Zootopia 2 is now out in theaters and it is absolutely CRUSHING t at the box office, just passing over one billion dollars worldwide. With that, there are now a total of 60 movies to have made a billion dollars at the box office. Regardless if inflation or re-releases also helps with that (which they both do), a movie has made a total of over seven bills at least 60 times throughout cinema history. Because of that, I decided to go ahead and do a ranking of every single one of these since I’ve actually seen all of these movies at least one time.
This will make for a rather complicated list, even more so than other lists I make on here. This will be a fine mix between what I believe is the best movie from an objective standpoint, what I believe is the best from a subjective standpoint, and the impact each one has had on pop culture for better and worse. I’ve thought about this for quite awhile now so it’s time for me to rank them.
If you disagree with this list, then by all means disagree but please don’t be a jerk about it. We have enough of those on the internet. I really don’t take much pride in these lists and rankings other than to have some fun. Opinions change everyday and this ranking is just how I feel at the exact moment that I’m publishing this list.
Also, since it’s going to be 60 movies, I’m not gonna go into detail on any one of those and just show the number I have ranked for each movie. I’ll just say which movie is ranked where and show off a trailer for it because why not? I might even update the list once another movie comes around that makes a billion dollars and see how much of my opinion on this list has changed since then.
Let’s not waste anymore time and get right down to it.
Can you believe it’s already been 15 (!!) years since 2010?! I remember that year like it was yesterday!
2010 was the year of many things for me! It was when I became an official teenager, it was when I became more social and open with the public, it was when I got introduced into a brand new decade, and of course, it was when I discover my passion for films, art, and cinema! That’s right! 2010 was officially the year which I got into movies!
It’s not that I NEVER got into movies beforehand or didn’t enjoying going to see them in movie theaters (or at least before I watch The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie for the first time in theaters back in 2005) but the very beginning of the 2010s was where movies became my official hobby and #1 source for entertainment!
And I believe the main reason why 2010 was the year which got me interested in movies has to do with the number of FANTASTIC films that came out that year! And considering the fact this particular year offer so much great cinema just RIGHT after a massive strike that crumbled the industry for a short period of time, I don’t think you could’ve ask 2010 for a better year of movies than what it offered!
To celebrate this magnificent year of motion pictures, I’m gonna share my picks for the top 15 films that came out in 2010! Not strictly a top 10 but a top 15! It was just THAT good of a year for films!
However, before I get on with that! Here are at least ten honorable mentions:
Honorable Mentions:
Animal Kingdom
Batman: Under The Red Hood
Easy A
Hot Tub Time Machine
Incendies
The Kids Are All Right
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’hoole
Megamind
Salt
Shutter Island
And now!
15.) Let Me In
While there are those that remember Matt Reeves fondly for his work on Felicity, Cloverfield,The Batman, and some of the recent Planet of the Apes films, his 2010 remake of Let Me In should NOT go unnoticed whatsoever. This is an excessively bleak, gory, and tragic tale of a boy and a vampire, while also leaning into themes surrounding childhood trauma, first love, and losing one’s own humanity to the cruel nature of life itself. While some might find the film too slow for their likings, those that are patient and support a good slow burn film will find plenty to enjoy here.
14.) Buried
Yeah, to those that claim that Ryan Reynolds has no range as an actor and can only play Deadpool in every movie he is in, you might want to watch this movie and shut the HELL up! If you want to watch a film that PERFECTLY captures the cluster phobic horrors of being trapped and buried alive in a log cabin box with only 90 minutes given to possibly get yourself out of it, look no further than Buried! Despite it taking place in only one location, this is able to be bold, inventive, and have you thinking just pure seconds after the credits roll! If only Mr. Blake Lively would take more roles like this in the future!
13.) Winter’s Bone
If it wasn’t her role as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games or Mystique in X-Men: First Class that got you into Jennifer Lawrence, there’s a good chance that Winter’s Bone was the film that did just that. It’s JLaw’s sensitive, striped-down performance that’s full of strength and sincerity which acts as the pure heart of this film. Lifted by non-stop tension, a compelling character-driven plot, and top-tier writing to boost it up a notch, Winter’s Bone is an engagingly bleak drama that is carried by one exceptionally great performance from it’s lead!
