Pixar is in quite a fascinating spot at the moment and even for the better part of the last 15 years! Even when delivering a handful of quality and/or downright excellent films over that time period, they’ve always seemed to be in a position to prove themselves with ever new entry they’ve released since the 2010s rolled around. It doesn’t matter that they put out Inside Out, Coco,Soul, and Turning Red during that time because Cars 2, Brave, The Good Dinosaur, and Lightyear all exist as well. This mindset especially takes center stage whenever they put out a sequel that is not Toy Story related (and even then, the last few they put out in Toy Story 4 and Lightyear got plenty of folks barking). Despite the majority of them turning out to be a success from both a critical and financial standpoint (Finding Dory, The Incredibles 2, and Toy Story 4), they always tend to get heavily scrutinized for either not being as good as the original or just for the pure fact that they even exist at all. This thought process going into each non-original Pixar installment is very infuriating to me.
I understand in this day and age where people have more of an eye of what’s going on from behind the scenes then ever before and the corporate politics that come into play are as incredibly obvious as they come but at the end of the day, you have to judge each film as their own thing and not based on how much you detest the creativity black hole in Hollywood. I bring this up because for all the good that there is to be found in Inside Out 2, I can only imagine we will see those exact counter arguments against it that you would not find for other sequels made by other animated studios.
As for the movie itself, it’s about as good of a sequel to the original Inside Out as you can get, and in some ways is even better than the first one. It still does it’s job in taking the series to the next level, where we follow Riley taking the next steps into her life, not only becoming a teenager but being more aware of the world that surrounds here. It still has that same heart, it still has that same music, and it still has the same emotions but it is also has the same form of creativity that the very best of Pixar films have. If the original Inside Out is one that resonated the most with children, then Inside Out 2 is one that I can see resonating with teenagers and adults. Even if I slightly prefer the first one, the sequel is more than a worthy companion piece to it that should not be dismissed in any way, shape, or form.
Premise: Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Tony Hale) and Disgust (Liza Lapira) have been running a successful operation by all accounts. However, when Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Envy (Ayo Edebiri), Ennui (Adele Exarchopoulos), and Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser) shows up, they aren’t sure how to feel.
Even if you take into the account of the numerous amount of sequels that Pixar has made for the past 15 years, I’ve argued that Inside Out was the first Pixar film outside of Toy Story that had more than enough material to justify making multiple sequels out of here. Mostly because, just like with the Toy Story sequels, Inside Out 2 seems most interested in taking the characters to the next step on their journey along with continuing the themes involving growing up, getting older, and finding your place in the world along the way. Those themes ring true to not just the story with Joy and her fellow emotion companions but also to Riley herself.
While Joy and the emotions of old and new that come into play do have a main significant role in the film, the main beating heart reigns with Riley. Not that it wasn’t the case in the first movie but here, we clearly see that Riley is now in the part of her life where she must gain controls of her emotions instead of letting the emotions control her. As she is now hitting the age of a teenager, she has now become more aware of the imperfect and flawed world around her. She loves hockey and her friends but if she can’t make the right choices, then there’s a chance that neither one of those factors can happen. It’s only when finding control of her emotions where Riley can determine the outcome of whether or not she can make the new hockey team, and still connect with friends of old and new. Whereas the first Inside Out saw the original emotions due the heavy lifting for Riley because she was still at the age where she didn’t know any better, Inside Out 2 shows the character having to learn to keep the original and new emotions in check, and having to do so at the most crucial part of her life.
That makes the arc that Joy goes through be a perfect counterpart to Riley’s own growth. Much like with Woody in Toy Story 2, Joy must come to terms with the fact that she can’t control Riley, no matter how hard she tries. As you get older and get more experience in the real world, it gets harder to stay positive and optimistic because you are now more aware of the consequences that you can go through when things don’t work out. And this usually always come during a time where you must develop your own self conscious and have better control of your emotions. Even if she can’t make Riley into what she wants her to be, Joy must do everything she can to be there for Riley whenever her own kid needs her. It’s parallels like these that help make Inside Out 2 stand out as a really affective and worthwhile sequel.
It’s not just Joy that gets the spotlight but the other emotions get their time to shine as well. This time around, it sees the original group of emotions with Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust go on this adventure together as they must get back up to the tower to stop Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui from controlling Riley. Each one of them get their own standout moments and it’s interesting to see them all develop different emotions within them the way that Joy was able to in the original Inside Out and even now.
And of course, you got to mention the new players in Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui. Anxiety is definitely the biggest standout as the leader of the group and taking matters into her own hands. Much like with the way the first film portrays Sadness, I respect the fact that the film doesn’t look to portray Anxiety as a villain but more as an antagonist. She’s not trying to do everything because she’s evil but because she thinks that is the right thing to do, even if her methods are rather flawed. Envy is cuter than a bag of kittens, Embarrassment is able to get his own G.O.A.T. moment as perhaps the most relatable of the new emotions, and Ennui is just the perfect description of Generation Z always on their phones in a nutshell.
The voice cast from top to bottom is stellar all around! Amy Poehler brings just as much joy (no pun intended), charm, and energy as she did in the first film, the new additions of Maya Hawke & Ayo Edebiri as Anxiety and Envy are such an absolute blast as well, and even if the (unfortunate) departing of Bill Hader as Fear and the (fortunate) departing of Mindy Kailing as Disgust is noticeable, both Tony Hale and Liza Lapira fit into the roles rather well, with Lapira in particular standing out much better than Kailing. Also, a big shoutout to Adele Exarchopoulos as Ennui. And Ron Funches as Bloofy. And Yong Yea as Lance Slashblade. And pretty much anyone else I didn’t mention. Moving on!
The animation is as breathtakingly beautiful as you would expect for a Disney film in 2024, the expansion of Riley’s mind is explored as well as it can be, the music is as soothing as before, and while there’s not quite a sad bit on par with Bing-Bong or a funny bit on par with “GIRL ALERT!”, the film does provide enough unique beats of emotion and comedy of it’s own that it more than makes up for it. The standout sequence in particular is one that I imagine will be the main talking point of this movie and the moment that I imagine the folks behind Pixar took inspiration from Uncut Gems. I’m sure Adam Sandler would be proud of that.
The nine-year long awaited sequel to Pixar’s surprise hit in 2015 is as every bit of affective, earnest, and heartful as it’s predecessor. This is arguably the first Pixar sequel not related to Toy Story that seems to have more on it’s mind to justify it’s own existence other than branding and merchandising. Going from seeing Riley as a youth moving to San Francisco to a teenager looking to make it into the high school hockey team with the popular girls, this sequel takes the logical next step into showcasing the inner turmoil of taking the next step to puberty with anxiety, envy, ennui, and embarrassment entering the picture, portrayed perfectly by newcomers Maya Hawke, Ayo Edebiri, Adele Exarchopoulos, and Paul Walter Hauser. There are nits to be picked such as having a familiar plot and structure as the original and a wrap-up that perhaps is a bit too squeaky clean by Pixar standards but as a whole, Inside Out 2 is able to act greatly as a natural continuation and expansion of the first movie’s story and themes.
As much as plenty of folks have been down on Pixar as of late with it’s abundance of sequels, I sure hope that Inside Out 2 is good enough for them that they can let it all slide and appreciate the film the way it was suppose to be appreciate. I can only hope these same folks get their butts in theaters around this time next year for Elio and whatever original film that is slated to come out in March 2026. Only then will they have a right to complain! But for me, after two films this great, I would welcome a third film with open arms!
Bring on Inside Out 3 if you may! (Oh and please bring Lance Slashblade in Kingdom Hearts 4!)
Here it is! It took a lot of time and effort from me but I’m ready to share my ranking of all Pixar films from worst to best! Everyone tends to have their own opinion of what constitutes as the very best and worst work form this company! Even so, there’s no denying that this is a company that has a huge impact on the way we all view animation and even cinema in general! If someone claims there has never been one Pixar movie that left a lasting impression on, they are lying through their teeth! To put it simply, they are one of the very best to ever make movies! Now that Inside Out 2 is now out in theaters, let’s rank all 28 movies they have released thus far!
28.) The Good Dinosaur
The worst Pixar film is probably one you either forget exist or were never even aware of it’s existence. The troubled production that The Good Dinosaur faced during the development of it is as clear as daylight onscreen. It’s got a neat and exciting premise (Dinosaurs never becoming extinct and living among human beings!) that it does nothing with. It’s got wonderful animation but there’s no creativity to do it whatsoever. It’s got a story about a relationship between a young mute boy and a dinosaur that is told in the most dull and predictable way imaginable. And that’s not even going into the inconsistent tone, shockingly poor voice work (The kid’s voice for the dinosaur just doesn’t fit whatsoever!), and even a scene where the kid and a dinosaur are basically… high on drugs. (Yes, really!) It’s certainly more watchable than other bad animated films out there and there’s a few moments when the visuals are allowed to do the talking that are effective, but The Good Dinosaur is a dull, mediocre, and plain forgettable mess. I guess that says something when Pixar’s worst film is one that no one remembers.
