What Do Critics Say? The Best & Worst Pixar Films

Rotten Tomatoes (Critics): 100%

Rotten Tomatoes (Audience): 92%

Metacritic: 92

IMDB: 8.3/10

Cinemascore: A

Year: 1995

Director(s): John Lasseter

Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts.

Synopsis: Ever wonder what toys do when people aren't around? Toy Story answers that question with a fantastic fun-filled journey, viewed mostly through the eyes of two rival toys – Woody, the lanky, likable cowboy, and Buzz Lightyear, the fearless space ranger.  Led by Woody, Andy's toys live happily in his room until Andy's birthday brings Buzz Lightyear onto the scene. Afraid of losing his place in Andy's heart, Woody plots against Buzz. But when circumstances separate Buzz and Woody from their owner, the comically-mismatched duo eventually learn to put aside their differences, and they find themselves on a hilarious adventure-filled mission where the only way they can survive is to form an uneasy alliance.

Rotten Tomatoes (Critics): 92%

Rotten Tomatoes (Audience): 72%

Metacritic: 77

IMDB: 7.2/10

Cinemascore: A

Year: 1998

Director(s): John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton

Cast: Dave Foley, Kevin Spacey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Hayden Panettiere, Phyllis Diller, Richard Kind, David Hyde Pierce, Denis Leary, Bonnie Hunt, John Ratzenberger.
Synopsis: Meet Flik. Independent-thinker ant. The only insect capable of throwing a kink in the food chain. After one of Flik's inventions goes terribly wrong, he embarks on a mission to help save the colony from a gang of freeloading grasshoppers in order to get back in good graces with the Queen. But when the group of "warrior bugs" that Flik recruits turns out to be a bumbling circus troupe, he must believe in himself and his inventions to save Ant Island once and for all.

Rotten Tomatoes (Critics): 100%

Rotten Tomatoes (Audience): 86%

Metacritic: 88

IMDB: 7.9/10

Cinemascore: A+

Year: 1999

Director(s): John Lasseter, Ash Brannon and Lee Unkrich

Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts, Wayne Knight.

Synopsis: Buzz, Woody, and their friends are back as Andy heads off to Cowboy Camp, leaving his toys to their own devices.  Things shift into high gear when an obsessive toy collector name Al McWhiggin, owner of Al's Toy Barn, kidnaps Woody.  At Al's apartment, Woody discovers that he is a highly valued collectible from a 1950s TV show called "Woody's Roundup."  He meets the other prized toys from the show:  Jessie the cowgirl, Bullseye the horse, and Stinky Pete the Prospector.  Andy's toys mount a daring rescue mission, Buzz Lightyear meets his match, and Woody has to decide where he and his heart truly belong.

Rotten Tomatoes (Critics): 96%

Rotten Tomatoes (Audience): 90%

Metacritic: 78

IMDB: 8.1/10

Cinemascore: A+

Year: 2001

Director(s): Pete Docter, David Silverman, and Lee Unkrich

Cast: John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Mary Gibbs, Steve Buscemi, James Coburn, Jennifer Tilly.

Synopsis: There's a reason why there are monsters in children's closets—it's their job. Monsters, Inc. is the most successful scream-processing factory in the monster world, and there is no better scarer then James P. Sullivan. But when "Sulley" accidentally lets a human girl into Monstropolis, life turns upside down for him and his buddy Mike.

Rotten Tomatoes (Critics): 99%

Rotten Tomatoes (Audience): 86%

Metacritic: 90

IMDB: 8.1/10

Cinemascore: A+

Year: 2003

Director(s): Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich

Cast: Albert Brooks, Alexander Gould, Allen DeGeneres, Willem DaFoe, Brad Garrett, Allison Janney, Stephen Root, Vicki Lewis, Geoffrey Rush.
Synopsis: In the colorful and warm tropical waters of the Great Barrier Reef, a Clown Fish named Marlin lives safe and secluded in his anemone home with his only son, Nemo. Fearful of the ocean and its unpredictable risks, he struggles to protect his son. Nemo, like all young fish, is eager to explore the mysterious reef. When Nemo is unexpectedly taken far from home and thrust into a tacky dentist’s office fish tank, Marlin finds himself the unlikely hero on an epic journey to rescue his son.

