Pixar is known for making imaginative, heartwarming movies that are enjoyable for kids and adults alike. Since the first Toy Story movie came out in 1995, the studio has leveraged animated storytelling to tap into the human experience in unexpected, humbling and beautiful ways.
Its filmmakers have explored our struggles with tragedy, loss and grief (including questions about the meaning of life), as well as our experiences with love, family and friendship. At its D23 fan event in August, Disney announced upcoming projects including Toy Story 5 and Incredibles 3. Other upcoming films include Hoppers, which is slated for a March 2026 release, and Coco 2, which is set to debut in 2029. Pixar’s latest film Elio, now in theaters, is a refreshingly original story about the power of imagination and the heaviness of grief.
All 29 Pixar Animation Studios films delve into emotional themes in different ways, which makes ranking them no easy task. It’s inevitable this list will ruffle some feathers, but it’s a testament to how much these movies mean to audiences.
In determining rankings, we examined five key attributes of each film: plot, characters, depth, cultural impact and rewatchability. This helped with the tough task of figuring out which of these truly great Pixar movies should top the list.
Here’s our ranking of the best Pixar movies in order of least crowd-pleasing to the most beloved.