27.) Brave
Pixar had finally shown a big crack in the armor with Cars 2 a year prior and their next film, Brave didn’t really do much to win back audience’s trust. Much like The Good Dinosaur, it’s just a confused mess with ideas you’ve seen many times before and done many times better in other films. Take every cliché you’ve seen done in every other Disney princess movie and every other “nature” Disney movie, use those cliches in the most half-baked way possible, thrown in some family and relationship dynamics that feels unbelievable forced, and put all of that in a blender and you get Brave. It’s well-animated and it was sure nice to see Pixar finally make a film with a female protagonist but all of that is put to waste in this lackluster bore fest. Brave may not be quite the worst Pixar film ever made, as it does at least feel more like a coherent vision than The Good Dinosaur, but this is the one Pixar film I will always feels the least compelled to rewatch.
26.) Cars 2
Here is probably the first Pixar film that pretty much everyone agreed was bad. No one was really clamoring for a Cars 2, not even fans of the original Cars, but considering this was John Lasseter’s (a name that just about everyone wants to forget by now) passion project along with one of Disney’s most successful toy brand, there just had to be a sequel somehow. This time around, Mater is put to the forefront and it doesn’t work for the same reason that most comic relief characters don’t work then they are given the spotlight, they just don’t work as their own character. You also have a bizarre premise surrounding spies and espionage, an overly complicated plot, and an incoherent narrative that it makes you forget that first film was literally about a race car learning humbleness. At least it still looks good with nice new locations added and some entertaining action scenes but those aren’t anywhere good enough to justify this sequel’s existence. While I can conceive that Cars 2 is slightly overhated, it’s also not a film that is deserving of being defended in any way.
25.) Lightyear
For what is suppose to be Andy’s favorite film is actually the most mid and run-of-the-mill Buzz Lightyear film you could possibly imagine. It’s ironic that this is the first Pixar film in the post-covid/Disney Plus era to be released in theaters and yet Lightyear feels like the only one that was strictly made for Disney Plus. The first 2/3rd’s play out as the most conventional space adventure ever that leads to a third act that contains one of the dumbest plot twists in Disney history. It’s so bizarre seeing Pixar spent so much of the Toy Story films building Buzz’s legacy and history as a space ranger only to just toss that aside completely for his feature film. Not even the excellent animation and the awesome sidekick in Socks could make this space opera even remotely appealing. Lightyear should have been a slam dunk for Pixar but instead, it’s far in a way their most safe and obligated film that they’ve ever released. If you want to see a proper Buzz Lightyear film, just pop in Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins and call it day.
24.) Onward
This might certainly be a hot take but I found Onward to be quite lackluster. It has a fascinating premise with an emphasis on Dungeons & Dragons along with a very recognizable cast of celebrities that seems like they are having fun in their roles. Unfortunately, the execution of the picture left plenty to be desired. The world of Onward feels rather half-baked with little that is explained or flesh out on how it all works, completely lacking the compelling setting that Zootopia had, the relationship between the two brothers feels more irritating than engaging, and having nearly the whole film be about two kids resurrecting their dead dad’s lower body/crotch is beyond weird. Even if the ending, which many people claim makes the film, left me underwhelmed as it felt like nothing was accomplished for the main character by the end. I know this film has work well for others but it didn’t work for me whatsoever. Sorry, guys!
23.) A Bug’s Life
Here we have the film that takes the crown for being the most generally “okay” Pixar film that they have ever released. What makes it all the more ironic that this came out just around the time that DreamWorks’s Antz did, which would also take the crown for being the most generally “okay” DreamWorks film that they have ever released. How is the story? It’s okay! How are the characters? They’re okay! How is the animation? It was okay for the time! How is the sound? It’s okay! How is the main villain? He’s….actually pretty awesome and probably one of the best Pixar villains ever, and also happens to be voiced by a real life villain himself! No, I will not mention him by name! There’s not much to say about A Bug’s Life other than what I’ve been saying throughout. It’s just okay!
22.) Incredibles 2
Everyone and their mother had been waiting years for an Incredibles 2! With the original being one of the greatest superhero films ever made, everyone wanted to see more adventures with this super family! And after a 14-year long wait, we got a sequel that is aggressively…..just fine! There’s plenty of things to like about it! The animation is great, the action sequences are a lot of fun, it’s quite funny throughout, each character get a moment or two to shine, Michael Giacchino’s score is on point, and it was cool to see Elastic Girl get more of the stoplight this time around. Unfortunately, all the good things that are presented are hindered by a weak narrative with a plot and themes that has been done a million times before in other superhero films with nothing new added to it. It also has probably the most predictable plot twist in animation history with the main villain of the Screenslayer, who pails EMBARSSINGLY to Syndrome! For those that just want to spend more time with the characters from the original, you will likely be satisfied. However, for everyone else, you will likely be underwhelmed. To put it simply, Incredibles 2 is too late…14 years too late!
21.) Monster’s University
I don’t know how many people in the world were clamoring for a Monsters Inc. prequel that put focus on Mike and Sully’s early days in college but we got exactly that in 2013 with Monsters University. This is similar to Lightyear, where the first two acts plays out as predictable and straightforward as you could imagine with a third act that’s literally the exact opposite of that with a wild turn that either makes or breaks the film. Whereas Lightyear‘s third act completely broke the movie beyond repair, Monster University‘s third act makes the whole movie worth it, with a heart hitting message about how not everything is set in stone for everybody and there are other options for you out there if you are unable to follow the traditional path. While everything before then is enjoyable enough, the final 30 minutes of Monsters University saves the entire movie of being another useless prequel. I still would have liked to see a sequel of Boo all grown up though.
20.) Finding Dory
Here’s another solid “good enough” B movie to an A++ predecessor! While Dory was a beloved character in the original Finding Nemo, there was the question of whether or not she would be good enough to carry her own film considering she was the comic relief of that movie! Thankfully, unlike Mater, Dory has an engaging story of her own, where she looks to find her long lost parents while fighting her short term memory crisis. There’s too much nods and winks to the original with a climax that’s a bit too ridiculous for what it’s worth, Finding Dory manages to exceed quite while when it comes to laughs, character drama, and even emotion. Keep swimming indeed Dory!
19.) Cars
There are plenty of folks that decried the original Cars when it came out in 2006 because it was no Toy Story or Finding Nemo. However, when looking at the film for what it’s trying to be, it’s actually a sweet, moving, and nostalgic road trip movie that acts as a great tribute for Route 66. There’s also a nice story here where Lightning McQueen learns the value of life and there’s more to it than just winning a race. Plus, you are lying if you claim that Doc Hudson isn’t a great character and the ending wasn’t brave and heartwarming. It’s world of cars may not make the most logical sense and does come across as a more kid friendly version of Doc Hollywood, but Cars is still an enjoyable film that doesn’t deserve the scorn it’s gotten over the years. While it’s far from the best Pixar film, this is certainly one of the ones I’ve felt the most nostalgia for. Also, R.I.P. to the great Paul Newman!
18.) Cars 3
I never would have thought the most unnecessary of the Pixar sequels to come out in the 2010s was actually one of the better ones. In a area of legacy themed sequels, Cars 3 is able to stand out uniquely on it’s own. Much like Top Gun: Maverick, it’s able to have it’s cake and eat it too with a film that shows that Lightning still has it in him to compete with the younger, modern racers while also being able to teach a younger, modern racer in the meantime. The animation and racing sequences have never been better, Lightning McQueen is at his absolute best here, Cruz is a nice new addition to the series, and the way it ties back to the legacy of Doc Ock is very well done. Jackson Storm himself is a pretty bland villain and there’s too many “old” jabs at Lightning but for what it’s worth, Cars 3 makes for the best Cars film in the series and a fitting way to wrap up the trilogy.
17.) Luca
If there’s one film out there that I would describe as being the perfect “summer” movie, look no further than Luca. It’s a delightful and relaxing film about two best friends as human beings trying to spend their summer outside of their own comfort zone as actual fish. If you ever wanted to see a Pixar film in the style of traditional Studio Ghibli movies but in 3D, this is basically what you get. The first 20 minutes or so aren’t great, but once the kids get up to the surface, it’s a really fun time and makes for a perfect way to take time out of the summer heat.
16.) Elemental
Perhaps it’s because things have slowly changed for me in my life than it was when I saw this film back in June but I definitely believe Elemental will stand the test of time as being an absolute gem of Pixar’s library. Maybe not the very best but definitely one that plenty will find to be another worthy addition to their library. It’s looks gorgeous, it’s very charming, the characters are engaging, the music is beautiful, and even the similar themes it tackles are done very well and might even stand out greater than other Disney and Pixar films that have done it to some people. I’m sure glad this film was able to stand strong at the box office as this might be an encouraging sign for Pixar’s future in movie theaters. I might have not enjoyed The Good Dinosaur but director Peter Sohn was able to win me over in Round Two with Elemental. If you haven’t checked it out yet, I highly recommend it.
15.) Toy Story 4
Everyone was worried about a Toy Story 4 and for good reason. After the perfect way that Toy Story 3 wrapped up, where exactly was there left to good? As it turns out, that’s exactly what Toy Story 4 is about and why it’s able to succeed despite the worst possible circumstances. It’s an interesting experiment of how to continue on with your new story after your previous story basically ended. The real key trick here it doesn’t so much functions as a “true” finale to Toy Story but more as an epilogue. You also got some great new characters, Bo Peep’s welcome return, and an ending that wraps up Woody’s story very well. I could have done without the “inner voice” jokes with Buzz tho. Toy Story 4 was like the equivalent of watching a friend perform a very dangerous stunt after they claimed they were done doing them a long time ago. And while you are glad they were able to stick the landing well, you would rather they don’t do it again. (Yet, for some reason, they are! UGH!)
