There are very few Hollywood brand names that have as strong a reputation for quality as Pixar, as the animation studio has been delighting audiences young and old for almost three decades now. Of the 26 films the company has released, only one is certified rotten on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.
The worst-reviewed movies in Pixar’s history would be counted among the best-reviewed for other animation studios like Dreamworks or Illumination, but fall short in comparison to the best Pixar has to offer. Almost half of its lowest tomatoes scores are for sequels and spin-offs, lining up with most fans’ desire for Pixar to focus on original stories.
A Bug’s Life (1998) – 92%
A Bug’s Life will always be an important movie in the history of Pixar for establishing the animation studio as more than a one-hit-wonder. This was only the second movie Pixar released after Toy Story, and proved that there were more imaginative ideas to come from the studio.
When A Bug’s Life was first released in 1998, it was hard not to compare the film to Dreamwork’s Antz, which premiered with a similar concept and story only one month earlier. Most critics like the film but view it as one of Pixar’s lesser releases when comparing it to some of the certified classics to come from the studio.
Luca (2021) – 91%
One of several recent Pixar films to release straight to Disney+ without a theatrical run, Luca is a remarkably charming movie. In fact, it would be hard to find a single review of this film that does not have the word “charming” in it. The beautiful Italian Riviera setting and relatable lead characters Luca and Alberto make for a very enjoyable watch.
Luca might not be as narratively satisfying as Pixar’s best movies, but it might be the most visually impressive film in the studio’s history. As David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter says, “the play of light on the gloriously blue water’s surface is almost photorealistic at times,” creating a world that makes the viewer want to jump into their television screen.
Onward (2020) – 88%
While the Pixar brand itself is the major selling point for most of the company’s releases, Onward is one of the animation house’s rare films that was primarily sold on the back of its two blockbuster lead actors, Tom Holland and Chris Pratt. The MCU stars’ charisma do a lot to prop up a fairly formulaic Pixar movie.
Most critics liked what Onward was going for, but thought the story lacked the spark that the company’s best original concepts have. The film made those comparisons easy to make by focusing so much on the theme of death, a subject matter better handled in a superior Pixar film, Coco.
Monsters University (2013) – 80%
Pixar’s only prequel film gave fans a chance to see Mike and Sully’s college days at the titular scaring institution. While most agree that Monsters University pales in comparison to the first film, it’s still a very fun origin story that squeezes a lot of humor out of the collegiate setting.
Given that the studio has developed a reputation for producing heart-wrenching scenes engineered to make the viewer cry, it’s refreshing to see a Pixar movie that prioritizes lighthearted comedy above all else. That light tone makes for a breezy watch but does make Monsters University feel less significant than top-shelf Pixar films.
Lightyear (2022) – 75%
The Toy Story franchise continues on with Lightyear, a spin-off film that deeply explores the world(s) of the galactic space ranger. Critics have been mostly positive about the origin story, praising its humor and visuals but wishing for a less conventional story structure.
The runaway fan-favorite character of Lightyear seems to be Sox the cat, as the robotic feline has already become the subject of countless memes in the days since the film’s release. While it’s a fun movie, many feel that this franchise should have been left dormant unless Pixar had a truly bold and original story to tell.
Brave (2012) – 78%
Pixar’s first film with a female protagonist is a solid addition to the Disney Princess canon, but is not one of the animation studio’s most celebrated releases. How critics reacted to the divisive twist that takes place halfway through Brave largely determined how they felt about the film itself, as many thought that the bear storyline was a distinctly unwanted departure.
Despite its flaws, Brave will always be remembered for introducing the world to the feisty and likable Merida. The Scottish princess is notable for her strong desire to remain single, a refreshingly modern approach for the normally lovesick princess archetype.
The Good Dinosaur (2015) – 76%
Pixar kicked off an unprecedented streak of critical and commercial successes with 1995’s Toy Story that lasted for exactly twenty years. The Cars franchise was the first time the studio was on the ropes with critics, but The Good Dinosaur was Pixar’s first box office flop.
It’s clear that this film never quite clicked with critics or general audiences, largely due to its rather surface-level story and themes. Most Pixar films beg for deeper analysis after the credits have rolled, but this is a surprisingly simple and shallow offering from the studio.
Cars – (2006) – 74%
It shouldn’t be a surprise to any longtime Pixar fan that the three Cars films stand as the three worst-reviewed films in the history of the animation studio. The first is absolutely the most respected of the trilogy, as it gets the most out of the thinned-out concept of a world inhabited by anthropomorphic cars.
Pixar films are special for their remarkably broad appeal, but there generally only seems to be two kinds of Cars supporters: very young boys and Nascar fans. This is largely due to the film’s simple and uninspired story, which showcases an impressive cast of voice talent without much going on underneath the hood.
Cars 3 (2017) – 69%
After the critical failure of the previous film, Pixar got the Cars franchise back on track with a third film that was closer in spirit to the series’ first movie. Fans appreciated the removal of secret agent hijinks, as the renewed focus on racing allowed for a deep exploration of the Lightning McQueen character.
Despite the fact that it was better reviewed than Cars 2, critics still saw this as a mediocre offering by Pixar’s lofty standards. It’s been clear for a while now that Disney only keeps this franchise around due to the billions of dollars it generates in merchandise sales, so fans shouldn’t have high expectations if a 4th Cars film is ever produced.
Cars 2 (2011) – 39%
It is remarkably impressive that Pixar has produced a quarter-century of movies with only a single rotten tomato to its name. It’s unquestionable that Cars 2 is deserving of that title, as it fails to live up to even the modest standards of this black sheep franchise for the animation studio.
This film abandons the Nascar-themed story of the first film for a plot focused on international espionage, an admittedly strange mix with the world of talking cars. Lightning McQueen is even sidelined as the main character in favor of Mater, which is bad news for anyone that isn’t interested in 90 minutes of Larry the Cable Guy’s milquetoast stand-up routine.