Rotten Tomatoes (Critics): 97%

Rotten Tomatoes (Audience): 75%

Metacritic: 90

IMDB: 8.0/10

Cinemascore: A+

Year: 2004

Director(s): Brad Bird

Cast: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Lee, Spencer Fox, Sarah Vowell, Brad Bird, Elizabeth Peña.
Synopsis: It takes a will of steel to hide your superhero talents from a world that still needs you, yet no longer appreciates what you can do. Battling a bulging belly and a boring job, Mr. Incredible longs for the glory days of upholding law and order while his superhuman family tries to fit in with their "normal" life. Relief from quiet suburbia finally comes years later, when the family uncovers a diabolical plan and must bring together their respective strengths to save the day.

Rotten Tomatoes (Critics): 74%

Rotten Tomatoes (Audience): 80%

Metacritic: 73

IMDB: 7.2/10

Cinemascore: A

Year: 2006

Director(s):  John Lasseter and Joe Ranft

Cast: Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt, Cheech Marin, Larry the Cable Guy, Tony Shalhoub, Jennifer Lewis, Paul Dooley, George Carlin.

Synopsis: Aspiring champion race car Lightning McQueen is on the fast track to success, fame, and everything he's ever hoped for—until he takes an unexpected detour on dusty Route 66. His have-it-all-now attitude is thrown into a tailspin when a small-town community that time forgot shows McQueen what he's been missing in his high-octane life.

Rotten Tomatoes (Critics): 96%

Rotten Tomatoes (Audience): 87%

Metacritic: 96

IMDB: 8.0/10

Cinemascore: A

Year: 2007

Director(s): Brad Bird and Jan Pinkava

Cast: Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lau Romano, Brian Dennehy, Peter Sohn, Peter O'Toole, Brad Garrett, Janeane Garofalo, Will Arnett.
Synopsis: A rat named Remy dreams of becoming a great chef despite his family's wishes and the obvious problem of being a rat in a decidedly rodent-phobic profession. When fate places Remy in the sewers of Paris, he finds himself ideally situated beneath a restaurant made famous by his culinary hero, Auguste Gusteau. Remy's passion for cooking soon sets into motion a hilarious and exciting rat race that turns the world of Paris upside down.

Rotten Tomatoes (Critics): 96%

Rotten Tomatoes (Audience): 89%

Metacritic: 94

IMDB: 8.4/10

Cinemascore: A

Year: 2008

Director(s): Andrew Stanton

Cast: Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard, John Ratzenberger, Kathy Najimy, Sigourney Weaver.

Synopsis: What if mankind had to leave Earth and somebody forgot to turn the last robot off? After hundreds of years doing what he was built for, WALL•E discovers a new purpose in life when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL•E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet's future, and races back to space to report to the humans. Meanwhile, WALL•E chases EVE across the galaxy and sets into motion one of the most imaginative adventures ever brought to the big screen.

Rotten Tomatoes (Critics): 98%

Rotten Tomatoes (Audience): 90%

Metacritic: 88

IMDB: 8.3/10

Cinemascore: A+

Year: 2009

Director(s): Pete Docter and Bob Peterson

Cast: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Bob Peterson, Delroy Lindo, Elie Docter, Jeremy Leary.
Synopsis: Carl Fredricksen, a 78-year-old curmudgeonly balloon salesman, is not your average hero. When he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the wilds of South America, he finally fulfills his lifelong dream of adventure. But after Carl discovers an 8-year-old stowaway named Russell, this unlikely duo soon find themselves on a hilarious journey in a lost world filled with danger and surprises.

Rotten Tomatoes (Critics): 99%

Rotten Tomatoes (Audience): 89%

Metacritic: 92

IMDB: 8.3/10

Cinemascore: A

Year: 2010

Director(s): Lee Unkrich

Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty, Don Rickles, Michael Keaton, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenbergerm, Estelle Harris, Jodi Benson, Emily Hahn, Blake Clark, Kristen Schaal, Jeff Garlin, Bonny Hunt, Whoopi Goldberg, Richar Kind.

Synopsis: The creators of the beloved Toy Story films re-open the toy box and bring moviegoers back to the delightful world of our favorite gang of toy characters in Toy Story 3. As Andy prepares to depart for college, Buzz, Woody, and the rest of his loyal toys are troubled about their uncertain future. Toy Story 3 is a comical adventure that lands the toys in a room full of untamed tots who can't wait to get their sticky little fingers on these "new" toys. It's pandemonium as the toys try to stay together, ensuring that "no toy gets left behind."