14.) Monsters Inc
Talk about a film that’s able to take a familiar idea but executing it in a way that makes it feel fresh and new. Monsters Inc. is able to exceed greatly on that front thanks to an exciting world in Monstropolis, some incredibly inventive set pieces (especially the end sequence with the doors), two very likable leads in Mike and Sully, and of course, a strong central relationship between the monsters and a little human girl that is Boo. I don’t care much for the main villain and don’t recall remembering much about the other side characters but Monsters Inc. is still a very enjoyable watch that holds up strongly to this very day.
13.) Turning Red
One of Pixar’s most divisive films to date is also one of their most important ones they’ve ever released. I can’t recall a film in the Pixar library that is has open and honest with itself as Turning Red. It take risks and tackles subject matter that at least 99% of other animation studios are probably afraid of tackling for a supposed kids film, it has a strong thematical and emotional core that holds the whole thing together near perfectly, and has animation that serves it’s purpose and executed in all of the intent and purpose imaginable. This is a wonderfully, lovable movie about an awfully, cringe-able time period that we all have or will have to go through. There are definitely some things you can criticize (The mother is way too much of a Karen for my liking!), but Turning Red is certainly a film that anyone that has gone through that awkward stage of their lives can get something out of. Just a shame this movie is remembered not for it’s overall quality but for resurrecting 9/11 memes! Thanks Mr. Enter! Thanks!
12.) Wall-E
There seems to be two sides to Wall-E: those that thought the film was absolute perfection from beginning to end or those that adored the first half but only liked the second half. I would say I’m part of the later category. The first half to Wall-E offers some of the best visual storytelling I’ve seen in any film, daring to go almost complete silences and let the animation do all the talking. Then comes the second half that while good is slightly underwhelming considering how more conventional it feels compared to the first half. Thankfully, Wall-E is arguably the most lovable robot in all of action and his relationship with Eve is incredibly engaging. The film perfectly encapsulates innocence, purity, and hope in a dying world. If it was able to stick to that silent storytelling the whole way through, it probably would have made it’s way to the top ten!
11.) Inside Out 2
The nine-year long awaited sequel might fall just shy of it’s predecessor (along with the top 10 of this list) but that shouldn’t discredit Inside Out 2 as being a really affective and worthwhile sequel. This is arguably the first Pixar sequel not related to Toy Story that seems to have more on it’s mind to justify it’s own existence other than branding and merchandising. Going from seeing Riley as a youth moving to San Francisco to a teenager looking to make it into the high school hockey team with the popular girls, this sequel takes the logical next step into showcasing the inner turmoil of taking the next step to puberty with anxiety, envy, ennui, and embarrassment entering the picture, portrayed perfectly by newcomers Maya Hawke, Ayo Edebiri, Adele Exarchopoulos, and Paul Walter Hauser. While it’s still able to delivers the laughs, thrills, and emotional beats of the original, there’s not quite a moment that is as tear-jerking as Bing-Bong or as laugh out loud as “GIRL! GIRL GIRL!”. Even if that in of itself prevents it from topping the original and cranking the top 10 list, Inside Out 2 is able to act greatly as a natural continuation and expansion of the first movie’s story and themes. Bring on Inside Out 3 if you may! (Oh and please bring Lance Slashblade in Kingdom Hearts 4!)
10.) Toy Story
Not only the one that started it all for Pixar but the one that started the trend of 3D animation! The idea of toys coming to life when the kids are not around is executed to absolute perfection with a cast of characters that are all iconic in their own ways. Woody and Buzz makes for possibly the very best characters in Pixar history, the script is airtight, it’s paced marvelously, and there’s just not a dull moment to be found here. The overall formula of these movies have become more noticeable throughout the years and there are parts of the animation that don’t hold up but none of that can take away the amazing accomplishment that was the original Toy Story. The fact this is only #10 on the list is just more of a showcase of the amount of fantastic films that Pixar has made.
9.) Ratatouille
I can’t help but feel like this is the most overlooked Pixar film to date! In a sea of Pixar masterpieces, this one tends to get lost in the shuffle. Ratatouille might be the most thematically rich and inspiring film in Pixar’s library, showing how anyone has their own talent no matter who they are or where they came from. Patton Oswalt is perfect as the lovable rat that is Remy, the whole supporting cast of characters are great, and who can forget the pitch-perfect speech at the very end which is an absolute all-timer. It does suffer a bit from the main of character of Linguini being arguably the least interesting character in the film but his chemistry with Remy is so spot on and the film around him is so great that it really doesn’t matter. This is a food porn film at it’s absolute finest!
8.) Up
If we are judging strictly on the opening of this film alone, this would probably be #1. Up has the most perfect first ten minutes of any film that I’ve ever seen, perfectly showcasing the origins of Carl as a young kid to an adult along with being the love of his life that was Ellie. Just like Wall-E, it goes from that silent form of storytelling to something a bit more conventional. However, the rest of the film is done so well that it really doesn’t matter. Carl’s arc of moving on from his past to enjoying the rest of his life while he can is incredibly well done, the side characters such as Russell and the dogs are a lot of fun, and Kevin might just be the funniest animal side character in animation history. Even if you take away the opening, Up is still excellent and is worthy of praise.
7.) Coco
This is one that has only gotten better in age, especially in the wake of my grandma’s passing (RIP, Grandma!). Not only is Coco a perfect representation of Mexican culture, especially with the traditional holiday of Day of the Dead, but it makes for a perfect human story of a flawed family that love each other despite their beliefs and traditions wearing them down. The animation is some of the very best ever put to film, the family dynamics are great, the world of the afterlife is brilliantly realized, and it has perhaps the most emotionally draining final act in Pixar history! Even the incredibly obvious bad guy reveal that has been redundant now can’t bring it down because of how it connects perfectly to the themes of the film involving the cons of pursuing greatness. While there are comparisons to be had with The Book of Life, Coco strands strongly as it’s own thing and as another home run for Pixar.
6.) The Incredibles
I don’t know how it took until five films for Pixar to make a film with actual human characters but they finally did that with The Incredibles. Even in an era where superhero films have dominated pop culture, The Incredibles still stands out as being among the very best that the subgenre has offered. The characters and themes are all ones that feels completely timeless even nearly two decades later, the action and set pieces are absolutely fantastic, every member of the super family gets their own moment to shine, and how can anyone not love the main bad guy of Syndrome. It also has the funniest Pixar short ever with Jack Jack Attack! There’s not a lot I can say about The Incredibles that hasn’t been said by everyone else already. It’s just awesome!
5.) Soul
This make for possibly the most human and relatable film that Pixar has ever made! Soul goes into great depth in showcasing the meaning of life and why it’s worth living to the fullest. You aren’t going to last forever and there will be a day where you suddenly die like Joe does. Until that time comes, make sure your life was one that was wroth living. Jamie Fox is perfect as Joe and as perfect chemistry with Tina Fey as 22, the ideas are executed in the most creative ways imaginable, the animation is incredibly impressive, it’s extremely funny throughout, and the message of finding satisfaction in your life is one that anyone can relate to no matter what age they are! If you need a film that can lift your spirits, help recognizes the talent that you have, and shows why life is indeed worth living, look no further than Soul!
4.) Finding Nemo
If there’s a film that perfectly captures every parent’s worst nightmare of losing their own child, it’s Finding Nemo! What might seem like a simple story of a father trying to find his son is able to be told in the best way possible! That is thanks to incredible world building that’s full of side characters who are all memorable no matter their screentime and perfectly exploring the ins and outs of the deadly deep blue sea. You also got a great emotional core with Marlin and Nemo, a perfect counterpart with Dory, and a hard hitting message of never taking the ones you love for granted and it’s better to be safe then sorry. No matter how many times I watch Finding Nemo, it always manages to be fresh and exciting all the same! If that’s not the best compliment to give a film, then I don’t know what is!
3.) Toy Story 2
Toy Story 2 is wildly considered to be one of the greatest sequels ever made and I have to agree 100%! It takes everything people loved about the first movie and expands upon them in every single way. With even more memorable characters, stellar animation, hard hitting emotion, incredible soundtrack, and timely themes anyone at any age can relate to, Toy Story 2 is one of the sequels that manages to be as good if not better than the original. Also, the opening with Buzz Lightyear might legit be the best opening for any movie ever! I love this film when I was a young kid watching this film on repeat on my VHS and I still love it to this day! It’s so hard to believe that this was the film that nearly broke Pixar because by the end, it only made them stronger.
2.) Inside Out
People were starting to doubt Pixar before this film came out with a handful of films that ranged from fine to aggressive mediocre for the past five years, but then Inside Out came out in 2015 and blew everyone away! This is an example of a film that takes an idea and does everything it possibly can with it. It showcases how negative emotions can be just as important as positive emotions and how to keep them all in check along with learning how to adjust to a brand new setting. The animation is beautiful, creative, and imaginative, each character is fully realized and engaging, the humor is great, the score is mesmerizing, the voice cast is prefect, and the emotional moments hit as hard as you could possibly imagine. While it’s not quite my favorite Pixar film, there’s a strong argument to be made that Inside Out is objectively the very best Pixar film!