12.) The Town
Ben Affleck was able to make a stellar first performance behind the director’s chair with 2007’s Gone Baby Gone. He was able to carry his potential behind the camera and not just in front of it with ease with The Town. This is a film that just hits all the beats it needs to make for a really well made and thought out crime drama epic! It’s thoroughly entertaining, the cast is perfect, and every scene involving action and drama is done masterfully. While not quite my favorite movie directed by Mr. Affleck, The Town makes for one worthy addition to the man directorial collection!
11.) The Fighter
If there is one thing I love more than a good underdog story, that would be a good underdog story involving sports. The Fighter is a great underdog boxing drama that grounds itself through the point of a view of a rather dysfunctional family. With well developed and engaging characters, spot-on direction, a compelling narrative the whole way through that includes proper stakes, this film makes for one emotional gut punch that sticks with you from beginning to end. And this also happens to be the one film I actually enjoyed made by the one director who shall NOT be named!
10.) True Grit (2010)
I don’t who convinced who to give The Coen Brothers as $170 million dollar budget to make a remake for True Grit but I’m sure glad they did because this made for quite a standout remake in all of the best ways possible. Acting as a well-made and compelling spaghetti western, a faithful adaption of it’s source material and a remake that more than justifies it’s existence, True Grit shows The Coen Brothers at their absolute best and the most engaging to a mainstream audience. And who would ever guess in a million years that a 13-year old Hailee Steinfeld would act circles around legends such as Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Josh Brolin?! Even if you are one of those “remake bad” folks, the 2010 remake of True Grit is one that might just impress you!
9.) Kick-Ass
Before Deadpool was able to change the scenery for Marvel and comic book movies by giving the greenlight to studios to make their superheroes, there was Kick-Ass that was able to carry that slack before the merc with the mouth did. This is a comic book adaption that is able to make it’s edgy and rather meanspirited material and added a bit of heart and fulfilled enjoyment to it! And for as cool as Aaron Taylor Johnson is in the titled role, it’s Nicolas Cage and Chloe Grace Moretz that steals the show completely as the father-and-daughter superhero duo. Even if there are times where the film can get too nihilistic, this is still a complete blast and makes for an absolute must watch for fans of comic book movies and superheroes.
8.) 127 Hours
It’s quite simple! You either want to see James Franco getting his arm stuck in a boulder and trapped for 100 minutes until he is forced to cut it off completely or you don’t! If you do, there’s a truly remarkable story to be witnessed about a real guy who was forced to no give up on himself even when odds were all completely against them! If you don’t, well……at least you get to see James Franco cut his arm off! Or better yet, you can just watch Deadpool do it himself in his own feature film! Regardless, for it’s thin yet realistic premise, 127 Hours is about as good as it can possibly be!
7.) Tangled
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 Tangled. You got amazing animation, a really well thought out and heartfelt story, some refreshing spins on the traditional Disney fairytales, superb character development with Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, 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 an instant Disney classic!
6.) Scott Pilgrim Vs The World
For as much as it was unfortunate that Edgar Wright was unable to make the Ant-Man movie he wanted with Marvel Studios, we should all be grateful he was able to make a own magnum opus of his own within the comic book movie genre with Scott Pilgrim Vs The World. This was quite simply a comic book movie that Edgar Wright was born to make! His directing style and visuals fit masterfully in the world of Scott Pilgrim, the whole cast is perfect and fit their roles like a glove, the soundtrack is incredible, and don’t get me started on those kick-ass and creative as hell fight sequences! If there is one comic book film without a Marvel or DC logo that deserves it’s recognition and appreciation for it’s place within the realm of comic book movies, that would be Scott Pilgrim Vs The World!
