These 10 Pixar Movies Are Officially the Best of All Time

Image via Pixar Animation Studios Published Oct 28, 2026, 8:17 PM EDT Writing from the Chicagoland area in Illinois, Robert is an avid movie watcher and will take just about any excuse to find time to go to his local movie theaters. Robert graduated from Bradley University with degrees in Journalism and Game Design with a minor in Film Studies. Robert tries his best to keep up with all the latest movie releases, from those released in theaters to those released on streaming. While he doesn't always keep up with the latest TV shows, he makes it a goal to watch nearly every major new release possible. He has been honing his craft and following any and all movie news all his life, leading up to now, where he has a vast knowledge of film and film history. He also logs every movie that he watches on his Letterboxd page, and has hosted a weekly online movie night with his closest friends for over 6 years. Sign in to your Collider account Pixar has continuously been celebrated as one of the all-time greatest studios in the realm of feature-length animation, ushering in a completely new era of computer-based 3D animation that overtook hand-drawn 2D animation as the standard for Hollywood animation. This influence and impact on the entire industry wouldn't have been nearly as impactful without the numerous masterpieces that the studio has released over the years, many of which are considered some of the greatest animated movies of all time. Nearly every film the studio has released has become someone's fan favorite, as it has built a level of quality that has proven more consistent than most other Hollywood animation studios. At their best, Pixar movies can transport audiences into some of the most delightful and emotional worlds animation has to offer. More than any of the other films they've released, these masterclasses of the animation industry will continue to be appreciated and loved for decades to come. 10 'Soul' (2020) Image via Pixar Animation Studios For the most part, Pixar's modern offerings don't often enter the conversation in terms of their absolute greatest films. This isn't to say that their recent films are bad by any means, just that it's hard for any modern animated film to live up to the masterful reputation of their golden era. However, the clear-cut example of one of their modern films that does live up to their high standards is Soul, a beautiful story of life, passion, and drive that still features some of the best animation the studio has ever put out. It utilizes the classic emotional strengths of Pixar films for a great message on the beauty of life, seeing a human character going through an otherworldly transformation that helps him gain a greater appreciation for the life he's taken for granted. It has a great, jazzy soundtrack, some incredibly stylish and textured animation that truly brings New York City to life, and it's absolutely overflowing with creativity when it comes to the interpretations of the afterlife and the astral plane. 9 'Inside Out' (2015) Image via Pixar Animation Easily Pixar's best fully original movie of the 2010s, Inside Out is what many people think of when considering the height of what Pixar is capable of in terms of post-golden era outings. This beautiful portrayal of emotions and the difficulties of childhood has touched the hearts of many audiences who witnessed the film, telling an important message for kids about the role that all emotions, even supposedly negative ones, have in our lives. It has a level of depth and emotional maturity that allows its central message and story to connect with adults as much as it does children, perfectly playing into the brilliance and timelessness of Pixar's approach to storytelling. The film also happens to have a great deal of standout comedic moments, including an incredibly memorable sequence that makes use of different animation styles and comedic interpretations of the wild ways that our intricate minds and memories work. 8 'Toy Story 3' (2010) Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures No singular Pixar franchise has had quite the staying power and passion put behind it as Toy Story, with each entry in this beloved franchise proving to be iconic in its own right. However, Toy Story 3's return to the franchise after over a decade of absence, as well as setting itself up as the final chapter for these beloved characters, quickly made it an icon of Pixar's filmography. Even after the series received multiple sequels and spinoffs afterwards, this is still, to many fans, the perfect way to cap off the story of some of the most iconic characters in animation history. The animation takes a major upgrade from the original two films, feeling much brighter and more detailed as it tells an exciting prison break story amidst its themes of growing up and passing on the fun to the next generation. Passion for this sequel was overwhelming in terms of critical and commercial success, with it even managing to get a nomination for Best Picture as well as being one of only 5 Pixar movies to gross over $1 billion (and of those billion-dollar grossers, it's easily the best of the bunch). 7 'Finding Nemo' (2003) Image via Pixar Animation A beautiful aquatic life story of learning to be a better parent and trusting one's child while not being too overprotective, Finding Nemo has been an icon of Pixar's filmography since its release. It has all of the facets of a classic Pixar film, featuring an emotionally heart-wrenching opening, a wide array of memorable comedic side characters, and some groundbreaking animation that was pushing the medium forward when it was released. This lovable story of a clownfish traveling across the ocean in order to find his lost son is jam-packed with iconic moments, overwhelming charm, and some of the best comedy of any Pixar film to date. The film ushered in a massive trend of fish-centric animated movies that continues to this very day, and although many of its competitors sought to utilize the ocean location to save costs on animation, Finding Nemo is still impressive over 20 years after its release. 