1.) Toy Story 3
While I can concede that Inside Out is probably the best Pixar film, there is no other Pixar film that I would rather rewatch than Toy Story 3. There is just no other Pixar film that hit me, moved me, entertained me, and satisfied me more than Toy Story 3. Acting as a perfect culmination of the entire Toy Story franchise up to this point, Toy Story 3 is a perfect showcase of what happens when the kids grow up and are ready to move on to other things. It’s all about learning to let go of the past and embracing the future while also never forgetting the fond memories that got you were you are now. It’s able to be the funniest, darkest, and most emotional of all the Toy Story movies, the stakes are at their highest and feels the most personal, it has perhaps the best villain in all of Pixar with Lotso, and who can forget the final sequence that made grown men bawl like a baby! Yes, it’s a shame that Disney and Pixar didn’t stop the series here, but taking at it’s own thing, being an impactful film about growing up and evolution, Toy Story 3 is Pixar, animation, and cinema at it’s absolute finest!
It’s now officially May which means it’s now officially summer movie season! The time of the year where the big blockbusters of the year are front and center in movie theaters everywhere now that the kids are out of school! Because of that, I figure I’d so something that I’ve yet to do on this blog, do a list of what I believe will be the top highest grossing films of the summer!
2023 was an absolute DISASTER at the box office during the summer time! That is largely due to the massive budgets from the majority of the big movies that came out that year along with just the overall inconsistent-to-poor quality of those big movies. And considering the fact there will likely be no Barbenheimer to save the summer, 2024 will likely be just as challenging for summer movies!
Even so, I think the 2024 summer movie season will give a big indication as to whether or not Hollywood is still recovering from the post-covid era of struggling to get people’s butts into theater seats or will this be the beginning of a resurrection for summer movies! We can only cross our fingers and hope for the best!
And considering I’ve been seeing multiple people put their own predictions of the top 10 biggest summer movies in terms of profit, why not throw my own hat in the ring and do my own list of this?! Keep in mind, these are the movies that I believe will be the highest grossing of the summer, not the ones that I desperately want to be at the very top. If that were the case, then Furiosa would at least be in the top 3 and Despicable Me 4 would be dead last on this list. This is list is not a matter of anticipating or movies I think will be objective the best, this is a list of the movies that I believe will be the most to least successful in terms of the top 10 movies of the summer.
Also, this is a ranking based on box office numbers worldwide and NOT domestic. That list would be harder and more complicated for me to judge. This is how I feel the box office numbers will hold for each film WORLDWIDE. Could I be dead wrong on every single one of these? Absolutely! But hey, it’s fun to be able to make predictions, right?!
Time to jump right in and put my predictions on what I believe will be the top 10 highest grossing films of the summer!
10.) Furiosa
Release Date: May 24th
Box Office Projection: $350 Million
Reason: I have all the faith in the world that George Miller will deliver with this film but I’m just not sure it’s one that most general audience will be interested in. Despite the massive praise that Mad Max: Fury Road got back in 2015, it only made a little over 380 million dollars worldwide, with a net loss somewhere between $20-$40 million. And considering this is basically a prequel spin-off surrounding a character from Fury Road but played by a completely different actress and with no Mad Max to be found in the marketing, that doesn’t inspire much confidence for Furiosa to top or even match that. I love to be proven wrong and the cult following of Fury Road will show up to this one but I wouldn’t be surprised if this ends up being the most frustrating Hollywood flop since last year Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, especially with the rumored film budget being over 200 million dollars! Hopefully this prevails and we get more Mad Max films from George Miller with the time we still have with him!
9.) Bad Boys Ride or Die
Release Date: June 7th
Box Office Projection: $400 Million
Reason: This is likely the summer movie I’m the most curious to see how it performs. This is a sequel to a movie that was one of the last solid hits to come out before covid hit. If it’s able to hit all the right beats just like Bad Boys For Life did, then I can see this doing similar numbers to that and perhaps even top it. The only big question is whether or not everyone has forgiven Will Smith for slapping Chris Rock on stage yet?
8.) The Fall Guy
Release Date: May 3rd
Box Office Projection: $425 Million
Reason: The first big movie of the summer is set to arrive tomorrow and I think this will largely benefit from being that first big movie of the summer. It also helps that it’s an awfully good over-the-top action flick that puts the spotlight on stunt doubles. If the word of mouth is good enough this weekend, I can definitely see this being a genuine crowd pleaser and may even make more folks demand that the Academy act a stunt category to the Oscars. I seem to be higher on this movie than most folks that I’ve seen but I think The Fall Guy will do more than fine and dandy at the box office.
7.) A Quiet Place: Day One
Release Date: June 28th
Box Office Projection: 450 Million
Reason: Coming after the first two terrific installments, this is the one main horror franchise that has left the audience more intrigued to see what happens next. The only potential downside is that this acts as a prequel to those first two films with a completely different cast and director. The big looming questions is whether or not audiences love A Quiet Place for it’s memorable characters and recognizable actors or for it’s genuine scares, set pieces, and world building. If the quality for Day One is in the same ballpark as those first two Quiet Place movies, then I can certainly see it being in the same ballpark as the first two films in terms of box office results.
6.) If
Release Date: May 17th
Box Office Projection: $475 Million
Reason: There are two main factors here that will make If a good hit at the box office. First, it will be the biggest family friendly movie to come out in May (give or take The Garfield Movie) and will have enough time to stand out as that until Inside Out 2 and Despicable Me 4 come out. Secondly, it has the star power duo of Ryan Reynolds and John Krasinski. Those two factors alone are almost certain guarantee that this movie will do bank once it comes out in the next two weeks. It likely won’t be the biggest movie of the summer starring Mr. Blake Lively but it will definitely help for him to have a summer to remember.
5.) Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Release Date: May 10th
Box Office Projection: $500 Million
Reason: The next big summer entry is set to come out in theaters next month and looks as if it will be as visually delighting and narratively compelling as it’s rebooted predecessors. Disney has been doing everything in their power to promote this film by showing off the elements that folks loved the most about the previous three films. That in of itself will guarantee a strong first weekend, especially since it’s avoiding Memorial Day competition with Furiosa and The Garfield Movie. Just like with A Quiet Place: Day One, the biggest challenge that Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will have to overcome is make people just as invested in this new cast and crew as they were with the previous ones. If it does that, then this will likely be in the top 5 movies of the summer.
4.) Twisters
Release Date: July 19th
Box Office Projection: $600 Million
Reason: It might be a bold claim on the surface to predict this one making 600 million and being one of the biggest movies of the summer but hear me out. The original Twisters is adored by many, it has the star power of Glen Powell, coming off his great work in Top Gun: Maverick, and everyone just loves a good disaster flick. The trailers have been doing it’s best to sell audiences on exactly what they want to see out of a disaster movie and that alone will likely get plenty of folks into the theaters. I could be dead wrong in claiming this but even if this does get bad reviews, I don’t see that scaring away audiences because this is the definition of a “critic proof” movie. By that note, this will likely be the most successful “critic proof” movie since The Super Mario Bros Movie. Hopefully, the discourse over the Rotten Tomato score won’t be as insufferable.
3.) Inside Out 2
Release Date: June 14th
Box Office Projection: $750 Million
Reason: Disney has been in quite a slump as of late with their theatrically released films, especially in terms of animation. Despite all the flops released last year, Elemental had some staying power and made just enough to be guaranteed a profit, making that and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 the only Disney movies to NOT be considered a financial disappointment. And considering this is a sequel to one of the most beloved Pixar films in recent memory, Inside Out 2 will be able to do some of the best numbers with Disney Animation since 2019, especially if the reviews are stellar. The recent track record alone might prevent it from reaching the same success as the first one but if it delivers, Inside Out 2 should be able to be the most successful theatrically released Pixar film since Toy Story 4 and possibly even the most successful theatrically released Disney film overall since Frozen 2.
2.) Deadpool & Wolverine
Release Date: July 26th
Box Office Projection: $900 Million
Reason: Many folks have claimed this will be a guarantee billion dollar hit but I think everyone needs to come back to reality for a moment. After many big movies underperformed last year, including two MCU installments, we might need to pump the breaks on such bold claims. As much as Deadpool & Wolverine is one of the most anticipated movies of the year and will likely be one of the biggest movies of the summer, that’s won’t guarantee 7 digits as prior big Marvel movies did. The R-rating alone (A reminder that there has been only ONE film to ever make a billion dollars!) along with the inconsistent quality of recent Marvel movies/shows will likely prevent it from reaching that billion dollar mark, with audiences still needing more consistent quality Marvel flicks to be fully won back. The promise of seeing Huge Jackman as Wolverine once again in yellow spandex, the buddy-cop routine with him and Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool, and the absolute guarantee of multiple easter eggs, cameos, and fan service will make Deadpool & Wolverine one of the biggest movies of the summer almost certainly. When it comes to if it will be the first Marvel movie since Spider-Man: No Way Home to make a billion dollars, that more than remains to be seen in my eyes.
