The Pixar movies: Rank 'em!
The first two Toy Story movies are playing in 3-D theaters. Up is coming out on DVD and Blu-ray pretty soon. So heck, why not take a shot at ranking all the Pixar movies? Well, maybe because the Pixar movies are so uniformly good that judging them against each other becomes really, really hard? Seriously, it's hard to beat their combination of great storytelling, visual brilliance, inspired voice casting, and emotional resonance, and there are a number of them that I would consider among my favorite movies of all time. It's easier to rank the Star Trek movies, since only four (now five) really matter, and the rest kind of fill out the list. Or the Harry Potter movies because there are so few of them. But we're not here to take the easy way out! Here's my personal ranking (just the feature films, not the shorts, because that would be even harder), subject to change at any time, or till Toy Story 3 comes out. --David
1. The Incredibles: I love, love, love this movie and have seen it more times than I can count. And if I ran across it on TV right now, I'd watch it again. It helps that I'm a superhero fan, but it's a perfect combination of action, humor, and poignancy.
2. Monsters Inc.: I love this one too--a great concept and an absolute blast to watch.
Billy Crystal and John Goodman have great rapport, and "Kitty!" has become one of those magical movie words.
3. Toy Story: Our introduction to the wonder of Pixar, and a way of seeing toys that we really hadn't seen before but will never forget.
4. Up: I may be ranking this one a bit high because it's the one I've most recently seen, but the early part of the movie was totally unexpected and magical for me, and by itself worthy of a high ranking on this list.
Keyword: "Squirrel!"
5. Finding Nemo: A really outstanding film that could probably be ranked higher, but I've never loved this one as much as, say, its predecessor, Monsters Inc. It is fabulous to watch and a lot of fun, though.
Keyword: "Mine."
6. Wall-E: Might be at a bit of a disadvantage because it's the only one I didn't see in theaters, but it's a real charmer (and like Up, almost two totally different movies). Key random musical moment: "Put on Your Sunday Clothes."
7. Ratatouille: Another really fun film that could be ranked higher for its eye-catching depiction of food and France.
Rats in the kitchen, though... Ick.
8. Toy Story 2: Yeah, it's one of the best sequels of all time. Yeah, I ranked it this low. Yeah, I feel bad about it.
9. A Bug's Life: Pixar's second film is a remake of the Japanese classic Seven Samurai, and again, on any other list (or any other day) it would rank highly.
10. Cars: This was my easiest selection of the list because it's the only Pixar film that disappointed me. It's their own fault for raising the own bar so high--I said to a friend, "It's good, but it's no Pixar film"--but it didn't really feel like their hearts were in it. It's also the only one (other than Up) I've seen only once. I'd probably enjoy it if I saw it again, but I don't think it would climb up the list.
Ellen on October 09, 2009 at 01:50 AM
MAN this is hard. a great idea though!
1. Toy Story 2--there is a line where Al is talking to his Japanese buyers, and he ends the call with "Don't touch my mustache!" That phrase is what they teach you in Japanese class to remember "doo itashimashite," which means you're welcome. for that subtletly alone it should be #1.
2. Finding Nemo--ellen degeneres deserved an Oscar.
3. The Incredibles
4. Toy Story (this and incredibles are interchangeable)
5. Wall-E
6. Ratatouille--it grew on me because of repeat viewings, my son's favorite.
7. Up--only because it's too new, it will take a second viewing for me to decide where it ultimately lands.
8. Monsters Inc.
9. A Bug's Life--though the outtakes are awesome and i wish they hadn't stopped doing them after monsters inc.
10. Cars--i agree, it's the most disappointing. i actually cannot get my kids to sit through it.
Kurt's Krap on October 09, 2009 at 06:08 AM
I initially thought the same of Cars but repeated watchings has made it close to the top for me.
So in order of how I can never tire of Pixar flix:
1. The Incredibles
2. Cars
3. Toy Story
4. Monsters Inc.
5. Finding Nemo
6. Toy Story 2
7. Up
8. Wall-E
9. Ratatouille
10. A Bug's Life
A.W. on October 09, 2009 at 12:07 PM
For my money, worst was Wall-E. i was really, really disappointed in that one. and waaaaay too heavy handed. second is ratatouille. it was okay, but except for one brilliant moment not very funny and not very moving either.
Haven't seen up.
And then the rest are really so close its hard to rank. i will say that toy story 2 always has a special place in my heart, listening to my niece sing along to sarah maclachlan, on that song that goes "when somebody loved me..." (that might be the title, but i really don't know).
And a bug's life is grossly underrated.
John on October 09, 2009 at 12:11 PM
My grandson is totally absorbed by "Cars." So am I
Dave on October 09, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Good stuff 1-7, bottom 3 drop off considerably.