6 'Toy Story 2' (1999) Image via Buena Vista Pictures Distribution While Toy Story 3 is often the default for people when considering the best Toy Story film, since it's hard to beat out a film that makes one cry, Toy Story 2 is just as valid a choice thanks to its abundance of fun moments and insightful messaging surrounding legacy and toys as playthings vs. collectibles. The film features arguably the best comedy of the series and some of the best character dynamics, whether it be the group of Andy's toys on their rescue mission or Woody's dynamic with the Roundup crew. This satisfying movie sequel built upon the strengths and worldbuilding of the original seamlessly, setting the path for success that every other Toy Story sequel would largely follow and find inspiration from in some way. In some ways, Toy Story 2 can be seen as the definitive Toy Story experience, playing to the greatest strengths of the franchise and having loads of fun in the process. Collider Exclusive · 8 Questions · 2 Minutes Which Iconic Fandom Should You Join? Harry Potter · Lord of the Rings · Star Wars · Star Trek Eight honest questions about how you actually are: what you put on when you need cheering up, how deep you go into the things you love, what you argue about, what you keep on your shelf. Answer them and we will tell you where you belong. Four of the biggest fandoms on earth are taking new members, and they could not be more different from one another. ⚡Harry Potter(Wizarding World) 💍Lord of the Rings(Middle-earth) ⚔️Star Wars(A Galaxy Far Away) 🖖Star Trek(The Final Frontier) FIND YOUR PEOPLE → 01 What do you put on when you need cheering up? Nobody is brave about this one. AThe same thing I have watched a hundred times. BSomething long, slow and beautiful. CSomething big and loud with a great score. DOne clever episode of something hopeful. NEXT QUESTION → 02 How deep do you go into something you love? There is no shallow end here, only different deep ends. AI know every character and all the gossip. BI have read the appendices and studied the maps. CI have a ranked opinion on every instalment. DI want to know how the world actually works. NEXT QUESTION → 03 What do you and your friends actually argue about? Every fandom has one argument it has been having for years. AWhich one of us is which type. BWhether the adaptation got it right. CWhether the new stuff ruined the old stuff. DWhether the right thing was actually done. NEXT QUESTION → 04 How do you feel about a room full of strangers? Every one of these comes with a very big room. AGreat, and I will know everybody by the end. BFine, as long as they take it seriously. CBrilliant, especially if there is something to dress up for. DHappy, provided the conversation is interesting. NEXT QUESTION → 05 Where would you rather spend a week? Pick on instinct rather than on budget. AAn old castle somewhere rainy. BMountains, long walks, no phone signal. CA desert with an unbelievable night sky. DA city built around a university. NEXT QUESTION → 06 What do you believe about people, mostly? All four of these stories have an answer, and they disagree. AMost of them turn out better than expected. BThe smallest ones decide the biggest things. CAnybody can change, even very late on. DWe work it out if we keep talking. NEXT QUESTION → 07 What is actually on your shelf? Look over at it before you answer. AEverything I owned when I was twelve. BHardbacks, in order, read more than once. CFigures, posters, and a few things still boxed. DBooks about how things work, plus a model or two. NEXT QUESTION → 08 What do you actually want from a story? Eight questions in, this is the one that picks your fandom. AA place I can go back to whenever I need it. BA world complete enough to get lost in. CSomething huge I can share with everybody. DAn idea that changes how I think. REVEAL MY FANDOM → Membership Confirmed Your Fandom Is…Four of the largest communities on the planet, and four completely different reasons to belong to one. Here is yours, what it would give you, and the argument you would be having within a week. Harry PotterYou belong to the fandom that is really about comfort. Hogwarts works on people because it is a place rather than a plot, and the pull is not the wizard war so much as the corridors, the food, the weather and the sense that somebody is expecting you. You are drawn to belonging, which is why this fandom sorted itself into houses within about five minutes and has never stopped. This is the most social of the four, and the one most likely to know which type every single person in your life would be. The books are built to be reread rather than analysed, and rereading is exactly what you do with things you love. The new HBO series is bringing the whole thing back one book at a time, which means the arguments are about to start all over again. Lord of the RingsYou belong to the deepest fandom on this list, the one where somebody has always read further than you and is quietly delighted to say so. Middle-earth rewards patience more than any other world in popular culture. You like the sense that the story you are reading is only the visible part of something enormous, which is precisely how Tolkien built it. This fandom takes adaptation seriously to a degree that other fandoms find slightly alarming, and it has good reasons for that. Your favourite thing about the books is probably the bit that is not action at all, which is the walking, the songs and the long goodbyes. Nobody here thinks heroism belongs to the powerful, and the whole story exists to make that argument. Star WarsYou belong to the loudest and largest tent of the four, the one where three generations are all watching the same thing and none of them agree about any of it. That disagreement is not a flaw in this fandom, it is the main activity. You want something you can share with absolutely everybody, from a six year old to a grandparent, and this is the only one on the list that really does that. Nobody argues like Star Wars fans argue, and the argument has been running since roughly 1980 with no sign of resolution. The pull here is sensory before it is narrative, since it is the sound design, the score and the look of a used and dented galaxy. You would be first in the queue, in costume, with strong opinions and a