1.) Despicable Me 4
Release Date: July 3rd
Box Office Projection: $1.1 Billion
Reason: I don’t understand the appeal of these movies and I likely never will but one thing is certain though, this franchise certainly has an audience. Coming off a third entry that made a billion dollars and a second Minions movie that almost made a billion dollars, there is no reason to believe that Despicable Me 4 won’t be in that exact same territory in terms of box office success. Whether you like or hate them, Illumination Animation certainly knows how to get kids and families to theaters with their films and this will certainly be no exception. As I said before, the quality of any of these films is irrelevant and I highly doubt any kind of negative reviews will impact the box office results here. If I had to pick one big movie that is the saftest bet to make a billion dollars and be the highest grossing movie of the summer, it would be Despicable Me 4. I wish that was not the case but hey, there are plenty of folks out there that do. So, what do I now?
Other notes:
As for the other movies that got let off the list!
The Garfield Movie nearly came close to topping Furiosa the 10th spot but unless it’s able to make noise at Memorial Day, I can see this being shipped to digital really quickly. It might do enough for a profit but not Hotel Transylvania and Spider-Verse numbers.
Alien: Romulus looks like a return to traditional roots for the series in the form of Prey but it will likely have to pay for the sins of Prometheus and Alien: Covenant (Damn you, Ridley Scott!).
The Bikeriders seems fun but won’t leave much impact until it hits streaming service like it originally was suppose to.
Horizon: An American Saga could likely come and go depending on it’s quality.
And if the trailers for Borderlands is anything to go by, this will likely be one of the biggest bombs of the summer. Why, Eli Roth?! Just why?!
There is not a company that has a bigger impact on the entertainment industry or possibly even on the entire human population than Disney. This is a company that has been providing family friendly content for generations now and in recent memory, mostly due to buying other studios and companies, are also now providing adult content as well. However, one form of entertainment that is has been providing ever since that medium itself was invented, is animation. People tend to have very specific terms they referred to as what each era of Disney animation consists off.
There is the Golden Age where it all began from Disney, the Wartime Era which basically speaks for itself, the Silver Age which was the post-war phase but ended with the brutal passing of Walt Disney himself, the Bronze Age where Disney was as their absolute lowest point, the Renaissance Age which Disney was as their absolute highest point, the Post-Renaissance Era where it was mostly riding the wave of the previous one, and now comes the age we are currently living in that I will be looking over, referred to by many as the “Revival” era.
The “revival” era mostly consists of the era which saw the tail end of classic 2D Disney animation pictures and it’s full transition into strictly 3D animation pictures. Most would argue that this took place at the start of the late 2000s and carried over to the early 2010s. While not quite the best era of Disney animation in my humble opinion, I think there is an argument to be make that this is the most reliably consistent era of Disney. With the exception of one absolute stinker and a couple of “meh” pictures, the Revival era where most Disney animation pictures are reliably “decent to good” with only a handful standing out as being remarkably great or remarkably terrible. Everyone has their own opinion on each era of Disney but this is mostly what I think off when it comes to this current era of Disney animation.
I decided to take a look back at this era of Disney movies and rank them from worst to best. I am mostly referring to movies made strictly by Disney Animation since 2009 starting with The Princess and The Frog and their most recent feature with Wish.
14.) Wish
There hasn’t been any Disney movie in the modern era that had as much pressure to prove itself as Wish did. Not only having to answer for all the past sins of the company’s mistakes in recent years but it also had to act as a perfect culmination of the past 100 years of all things related to Disney. Unfortunately, no matter what what you look at it, Wish is an absolute dud that serves as one of the most dull and lifeless animated movies that Disney has ever made!
There has not been a Disney movie in this era that feels as mad libs as they come, constantly following similar plot beats and structure with nothing new added to it. It feels like if you ask ChatGPT to make a typical Disney princess movie for the company’s 100th anniversary and this is exactly what you would get. The “wish” concept is not explored very well, side characters and tropes are only here just because that’s a stable with every Disney movie, the songs range from forgettable to an absolute pain in the ear and it never 100% committees to it’s new animation style that is as inconsistent and half-baked as it comes.
The ingredients are there for Wish to be an instant Disney classic along with acting as a perfect bridge between classic Disney 2D and modern Disney 3D motion pictures for a new generation. Unfortunately, the end results are near disastrous. Wish doesn’t feel so much like a movie made to celebrate 100 years of Disney but more like a movie that was made just so there’s a Disney movie for it’s 100th anniversary. The fact I could barely remember a single thing about the movie just minutes after the credits roll really says a lot about how underwhelming and disappointing Wish was.
13.) Ralph Breaks The Internet
There were many folks that were claiming for a follow-up to the original Wreck-It Ralph as there were tons of potential for future sequels for it. Too bad no one involved with this sequel even bother to even fully utilized even a tiny bit of that potential. Ralph Breaks The Internet feels like a sequel which the creative team behind it either didn’t watch the first movie or didn’t understand the moral of it (which is baffling considering this was made by the SAME creative team as the first one). Instead of expanding upon the video game world of Ralph and company, that gets tossed aside in favor of a generic, by-the-numbers story about surfing the web along with adding in all the most painfully cliche and outdated internet tropes imaginable.
Ralph and Vanellope arcs are back to square one, 99% of the wonderful supporting cast of the original get sideline, nearly half the plot is non-existent and consists of filler, it’s themes, while not necessarily bad on their own, have no place in this universe, and the ending practically breaks the established lore and entire point of Wreck-It Ralph. There’s admittedly a handful of callbacks, references, and easter eggs I did get a chuckle at, particularly Sonic’s cameo and the Disney princess scene, and the animation is reliably great, but if that’s all your movie has to offer, then that will only get you so far.
Ralph Breaks The Internet doesn’t so much feel like a Wreck-It Ralph sequel but something similar to The Emoji Movie and Space Jam 2 (albeit it not nearly as bad as either one of those), a movie that seems to only exist for a company to pat themselves on the back to show off how much stuff they own to everybody and just to advertise it’s own products. That might work well for a PowerPoint presentation or a commercial but not so much for a feature-length movie. While there might still be potential for future adventures with Ralph and friends, you will definitely not get that with Ralph Breaks The Internet.
12.) Strange World
The newest Disney feature that flew under the radar from a lot of people and was one of the worst financial bombs in the company’s history. Even pushing all of that aside and some of the most obvious controversy surrounding it, it’s easy to see why it didn’t seem to resonate with those that actually saw it. There’s nothing about Strange World that’s aggressively bad but there’s nothing that stands out as being aggressively good either.
It has characters tropes and plot beats you’ve seen done a million times before and done a million times better in other films, environmental messages that can be quite preachy, and the ending is something that you could see coming from a mile away. However, the world themselves are quite nice, it moves at a good pace, and it is nice to see an openly gay character in a Disney movie that isn’t treated as a big deal or anything different to that of a straight character.
While I still stand by my piece I wrote in December about how it’s a shame that Disney basically left Strange World to die in theaters due to the overall lack of marketing of it, I just wish the overall movie was better. It’s every family friendly adventure you’ve seen before with not much new added to it that won’t make you want to watch it again anytime soon. It’s not the worst time waster in the world but one you will likely not find yourself revisiting anytime soon.
11.) Frozen II
After the original Frozen took the world by storm, a sequel was inevitable. Even when Disney isn’t usually keen on making sequels that didn’t go straight-to-DVD, they just had to make a Part II to what is probably their most financially successful film to date. Just a shame that the people involved couldn’t come up with a more concrete, artistic reason to keep the Frozen brand going.
There are certainly areas of improvement here such as the animation, character banter, song placement (Into The Unknown>>Let It Go), and even Olaf himself is quite funny here. However, in terms of script and structure, it’s quite inferior. It feels the need to answer questions from the original that no one was really demanding answers to (Does anyone actually care about how Elsa got her ice powers?!) and in so doing so creates plot holes of it’s own (How is it that Anna is able to remember about what happened to her parents, her sister’s powers, and the forest when her memory got wiped when she was a little girl?!). It also doesn’t seem to know what to do with Kristoff (despite his solo song behind a standout) other than having him propose to Anna over and over and over again. All of which accumulates to a rather inconsequential third act that doesn’t feel genuine (Even with a dying snowman!) because it’s never clear what the actual stakes are throughout the movie (I honestly had no idea Arendelle was in any real danger until it was pointed out in the last 20 minutes) or even the overall point to it.
Frozen II feels like a sequel that is trying to do too much with too little and at times, feels like it’s being made up as it went along (which the people behind it outright unironically admitted in the behind-the-scene features). There’s still some enjoyment to be had for those that just want to spend more time with the characters and enjoy some good toons, but this sequel walks a fine line between ambition and aimlessness. It’s not that the heart isn’t there, it’s just frozen this time out.
Also, this movie is basically just a PG-rated version of the movie Annihilation but with more songs. (Watch Annihilation btw if you haven’t already. It’s brilliant!)
10.) Raya and The Last Dragon
Raya and the Last Dragon is a film that gets so close to being up there with one of Disney’s absolute best! An action-packed spectacle with plenty of world building, colorful characters, and a moral surrounding learning to trust others in a time of crisis. However, despite the best intentions, it never quite gets there and feels like it needed an extra script rewrite or two. Raya‘s biggest strength also happens to be it’s biggest weakness, it’s just too ambitious for it’s own good.
The movie has a ton of characters and worlds they introduce that don’t feel as fully form as they should be because it has to make room for every single one of them, which leaves the whole thing feeling quite unfocused. The overall moral of trust, while well-intended, doesn’t really work because the film never provides a reason as to why the main character herself is wrong for not trusting others. Also, you are lying to yourself if the climax didn’t make you think of Guardians of the Galaxy. Even so, this moviestill does provide plenty of entertainment on a surface level with gorgeous animation, enjoyable set pieces, good humor, and introducing perhaps the most badass Disney princess since Mulan.
