong and they only bring back his lower half. Now, they must set out on a quest to complete the spell lest they waste their one day with their father. The journey is filled with cryptic maps, impossible obstacles, unimaginable discoveries, and, as you might expect, plenty of magic.

Finding Nemo (2003)

Genre Animation, Family

Stars Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould

Directed by Andrew Stanton

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With a cast led by comedians Albert Brooks and Ellen Degeneres, Finding Nemo is one of the most transparently comedic movies in the Pixar repertoire. However, it’s also one of the more socially conscious films as well, with a subtle message of conservation enduring throughout clownfish Marlin’s (Brooks) epic search across the ocean to find his lost son, Nemo. As Pixar’s first film set beneath the sea, the visuals in this one are breathtaking and remind us not just of the ocean’s beauty but of its essential nature to the planet. Plus, with characters like the absent-minded Dory, surfer bro sea turtles, and vegetarian sharks, the trip to P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way Sydney is a load of fun.

Up (2009)

Genre Animation, Comedy, Family, Adventure

Stars Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai

Directed by Pete Docter

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Perhaps Up‘s greatest claim to fame is how fast it makes you start crying your eyes out. With one of the most touching, heart-wrenching, tidy opening scenes of any film, Up takes you through the entire lifecycle of a relationship and establishes the character dynamics and narrative fuel that will power the entire film in about five minutes. It’s a rare film that starts you in tears and uplifts you throughout the rest of the story. Literally, as it happens, as the story follows an elderly gentleman who attaches enough balloons to his home to fly away to the paradise he never managed to visit with his wife while she was alive. There are laughs aplenty, too, but Up is one of the tear-jerking films in the Pixar repertoire for both sad and joyous reasons.

WALL·E (2008)

Genre Animation, Family, Science Fiction

Stars Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin

Directed by Andrew Stanton

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WALL-E appeals to a range of people, from imaginative kids to science-fiction buffs. While Finding Nemo‘s conservation is more subtle, WALL-E overtly warns of the dangers of mass consumption and mindfully critiques our past and present. While it may not be one to watch at the holidays with a bipartisan family, this anti-corporate, pro-environment film is a satirical look at global greed and gluttony, one that poses provocative questions about humanity’s relationship with technology. It’s a thoughtful movie about what it means to be human, starring an out-of-date robot and its next-gen companion. Naturally, it’s one of Pixar’s finest explorations of humanity.

The Incredibles (2004)

Genre Action, Adventure, Animation, Family

Stars Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson

Directed by Brad Bird

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The Incredibles didn’t precede superhero movies by any means, but it did take on the superhero genre well before the mass expansion of the Marvel and DC cinematic universes. Unencumbered by backstory, tropes, or rules, The Incredibles came at superhero movies with a fresh eye by centering the story on an entire superpowered family. You think your family is dysfunctional, try giving superpowers to everyone and asking the kids to figure out how to use them while a supervillain embarks on a vendetta to destroy you all. The problem is, superheroes are not legally allowed to operate in the open after harsh national legislation. With a fun mix of adventure, humor, and an exploration of justice and the meaning of family, The Incredibles has more depth than the average superhero movie without sacrificing any of the action.

Coco (2017)

Genre Family, Animation, Fantasy, Music, Comedy, Adventure

Stars Anthony Gonzalez, Gael García Bernal, Benjamin Bratt

Directed by Lee Unkrich

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Pixar has never shied away from incorporating diverse cultures, viewpoints, and worlds into its universe and, by centering around Dia de Los Muertos, Coco is one of the most visually stunning feats in the entire Pixar collection. This lush, colorful fantasy follows a little boy, Coco, on a magical journey into the afterlife as he uncovers secrets and discovers a deeper connection to his family, his heritage, and his own future. One of the most musical of the Pixar films, Coco makes you want to sing, dance, and revel in the excitement, right up until it starts strumming chords on your heartstrings.

Inside Out (2015)

Genre Animation, Family, Adventure, Drama, Comedy

Stars Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader

Directed by Pete Docter

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When you’re a kid, you’ve got big feelings. It just so happens that those feelings have big feelings too, as Inside Out so deftly explains. While it’s admittedly a bit high concept for kids, Inside Out does a remarkable job of illustrating the inner emotional turmoil of Riley, a happy Midwestern girl whose life is turned upside down when her parents up and move her to San Francisco. Riley’s emotions — led by Joy (Amy Poehler) — attempt to guide her through this life-changing event, but it’s proving much more difficult than expected. Sadness (Phyllis Smith) keeps taking the wheel, much to Joy’s frustration. But when Joy and Sadness are inadvertently swept away into the back of Riley’s mind, Anger, Fear, and Disgust are the only emotions left in Headquarters.

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