genuinely good time. Star TrekYou belong to the thinking fandom, the one that turns up for the argument rather than the explosion. Trek has always been a series of ethical problems in space, and the people who love it love being asked what they would have done. You are an optimist in a way that is currently unfashionable, and this is the only major franchise still willing to say the future might be better. The best episodes are the ones where nobody fires anything, which is a sentence that makes perfect sense to this fandom and to nobody else. Starfleet Academy brought the franchise back to a classroom in 2026, which is appropriate, because Trek has always been a bit of a seminar. You would want the conversation afterwards more than the episode itself, and here you will always find somebody willing to have it. ↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ 5 'Monsters, Inc.' (2001) Image via Pixar Animation A charming workplace comedy taking place in the chaotic world of nightmare monsters, a lot of the charm and humor in Monsters, Inc. comes from the inherent charm of seeing these wildly imaginative creatures go about their lives and jobs just like our own world. Complete with all-star vocal performances from Billy Crystal, John Goodman, and Steve Buscemi, Monsters, Inc. exudes charm and wit in just about every aspect of its filmmaking and comedy. When the film first came out, a lot of the excitement in the world of technical animation came from the deeply impressive fur animation on Sully, animation that still holds up tremendously 25 years later and has stood as a baseline for hair physics in 3D animation. Still, even beyond the initial technical brilliance of the film, this buddy comedy has been a classic for the ages that largely defines 2000s culture. 4 'The Incredibles' (2004) Image via Pixar Animation Studios One of several notable animation masterpieces from legendary director Brad Bird, The Incredibles is in contention for one of the greatest superhero movies of all time, an even more impressive feat for a film not adapted from any pre-existing source material. The way that it delves into mature and layered family dynamics with some of the best worldbuilding in animation history has made it an unflinching icon of Pixar mastery ever since its release. While the film is absolutely chock-full of engaging action sequences and all sorts of family fun, The Incredibles is at its best when it's delving into the mature intricacies of its world and the ripple effect that it has on the superheroes forced to adhere to an unyielding world. It makes for some incredibly poignant stuff that is still in a league of its own in terms of superhero worldbuilding, even after the genre has massively exploded in popularity in the decades to follow. 3 'Up' (2009) Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures One specific perception that Pixar has held over its contemporaries is its ability to conjure up the waterworks in its audiences, who often sit down expecting a lighthearted family romp only to be hit with some of the most emotional, tearjerking cinema a family film can muster. No singular film quite exemplifies this strength of Pixar's filmography like Up, whose opening act has become legendary for just how beautifully it is executed as well as just how emotionally impactful it is. Much of the film's masterpiece status and reputation is attributed to the beautiful opening act, but the rest of the film is still great in its own right, delivering on the impact and weight of the opening while also having a lot of fun and an adventurous spirit with its premise. Like Toy Story 3, the film was so celebrated that it ended up earning a nomination for Best Picture, as it continues to be heralded time and time again as one of the definitive masterpieces of 2000s animation. 2 'Ratatouille' (2007) Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures An absolute love letter to the joy and passion that goes into creation and artistic endeavors in all forms, Ratatouille was certainly celebrated upon its initial release, but the film's reputation and overwhelming praise as one of Pixar's best really came to a head in the years since its release. The film's messaging manages to be even more powerful and striking nowadays, as in an age of AI creation taking away the magic and joy of creation, Ratatouille is a stark reminder of exactly why artists and visionaries create in the first place. It may seem silly to attribute such lofty and important gravitas to a film where a rat voiced by Patton Oswalt wants to cook in a gourmet restaurant, but giving silly cartoon concepts the gravitas and importance of a true cinematic work of art is exactly what Pixar does best. This Brad Bird masterpiece thrives off of the passion and fervor of its own creation, inviting the audience to defy norms and pursue what they are passionate about, because hiding away one's true self would only lead to more pain in the long run. 1 'WALL·E' (2008) Image via Pixar Animation Studios While everyone is going to have their own choice as to what their personal favorite Pixar film is, since they each have their own distinct appeals and charms to them, it feels disingenuous to call any film other than WALL·E their greatest achievement to date. This charming story of a little robot going on a journey across space and helping return humanity to Earth stands as a perfect mixture of glorious visuals, top-notch comedy, and insightful environmental messaging. It stands as a glorious example not just of everything that Pixar stands for and is capable of as an animation studio, but it signifies and inherently delivers upon their classic charms and strengths as an animation studio more than any of their other animated films. The film is timeless in its execution, not only delivering on the trends that were defining animation in the era, but also finding inspiration from classic sci-fi films and golden age Hollywood. All the while, its central themes of environmentalism and worldbuilding of a barren, uninhabitable Earth are still among the very best dystopian worlds ever put in a film. WALL·E Release Date June 27, 2008 Runtime 98 minutes Cast Ben Burtt WALL·E / M-O (voice) Elissa Knight Eve (voice)