Raya and the Last Dragon has a foundation that has potential to be expanded upon with future content such as a sequel, a Disney Plus series, and perhaps even an appearance in a future Kingdom Hearts game. While Raya doesn’t ultimately live up to its ambition, I wouldn’t be against seeing this heroine and her friends returning in the future.
9.) Big Hero 6
I could honestly copy and paste almost the exact same points from Raya and the Last Dragon and apply it to here as well. Big Hero 6, the first fully animated film from Disney based off a Marvel comic, is a movie that on paper sounds really great but the execution of it is just okay. Although, unlike Raya, there has been future content such as a tv show, streaming series, and a Kingdom Hearts III appearance that help expand upon the ideas and worlds even further.
The central relationship between Hiro and Baymax is great stuff and give the film the overall beating heart it needed. The action is well done and once the Big Hero 6 finally come together, it’s awesome and makes for a really fun superhero team. That being said, the journey to getting there can be a bit rough. The other members of the Big Hero 6 are very thinly written and aren’t that interesting on their own merits, none of the voice actors as those members stand out, it takes too long for the team to come together, and the twist reveal with the villain is one you can guess the moment that character first appears on screen.
Even with it’s flaws, Big Hero 6 has plenty of redeemable qualities to make up for it and has a very unique world of it’s own that thankfully got expanded upon further in future Disney content. It also has easily the best Stan Lee cameo of all time hands down! A middle-of-the-road Disney flick but still a solid one overall.
8.) Frozen
The one Disney movie that no one or their mother could escape the impact of. If you ever met someone that claimed they have never heard of this movie or listened to Let It Go at least one time in their lives, they would be lying to you. Even if you can take out the massive impact this movie has had on pop culture (Although, I wouldn’t blame you if you can’t.), Frozen is still pretty good but definitely not the best Disney movie ever made.
The central conflict and relationship between Elsa and Anna is really well done making for a rather engaging sisterhood bond ship, the songs themselves are catchy, the voice work is stellar, the twist villain, while quite obvious, does teach a nice lesson to young girls to never blindly trust your prince because they can easily stab you in the back, and the way the film resolves it’s climax with true love between the two sisters is quite refreshing for a Disney movie. That being said, the films does suffer greatly from some structure and pacing issues along with a rather half-baked, rushed backstory with Elsa and Anna (Did these two just not talk to each other for the last two decades or so?). It also seems to forget it supposed to be a musical towards the last third of the movie (the final song that plays before the credit rolls is the troll song) and Olaf the snowman can be quite annoying after awhile.
Frozen is a movie that is admittedly hard to judge itself and take away it’s insane impact it has had on the entertainment industry and pop culture as a whole without believing it was perhaps a bit overhyped or overexposed. It’s kinda like the Avatar (The movie, not the show) of animation, a movie that was a tremendous success that everyone eventually got sick and tired of hearing about to the point that everyone just started calling it overrated. It’s still a fine movie overall, but it’s a case of a movie known for it’s reputation as oppose to it’s actual quality.
7.) The Princess and the Frog
Here seems to be the one Disney princess movie that doesn’t get discussed as much as the others and when it does, most seem to agree it’s pretty good but not their absolute favorite overall. That is more or less, how I feel about The Princess and the Frog.
There’s plenty to like about this movie. It’s very charming with it’s own energetic tone to it, they actually manage to make the relationship between the princess and the frog believable, the songs are nice, Tiana herself makes for a welcome addition to the cast of Disney princesses, and it does feel bittersweet to have this be one the very last Disney movies to be strictly 2D and consists of more traditional hand-drawn animation. However, it couldn’t escape criticism for it’s depiction of Louisiana voodoo and historical negationism of the Southern United States during the Jim Crow laws. I could care less about that but if you are serious about any of those, then you might dislike this movie.
The Princess and the Frog is not a Disney movie I go back to a ton but whenever I do, I have a fairly good time with it. It aims to be a solid B/B+ Disney princess movie and it’s able to meet those merits exactly. It’s also nice to see Tiana getting her own Disney Plus series.
6.) Winnie The Pooh
Perhaps the most overlooked Disney movie in the revival era and (to date) the final movie in the Disney canon to be fully 2D and hand-drawn animated. While this might have to do with the fact that the movie underperformed vastly at the box office at the time it came out in 2011, Winnie the Pooh should not be glossed as it’s actually a really enjoyable and charming movie.
The whole Winnie the Pooh cast is exactly how I remember them as a kid and shows just how timeless of characters they actually are. In an age where franchises are always trying so hard to “modernize” their properties, it’s nice how this movie (along with 2015’s The P.E.A.N.U.T.S. Movie) decides to keep the characters the way they’ve always been and not feel the need to change them to try to fit in the more “modern” times. Sometimes it’s okay to leave things well enough alone. The voices matched the characters perfectly, especially Jim Cummings as Pooh and Tiger along with Tom Kenny as Rabbit, it has an incredibly sweet vibe to it, and has that nostalgic feel that even those who didn’t grow up with Winnie the Pooh will be able to get out of it.
While it’s a very brief and short movie (it’s only 63 minutes long!), this is definitely worth a watch if you have Disney Plus, a great fondness of Winnie the Pooh, or if that live-action Christopher Robin movie left you feeling a bit cold.. If this is truly the last 2D Disney movie we ever seen, at least it went how on a quiet but sweet note. Although, Disney should SERIOUSLY consider doing more traditional 2D style animated movies in the future! I sure PLENTY of folks would appreciate that.
5.) Moana
On the surface,Moanadoes come across as a “Disney Greatest Hits” kind of a movie as it does hit the same beats that most traditional Disney movies do. You got the traditional lead Disney princess, the traditional side character voiced by a well-known celebrity, the traditional animal comic relief, the traditional moral about growing up and finding your place, and of course, the traditional songs. However, there’s just something about Moana that helps it stand out greater than simply just that.
Maybe it has to do with the pitch perfect casting of Auli’i Cravalho as the title character, the engaging conflict Moana goes through, The Rock stealing the show every time he gets as Maui, the inspired songs, and having some of the most beautiful animation I’ve seen in any film. But what I think this movie excels as is having the perfect balance of everything. It has the right amount of characters, right amount of plot, right amount of action, right amount of drama, right amount of laughs, and the right amount of songs. It’s able to find the right balance of everything that one tends to expect in a Disney animated feature film but does it in a way that is almost as if we are seeing these things done for the first time however. Could have done with more of the pig and less the chicken though.
While Moana is far from the most groundbreaking Disney film, I still find it to be one of the more satisfying ones of the revival era. Let’s hope that Moana II doesn’t disappoint! And please, put Moana in Kingdom Hearts IV and not just bring back the Pirates of the Caribbean yet again! Please and thank you!
4.) Encanto
This is probably the one that has grows on me the most the more I watch it and the more time has gone by. This was the 60th animated feature ever made by Disney and it resulted in the absolute triumph that was Encanto. While this is certainly not the most stake-heavy film on here, this is the one that is arguably the most personal, human, and relatable Disney film in this era.
It’s a movie about embracing your family regardless of their flaws and how deep down inside, everyone is different and special in their own unique way. You don’t have to be defined about what is set in stone for you but can be defined on who you chose to be. Throw in a very likable and charming main character in Mirabel, breathtaking animation, a wonderfully utilized setting, great supporting characters, and songs that only get better for me as time goes by (We Don’t Talk About Bruno FTW!) and you got an absolutely wonderful film.
Encanto is one of the most human and relatable Disney films to date which it’s cultural representation is able to perfectly match it’s quality. I can see this potentially being higher on the list in the future, but for now, it’s a solid #4. It’s sad how despite this not technically being the 100th anniversary film for Disney, it still feels much more worthy of it than Wish.
3.) Zootopia
If you want to see an example of a Disney movie being very mature and adult with it’s subject matter and contains social/political commentary that doesn’t come across as forced or preachy, Zootopia is basically what you get. In so doing so, it makes for a rather excellent film and one of the main top 3 of this current Disney canon.
The world building is brilliant, being able to smartly craft a unique world full of andromorphic animals with obvious changes to the real world that makes sense and fit well in it’s own established universe. The main characters of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are immensely likeable and the two play off of each other perfectly. It’s genuinely funny with plenty of fresh and unique humor that doesn’t consist of mindless slapstick comedy. The set pieces themselves are fun, inventive, and incredibly beautifully animated. The biggest accomplishment of all is the way the film’s commentates on modern and timely issues such as diversity, racism, sexism and other forms of prejudice but it never gets bogged down on it and actually does interesting things with it. It doesn’t just come across a simple rant on prejudice but more tries to highlight how that remains a problem and how exactly can be fixed. It actually gives answers and solutions to the things it’s talking about which helps the journey that the characters themselves go through. To be honest, if it wasn’t for the obvious twist villain and the underwhelming resolution to that specific arc, this might be even higher on the list.
Zootopia is one fun, smart, and beautifully made animated movie that shows that you can make a movie with timely and important themes without it bringing down the entire picture. Working as both an entertaining film for kids and a thought-provoking film for adults, this is genuinely terrific. Don’t screw up the sequel!