1. Incredibles
2. Nemo
3. Toy Story
4. Ratatoule
5. Monsters, Inc
6. UP
7. Toy Story 2
8. Bugs Life
9. Cars
10. Wall-E
Da Coyote on October 09, 2009 at 12:15 PM
I won't rank them, because I love 'em all. My most repeated comment to friends is that all the creative talent in California has migrated to Pixar. The studios make do with what's left.
MIKE on October 09, 2009 at 12:21 PM
CARS - My son was 2 years old, sat through the whole movie in the theatre! Never had such a good time!
F.A.Hagen on October 09, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Cars is the best of the lot. I would roughly reverse the order of the list.
les9596 on October 09, 2009 at 12:31 PM
What about "The Brave Little Toaster", I believe both the first and best of the Pixar movies. The character Lampy from that movie is now part of the their logo. It's a "small" movie with real heart, great for kids and adults alike.
Rich on October 09, 2009 at 12:32 PM
I'm really glad you put Monsters Inc. near the top. I loved that movie. The only thing I might change on your list is I might swap 7 and 8 because I think Toy Story 2 was more solid than Ratatouille, which had one GREAT moment in an otherwise average film.
JDW on October 09, 2009 at 12:35 PM
I'm not embarrassed to admit that the Incredibles is in my top ten movies of all time! Absolutely love that movie. But, then, The Big Lebowski is in my top five so what's that tell ya.
Quinn on October 09, 2009 at 12:36 PM
I agree with other posters that "Cars" has to rank higher. I have seen it about 20 times, and absolutely love it. The subtleties and car jokes throughout are superb and it has an amazing message. I haven't seen Wall-E or Up, but really, all the Pixar movies are so close, they might as well all tie for first. Even the shorts before the movies are better than most of anything else the rest of Hollywood releases!
Richard40 on October 09, 2009 at 12:45 PM
I would move Toy Story up to 6, and WALL-E down to 8. Otherwise you list looks pretty good. Haven't sen Up yet, so can't comment on that. Of course as you also said, even the lower ranked Pixar movies are pretty good.
Hal on October 09, 2009 at 12:50 PM
My 2 cents ...
1. Incredibles - brought back memories of "Our Man Flint" films
2. Toy Story 2 - Jessy's back story brought me to tears
3. Toy Story - nostalgia and fun
4. UP - First part brought me near tears
5. Wall-E
6. Cars - traveled old RT 66 and I KNEW what they were saying
7. Ratatoule - This one had a "gotcha" moment
8. Nemo - fun and good character involvment
9. Monsters, Inc - fun to watch but no "gotcha" moment for me
10. Bugs Life - nice but no emotional connection
I own all of them except A Bugs Life
Cookie the Dog's Owner on October 09, 2009 at 12:55 PM
The Incredibles is not just the best Pixar film I've seen, it's the best cartoon I've ever seen and darned close to the best *film* I've ever seen. The others, in order:
2. Up -- A very close second, *very* close, almost a tie. Whoever wrote Dug's dialogue has a dog. Whoever wrote and edited the first fifteen minutes has a better understanding of human nature than 98% of the world's screenwriters and literary novelists
3. Toy Story -- I am not ashamed to admit that "I Will Go Sailing No More" moved me to tears
4. Ratatouille -- ranked high for Ego's flashback after his first bite of ratatouille, a magnificent bit of visual storytelling
The next five, well, you might as well call it a five-way tie for fifth place:
5. Toy Story 2
6. Cars
7. Monsters, Inc.
8. Finding Nemo
9. A Bug's Life
10. WALL-E -- I put it at the bottom for the heavy-handed trendy eco-agitprop, but even the worst Pixar film is better than 90% of what's out there. WALL-E and EVE are better romantic actors than any screen couple in any live-action "romantic comedy" of the last 25 years.
NC Mountain Girl on October 09, 2009 at 12:57 PM
I am a big Cars fan, too, but then I live in one of those small towns that went into an economic tailspin when I-40 was built.
I'd rank Ratatouille higher if for no other reason than Anton Ego's speech on the insignificance of critics. I consider it must reading for all columnists and bloggers. The skewering of mediocre supermarket offerings by celebrity chefs was also a nice touch.
DensityDuck on October 09, 2009 at 12:59 PM
I'd put "Toy Story 2" at the top, head and shoulders over anything else. Second is a tie, "Incredibles" and "Monsters Inc". (I'd actually put "Incredibles" at number one except that I have some severe qualms about the underlying themes.) "Toy Story 1" is next.
And, frankly, I don't consider the others worth mentioning. Other than the technical skill, there's not really anything raising them above the typical Dreamworks fare.
(Actually, full disclosure: I haven't seen "Ratatouille". But then, nothing I've heard about it makes me _want_ to go see it...)
And I'll also state that I'm in my thirties. If I were two, I'm sure that bright colors and cute characters would win the day, and that's why so many kids like "Cars" the best.