Rotten Tomatoes (Critics): 39%

Rotten Tomatoes (Audience): 50%

Metacritic: 55

IMDB: 6.3/10

Cinemascore: A-

Year: 2011

Director(s): John Lasseter and Brad Lewis

Cast: Larry the Cable Guy, Owen Wilson, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Eddie Izzard, John Turturro, Joe Mantegna, Thomas Kretschmann, Bonnie Hunt.

Synopsis: Star racecar Lightning McQueen and the incomparable tow truck Mater take their friendship to exciting new places in Cars 2 when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world's fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours, and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage.

Rotten Tomatoes (Critics): 78%

Rotten Tomatoes (Audience): 76%

Metacritic: 69

IMDB: 7.2/10

Cinemascore: A

Year: 2012

Director(s): Marc Andrews, Brenda Chapman, and Steve Purcell.

Cast: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Robbie Coltrane, Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson.

Synopsis: Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. From Disney and Pixar, a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida confronts tradition and challenges destiny to change her fate.

Rotten Tomatoes (Critics): 78%

Rotten Tomatoes (Audience): 81%

Metacritic: 65

IMDB: 7.3/10

Cinemascore: A

Year: 2013

Director(s): Dan Scanlon

Cast: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Helen Mirren, Peter Sohn, Joel Murray, Sean Hayes, Dave Foley, Charlie Day, Alfred Molina, Nathan Fillion, Aubrey Plaza, Tyler Labine, Bobby Moynihan.

Synopsis: Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan are an inseparable pair, but that wasn’t always the case. From the moment these two mismatched monsters met they couldn't stand each other. Monsters University unlocks the door to how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences and became the best of friends.

Rotten Tomatoes (Critics): 98%

Rotten Tomatoes (Audience): 89%

Metacritic: 94

IMDB: 8.3/10

Cinemascore: A

Year: 2015

Director(s): Pete Docter and Ronnie Del Carmen

Cast: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Richard Kind, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Kaitlyn Dias, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan.

Synopsis: Growing up can be a bumpy road, and it’s no exception for Riley, who is uprooted from her Midwest life when her father starts a new job in San Francisco. Like all of us, Riley is guided by her emotions – Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith). The emotions live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley’s mind, where they help advise her through everyday life. As Riley and her emotions struggle to adjust to a new life in San Francisco, turmoil ensues in Headquarters. Although Joy, Riley’s main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive, the emotions conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house and school.

Rotten Tomatoes (Critics): 76%

Rotten Tomatoes (Audience): 66%

Metacritic: 66

IMDB: 6.8/10

Cinemascore: A

Year: 2015

Director(s): Peter Sohn

Cast: Jeffrey Wright, Frances McDormand, Maleah Nipay-Padilla, Ryan Teeple, Jake McGraw, Marcus Scribner, Raymond Ochoa, Peter Sohn, Jack Bright, Anna Paquin, Sam Elliott.

Synopsis: The Good Dinosaur asks the question: What if the asteroid that forever changed life on Earth missed the planet completely and giant dinosaurs never became extinct? Pixar Animation Studios takes you on an epic journey into the world of dinosaurs where an Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend. While traveling through a harsh and mysterious landscape, Arlo learns the power of confronting his fears and discovers what he is truly capable of.

Rotten Tomatoes (Critics): 94%

Rotten Tomatoes (Audience): 91%

Metacritic: 77

IMDB: 8.1/10

Cinemascore: A

Year: 2016

Director(s): Andrew Stanton and Angus MacLane

Cast: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Ed O'Neill, Kaitlin Olson, Hayden Rolence, Ty Burrell, Diane Keaton, Eugene Levy, Idris Elba, Dominic West, Kate McKinnon, Bill Hader, Sigourney Weaver, John Ratzenberger, Brad Garrett, Willem Dafoe, Stephen Root, Vicki Lewis, Allison Janney.

Synopsis: Finding Dory reunites the friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish with her loved ones, and everyone learns a few things about the true meaning of family along the way. The all-new big-screen adventure dives into theaters in 2016, taking moviegoers back to the extraordinary underwater world from the original film.

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