2.) Wreck-It Ralph
Video game movies tend to be very hit or miss. Whether it’s for straying too far from the source material or even sticking too closely to it, these are the kind of movies that never seems to live up to their full potential. While they have certainly gotten better over the years, I think most agree that the best video games movies are the ones that aren’t just adaption of video games but ones that are ABOUT video games. If you want to see a perfect example of that, look no further than Wreck-It Ralph.
This is a movie that is able to fully utilize it’s premise in every way possible. It has a fully realized world, charming leads, a tremendous supporting cast who all stand out, great humor, wonderful themes and morals, and has video game references that don’t feel obnoxious or pandering. This is also one of the very few times where the whole “the two main characters break up at the end of the second act but get back together during the climax in the third act” actually works because how genuine and heartbreaking it is since you really want the two to stay together. Let’s also not overlook the great vocal performances by John C. Reilly as Ralph, Jane Lynch as Sergeant Calhoun, and even Sarah Silverman (who I normally don’t like) as Vanellope. Sure, the main bad guy is nothing to write home about and I do wish I could have gotten a cameo of Mario but nothing could take away how awesome this movie is.
Wreck-It Ralph is just one of those movies that knows exactly what it wants to be and executes it in the best way it possible can. It shows that movies surrounding video games can work if you are able to come up with a strong central story and have engaging characters to help carry it the whole way through. If for some reason you still haven’t checked it out, I highly recommend you do. Just perhaps skip the sequel.
1.) Tangled
No offense to any other movie on this list but if I had to pick one movie that feels like it truly belongs in the Renaissance Era of Disney and up there with the likes of The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin,Mulan, and any other top-tier Disney animation feature, that would be this one. Not only is Tangled the very best movie of the revival era but it’s one of the best Disney movies ever made period!
Rapunzel is probably the best Disney princess of all time! She has the perfect amount of likability, relatability, charm, and pure feminine energy out of any Disney princess to date. (It also helps I have a thing for blondes and even brunettes.) Flynn Rider makes for one of the best side characters in Disney history and being a perfect counterpart to Rapunzel herself. I love seeing the chemistry between the two blossom and the overall journey they go through together. You also got amazing animation, a really well thought out and heartfelt story, some refreshing spins on the traditional Disney fairytales, superb character development, great voice work from Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi, hilarious animal sidekicks, and songs that are both memorable and extremely catchy. Even some of the minor things I can nitpick at (such as the somewhat obvious villain reveal) can’t bring it down because even then, there’s enough interesting things done with those so it’s hard to complain. Nearly everything about Tangled works and makes for a perfect Disney classic!
Even with how good some of the other movies in the revival era has been, none of them compare to Tangled. It works as a movie for kids, a movie for adults, a movie for the whole family, and even as a movie for anyone of any age. It functions greatly as a drama, a comedy, a musical, an animated movie, and just a a feature length film itself. No matter what way you put it, Tangled simply works in every way. It stands proudly as one of the absolute great works ever to come from Disney and is hands down the best movie of the revival era thus far.
Recently, an infamous source within the entertainment industry named DanielRPK confirmed what he has heard from the inside regarding the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. To answer to the underwhelming MCU box office slate of 2023 (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 aside), Bob Iger is looking to not taking as much risks with Marvel as before and is only looking to greenlighting movies that are a guarantee profit based off the names of the characters alone. That means that rumored sequels such as Eternals 2 and Captain Marvel 3 are no longer in development due to how disappointing they were at the box office. Instead, only guarantee recent successes, most likely films such as Shang-Chi 2 and Doctor Strange 3, will be given the most focus on in the future. This statement has led to many different opinions online and I might as well throw my two cents in there.
First off, we can’t even pretend to know what is going on from behind the scenes at Marvel Studios. Just because one entertainment source says something is happening does not actually mean it is indeed happening. The only way to know what is going on for ourselves is if we actually work at Marvel Studios, which I’m willing to bet that 99.99% of folks that are reading this piece are NOT. Or of course, if someone who works at Marvel explains the process of how a certain movie or show got made in an interview. Which again, I’m willing to bet that will NOT happen after uploading this piece. That being said, if these statements are accurate, that leaves me with nothing but dread for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
If Iger’s response to the critical and financial disappointment to the MCU slate of 2023 along with a handful of content from 2021 and onwards is to take less risks, then he clearly forgot why the MCU became special in the first place. Marvel Studios didn’t become what it was due to cranking out content left and right from characters the mainstream audiences were already familiar with, they became what they were because they were FORCED to make content based off of characters that only hardcore comic book fans were familiar with. Because they didn’t have the rights to already proven mainstream hit superhero IPs such as Spider-Man and X-Men, that made them make films and shows based off of non-tested properties such as Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Guardians of the Galaxy, Black Panther, and of course leading it all to The Avengers.
When looking back on it, Marvel Studios NOT having the rights to Spider-Man and X-Men from the beginning is the best possible thing that could have happened to them. Because they were forced to sell off those properties in the past to avoid going bankrupt, that meant they had to make films constructed around characters that never had a feature length film before. Yes, they had The Incredible Hulk who already had his own film and they would eventually partner with Sony to deliver Spider-Man movies as part of that universe but for the most part, the characters that made the MCU what it has since 2008 was NOT because it revolved around characters folks were familiar with, they revolved around characters which folks were NOT familiar with. And even today, the MCU is only better off for it.
Here is one counter argument I could see in regards to Iger’s direction for Marvel being more based around familiar characters instead of not so familiar ones. When a franchise is in a slump, it is wise to have a safety net of some sort. What I mean by that is it is best to have projects in the work that will have folks at least curious about and be good enough financial wise to at least to break even. In hindsight, it’s understandable to have another Doctor Strange, Thor, and Black Panther movie in the works because their prior movies were all considered to be profitable for Disney and Marvel. However, you need some fresh blood thrown in there, characters which audiences are not familiar with or at least haven’t been for quite some time. If you don’t, then not only does it expose the fact that you no longer have any tricks underneath your sleeve but that you also don’t trust your audience with something new. And that’s what hurts most of all, not having faith in your audience.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe would not be where it is today if they did not take risks. If they didn’t take a shot introducing characters that were not well known to mainstream audiences, they would never be as big or expansive as they are now. Rebooting Spider-Man and X-Men ten different times would not have gotten to where they are today. Otherwise, they would have likely been hitting brick wall after brick wall as DC and Warner Bros have constantly throughout the 21st century, constantly relying on Batman to get them out of certain slumps. If Iger and company thinks that mentality will get them out of their funk they are in, then he is delusional.
The bigger question here is that what if relying on familiar names does NOT work out in the long run with its current slate of movies. What if Deadpool & Wolverine does NOT become the billion dollar summer blockbuster juggernaut folks are claiming it would be? What if current events and production problems bring Captain America: Brave New World down at the box office? What if Blade and Fantastic Four aren’t the “familiar but not so familiar” brand hits that Disney and Marvel are hoping they will be? Most importantly, what if bringing back Hugh Jackman and Tobey Maguire for Avengers 5: and Secret Wars isn’t enough to make that even as close to profitable as the other four Avengers movies? If any of those unfortunate scenarios happens, that could be a sign that not only did refusing to take risks didn’t help your brand, it might have straight up KILLED it.
When thinking about it for the past few days, I can understand perfectly why Bob Iger wants to play it safe for the time being. It’s best to get audiences who stopped caring about Marvel superheroes back in the theaters with the remaining familiar characters they already know and like before taking other major leaps forward. However, I can only hope that’s not the ONLY strategy they have going forward. I do hope though that if the upcoming movies I just mentioned are profitable enough that it will inspire them to continue taking risks and introduce fresh new faces to the MCU roster. It’s only if they do that and do it successfully will the MCU continue to grow and expand, even 16 years later.
I’ve said in the past that as I get older, I’ve grown more welcome to having films take chances even if they don’t completely work out rather than constantly having films that play it safe all the way through with no risks being taken. And with the way PLENTY of big movies performed at the box office last year, I don’t think I’m alone there. The audiences WANT fresh and new takes on familiar material, not stale retreads that are scared of offending their audience. That’s why a film like Dune: Part Two has received massive praise and will have success at the box office while a film like Kung Panda 4 has underperformed critically and potentially at the box office. Audiences are NOT stupid and will accept new things done to things they love if it’s done well.
I can only hope these statements from Iger about the direction of Marvel are ONLY for the time being and NOT something they plan to thrive on for foreseeable future of superhero content. If that is the case, then it’s clear that Iger has forgotten completely why the MCU has been successful over the years and just thinks this plan will guarantee him easy, quick money. Well, *in Ron Howard’s voice*, it will not. And I sure hope he realizes that because if not, he would have killed the entire thing that he helped create.
With Echo now released, we now have 12 different Marvel series/specials that is available to watch exclusively on Disney Plus. These are content made strictly for this exact streaming service with the hopes of telling more stories with established characters that isn’t strictly in film format. When it comes to the overall quality of the shows, it’s results have been…..mixed to say the least. Even with a handful of good things to come out of it, they have their own limits and restrictions that have prevented them to be as engaging with some of the very best that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has offered throughout their history.