Nerdie McSweatervest on October 09, 2009 at 01:00 PM
Pretty good list. I agree on top & bottom, but would shuffle some of the middle ones around. Monsters Inc. would probably also be my #2 if not for the scene near the end where they go in and out of the doors -- it goes on and on, much too long. Still, I love that movie.
Cari on October 09, 2009 at 01:04 PM
1. Toy Story 2
2. Up
From there, it's a toss up, with Bug's Life, Cars and Wall E in the bottom three.
Favorite lines:
Toy Story 2:
Buzz Light Year: "Is everybody with me? Who's behind?
As slinky dog's back end comes around the corner he says, "Mine."
Cars: During the concert scene when Owen Wilson's car is on stage, a car in the back yells "Freebird!"
FInding Nemo: Dorey's attempts at "whale speak".
Scenes that made me laugh the hardest:
Toy Story 2, when the toys are trying to cross a busy street using orange traffic cones as cover. They stop and drop in the strangest places, making the cars weave and swerve.
All the out takes at the end of the Toy Stories and Bug's Life.
Sweetest moments:
The end of Monster's Inc.
The musical montage at the beginning of Up.
James C. Bennett on October 09, 2009 at 01:11 PM
I'd actually have to put A Bug's Life at the #1 spot, and I'll tell you why. I had the strange fortune to see a very early test screening of A Bug's Life. What I saw was black and white sketches, a few of them pseudo-animated, flip-book style, with a couple of action scenes rendered with crude computer animation composed of monochromatic spheres and blocks. The dialog had all been recorded, but they were still using a temp score. I was blown away. It was one of the best movies I had ever seen, and this at a time when I was at the movie theater at least once a week. I'm still not convinced that the finished version is in any substantial way better than the rough thing I had the pleasure to see, and I think this is why Pixar does so well--putting story first and visuals second.
Laurie K on October 09, 2009 at 01:23 PM
Up is one of the most beautiful and moving films I've ever seen. Easily top of the list.
Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame on October 09, 2009 at 01:23 PM
1) Monsters, Inc -- It's got great acting, great story, more moments that make you choke up than any other Pixar movie, in my opinion
2) A Bug's Life -- Apparently quite underrated. Perhaps the most quotable of all the films. Very creative in how it retold the Magnificent Seven Samurai story
These two stories stand on their own, and would be the most enjoyable if published in a book. I watch these anytime they are on, and always encourage my kids to watch 'em again when they are hesitating to watch a movie.
----
3) Toy Story -- The best of the rest. Started it all. Perfect cast of characters. No flaws that I can see.
4) The Incredibles -- Awesome. Great humor. ...just, well, they hit the "If everyone is special no one is" theme just a touch too hard, too heavy-handed. Almost made up for by the babysitter short...but not quite.
5) Toy Story II -- Right in line with the first Toy Story, I just felt the Zurg storyline was a touch too sappy. The "I'm your father" could have been a nice tribute to Star Wars if it hadn't been so overdone.
These are all movies I enjoy seeing again, once in a while.
----
6) Finding Nemo -- Ellen Degeneres was awesome, but Albert Brooks was completely mis-cast. As a father, I found myself irritated with his parenting and his lack of patience with everyone around him. Lousy leader in stress usually = lousy parent, in my opinion,again.
7-10)
I haven't yet seen Cars, Ratatouille, Up, or Wall-E. Of those, the only one I really want to see is Up, but the only one I currently plan to skip is Wall-E.
...I'm just not that much into the stories of Cars, Ratatouille and especially not Wall-E. Wall-E strikes me too much as proselytizing. But maybe I'll see it and change my mind.
Foobarista on October 09, 2009 at 01:34 PM
I actually lived on Route 66 for awhile, so I have to put cars up a few notches for that alone...
PoliTech on October 09, 2009 at 01:45 PM
1. A Bug's Life - Fantastic Story, "Flaming Death!"
2. Cars - If you ranked Cars low, you need to watch it again (preferably in HD) "There's Frank!"
3. Finding Nemo - Another great story (though in HD you can see some digital artifacts)
4. Monsters Inc. - Just a fun movie "I'm not gonna scare you. I'm off duty."
5. The Incredibles - A terrific movie, and Edna steals every scene she is in.
6. Toy Story 2 - excellent sequel.
7. Toy Story - an important digital movie milestone.
8. Ratatouille - The rats in the roof scene reminds me of the movie "Ben".
9. Wall-E - The first twenty minutes is good, then downhill from there.
10. Up - No redeeming qualities, Simply the most depressing, unrealistic, mess of a movie by Pixar ever.
B. Durbin on October 09, 2009 at 01:58 PM
"The Brave Little Toaster" is not a Pixar film. Pixar is exclusively CGI. The lamp is Luxo Jr., from the short film of the same name.
I make it simpler. The latest Pixar movie is automatically the best, with the rankings going in reverse chronological order. My husband isn't interested in the movies at the bottom of that list.