In hindsight, they have basically the exact opposite problems as Marvel Netflix. Where as the Netflix series often felt too long and bloated with filter, the Disney Plus series often felt too short and rushed. Despite there being plenty of good things to come from both Netflix and Disney Plus, most of them have struggled to hit that proper balance to have all these shows live up to their fullest potential.
Which one of these is able to be better than the others? Let’s find out by ranking all the Marvel Disney Plus series and specials up to this point!
12.) Secret Invasion
There was not a single Marvel D+ series (and perhaps any other MCU entry) that fell as hard as Secret Invasion. While the idea of having a series focused strictly on Nick Fury and the famous Secret Invasion comics are intriguing ideas on paper, the execution could not have been anymore disastrous. It’s poorly structured, well known characters are killed off in the most anti-climatic way possible, the Skrull storyline feels incredibly wasted, the behind-the-scenes reshoots are very obvious, and Nick Fury doesn’t seem to change one bit over the course of the whole series. Not to mention, the pointless retcon of Rhodey being a Skrull since Captain America: Civil War is just lame. This has about every single problem these Marvel Disney Plus series has and made infinitely worse. The only saving graces are the scenes between Nick Fury and his wife along with G’iah being a neat MCU addition (until she’s able to unlock every single superpower known to demand). Everything else about Secret Invasion is a segment of everything that can go wrong with the MCU!
11.) The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
It’s cool to see many of the side characters from the Captain America movies that got sidelined get more to do in their own series along with giving an intriguing arc for Sam Wilson as the newer, progressive Captain America. Just too bad the series is held back by weak villains with odd, nonsensical motivations and an overall structure that feels more suited for a movie rather than a streaming series (something which many of the Disney Plus shows have greatly suffered from). You are lying to yourself if you didn’t find most of the endings to the episodes rather erupt because it just feels like the start of one scene and not the end of the other. I respect The Falcon and the Winter Soldier for what it stands for but certainly not in the way it goes about it. If there is ANY Disney Plus show that would have benefited MUCH better as a movie and NOT a mini-series, it’s this one.
10.) Moon Knight
This has the ingredients to be a stellar series from it’s terrific cast to it’s psychological thriller elements to it’s exploration of someone with a dissociative identity disorder (DID). Unfortunately, Moon Knight is never able to make for the best of those ideas, despite Oscar Isaac trying his hard out as Marc Spector and May Calamaway being a welcome presence as Layla. It’s intriguing ideas are barely explored and mostly just results in a typical chase story with the character hunting down boring McGuffins while introducing lore and mythology that will leave you scratching your head. Not to mention, for a show called Moon Knight, there’s barely any actual Moon Knight in it. It is at least weird and bizarre enough that it might delight some folks who just want exactly that but it’s not enough to save the show from it’s undeniable shortcomings.
9.) Echo
There are parts of Echo that make it come so close to capturing the same magic that the best of the Marvel Netflix series has. The backstory with Maya and how she became to be a vigilante is intriguing, every scene with Kingpin is glorious, the action is as brutal as it has been with the MCU, and the tone/style feels like it was ripped straight out of the Marvel Netflix run. It’s just a shame it’s central story is not told in an organic way with obvious reshoots and bizarre pacing that get in the way entirely. Plus, it’s overall representation of Cherokee Nation is barely touched upon, almost as if Marvel didn’t want to go too deep into it so they don’t offend anybody. However, despite it’s faults, Alaqua Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio does stellar work here and the ending does leave some interesting seeds for future “Spotlight” stories. It’s worth a watch to get a potential glimpse of a new direction for Marvel but it still can’t escape the trappings of most of these Disney Plus series. Just PLEASE stop making these just five or six episodes and have Daredevil: Born Again feel like a proper tv show next time please!
8.) The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
Perhaps the most inconsequential of all these series but still has heart and charm when it counts. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special makes for a cute holiday tale in the MCU which sees the lovable galactic misfits celebrating Christmas in a time where things are most dire for Peter Quill! This is the special that gave Drax and Mantis more time in the spotlight than ever before, along with the delightful presence of Kevin Bacon himself. It’s mostly slim and something you can tell was made rather quickly without too much thought being put into it but no doubt James Gunn’s passion and love for the characters from his successful films is on full display here. Also, you are a robot if you didn’t at least get a bit misty eye at the ending with Peter and Mantis. Just saying!
7.) Ms. Marvel
Ms. Marvel gets off to perhaps the best start out of any of the Marvel Disney Plus series. With showcasing a classic coming-of-age story, neat visuals, intriguing family dynamics, and a hugely charismatic and charming lead character in Kamala Khan, played wonderfully by Iman Villani. It’s mostly the second half when the dull as hell villains get thrown into the picture that don’t really mess with the style and tone of the show where it falters quite a bit. Thankfully, there’s just a bit more of the former in the latter to make this show overall worthwhile, with the entire experience being held together by Villani incredible turn as Ms. Marvel herself. If this gets a Season 2, please put more focus on Kamala and her family and friends and not so much on everything else.
6.) What If?
If we were going strictly by Season One, this would have been much lower on the list. While the first season had a handful of intriguing episodes and fun character swaps along with some returning cast members from the live-action movies/series reprising their roles, it was held back by stiff animation, beat-by-beat storytelling, and a feeling of not taking full advantage of it’s concept. Thankfully, Season 2 turned that around completely. With better animation, more creative storytelling, and doing more with it’s multiverse and made up concept to craft a more ambitious and enjoyable season overall. Plus, it gave us one of the most intriguing new characters in the MCU with Kahhori, who I very much like to see in live-action in the near future. It might have took one extra to find it’s footing for me but now I’m fully on board with What If?! Bring on Season 3!
5.) She-Hulk: Attorney By Law
Ngl, if we are doing these rankings strictly on how much fun I had watching these, this would probably be closer to the top. While not quite the best series, this is the one that plays the most like an actual television show as oppose to a six-part mini series or a feature film cut in pieces. It’s able to tell a funny, fourth-wall breaking story about a woman struggling with her daily life, dating life, and superhero life along with introducing plenty of welcome cameos such as Wong, Bruce Banner, Megan Thee Stallion, and especially Daredevil. Tatiana Maslany is absolute perfection as Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk, able to be super convincing as both a cute, vulnerable lawyer and a beautifully buff green hulk. It might be too “meta” for some and will certainly causes the heads of every incel out there that it’s poking fun at to explode, but nevertheless, She-Hulk: Attorney At Law is definitely one of the better and more enjoyable series in the Marvel Disney Plus library.
4.) Hawkeye
While far from the most ambitious Marvel Disney Plus series, Hawkeye is one that does to take full advantage of it’s lower stakes and able to meet exactly the kind of endpoint it is aiming for, making a charming Christmas superhero tale that doesn’t try to be anything more than what it is. This of course helps introduces the immensely lovable Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop and gives Jeremy Renner his full time to shine as Hawkeye, which Florence Pugh’s Yelena eventually joining in on the ride. It does suck though that Kingpin doesn’t get much to do there and his only real purpose is to set up the Echo series. However, considering the MCU is clearly not done with Wilson Fisk yet and he’ll play bigger roles later on down the road, I can let it slide. Nevertheless, this was a good time and worth revisiting again during this wonderful holiday time.
3.) Werewolf By Night
Marvel’s first ever attempt at doing a special sees an interesting take on the horror genre and universal monsters. With the old-school black-and-white style, gorgeous cinematography, haunting score, and plenty of blood and violence to be found, Werewolf By Night is everything you could want out of a special Halloween special and perhaps even more than that. Even judging it strictly based off of werewolves, this is probably the best werewolf content in the last decade or so. I never thought someone as Michael Giacchino, someone who is most well known as being a musical composer, could make such an unique stamp for his first every directional debut but he really manages to blow my socks away. This is something I can see myself watching every Halloween and never getting tried with it. Just stick to the original black-and-white format please!
2.) WandaVision
The very first of the Disney Plus series gives one of the best and most interesting characters in the whole universe, Wanda Maximoff, her own time to shine. What starts off becoming a fun homage to 90’s sitcoms becomes more of a character study of Wanda where she has to deal with the sins and consequences over the actions she has committed up to this point. The entire cast is great here with Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda, Kathryn Hann’s Agatha, and Teyonah Parris’s Monica being the standouts with Paul Bettany as Vison being pretty good as well. The finale does suffer with the whole big CGI fight feeling quite forced and underwhelming payoffs to certain things built up in the heads of hardcore Marvel fans but as a whole, this still makes for a creative, fun, and engaging series that is probably the best or at least most interesting of the Disney Plus shows thus far. Ralph Bohner was hilarious btw!
1.) Loki
Everyone favorite villain turned anti-hero in Loki is the best of the Marvel Disney Plus shows thus far. There hasn’t been a series thus far that took full advantage of the multiverse concept like this one did. It’s able to introduce the complete bonkers elements, universe building, and just plain “out there” concepts that Marvel is setting out to do with Phase 4 but never once loses focuses on the characters and their adventures throughout. Tom Hiddleston’s Loki is more interesting and engaging than ever before showing off his “anti-hero” side than every other movie or show that he’s been in. Sophia Di Martion’s Sylvie makes for a great counterpart and stands out well as her own version of the God of Mischief. Owen Wilson is able to make the character of Mobius more charming and likable than he has every right to be. However, the one that arguably shines the most despite only showing up in the final episode is Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror! He not only helps make the character such an entertaining presence when he comes onscreen but also makes the series stick the landing in the end.
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