5.) How To Train Your Dragon
On paper, How To Train Your Dragon movie seems like every traditional hero journey and human-animal bonding flick you have ever seen. However, not only does it do just about all of those traditions so well, it’s done in an extraordinary way that it feels like you are watching this story on fold for the very first time. Hiccup makes for a very likeable protagonist that’s easy to root for and his relationship between his pet dragon, Toothless, and his soon-to-be lover/partner in Astrid are so engaging, acting as the beating heart of the film. And don’t get me started on it’s stellar animation and flying sequences that blew my mind when seeing it in theaters and still blows my mind to this day. How To Train Your Dragon is prove that just because you are telling a familiar story does NOT mean you have to tell it in a familiar way. If you add enough freshness and novelty to it where it feels like you are seeing this story being told for the first time ever, then you have succeeded entirely.
4.) Black Swan
As all over in the place Darren Aronofsky can be in terms of quality, when he hits, he hits about as hard as 90% of directors in Hollywood! Simultaneously gorgeous, haunting, and at times erotic, Black Swan is an excellent psychological thriller that is aided by chilling imagery, superb directing, excellent cinematography, a multilayer and complex script, a mesmerizing score, and two outstanding performances from Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis. It’s a film that I don’t want to spoil much of because anyone who still hasn’t seen it yet should go into it COMPLETELY blind. But for those poor souls that still have yet to check this masterwork out, watch Black Swan ASAP!
3.) The Social Network
Acting as a defining, generational milestone of filmmaking, The Social Network is able to be as engaging and increasingly relevant at every single turn of it’s length. One of the most narratively innovative screenplays of the 21st century that is able to execute nearly every single idea/concept in it’s head to the swiftest brush level of perfection as you could get. You have a director in David Fincher at the top of his game here, you have a cast, especially Jessie Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield, that give it their all, and it is disturbing to see how Facebook is still able to impact our daily social lives in the best and worst ways possible. I know the term modern classic gets thrown a lot nowadays but The Social Network is one of the rare exceptions where it earns that term in every way imaginable. The fact this is only #3 on this list goes to show just how complete MASTERPIECES these next two are to me!
2.) Toy Story 3
If you want to talk about Pixar being at the absolute TOP of their game, the best example of that is with Toy Story 3. There is just no other Pixar film that hits me, moved me, entertained me, and satisfied me more than this one. 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 you made along the way. 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 incredibly misfit Lotso, and who can forget the final sequence that made grown men and women bawl like a baby! Taking at it’s own unique thing, being an impactful film about growing up and evolution, Toy Story 3 is Pixar, animation, and cinema at it’s absolute finest!
1.) Inception
I always go back and forth on #1 and #2 depending on my mood but for right now, I’m gonna go with Inception as being the best film to come out of 2010. This is easily one of the very best sci films every made and one of the rare films where it’s brilliant ideas is able to be brilliantly executed in every possible way. The creativity on display is astonishing, the premise involving Inception is put to perfect use, the world building is some of the very best I’ve seen in any film, the action is top notch, the effects are breathtaking, the characters are all compelling and engaging, every actor is perfect in their roles, the score is absolutely mesmerizing, and it has one of the most satisfying endings I’ve seen in any film. This is one of the films where no matter how many times I watch it, I still get a fresh, unique, and intriguing experience that I got when I saw it in theaters for the first time back in 2010. This blew mind 15 years ago and it still blows my mind now. Perfectly written, acted, and directed, Inception is the best film of 2010 and one of my personal favorite films period!
Here it is! My ranking of every single Disney-Pixar film from worst to best!
Everyone tends to have their own opinion of what constitutes as the very best and very worst work from Pixar! It’s one of the few studios to where you can name nearly any film as the absolute best or worst and it’s quite hard to argue with that! Whether we are talking about Toy Story 2 or Cars 2, I don’t think there’s a single Pixar film that doesn’t have at least one diehard fan defending it to their dying breath! Heck, I’m pretty sure there’s at least one lone soul out there that has The Good Dinosaur as their favorite Pixar film!
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! And yes, while their quality has been quite inconsistent for the better part of the pats 15 years, there always comes at least one giant gem that reminds us all that when it’s done well, Pixar is easily one of the best animation companies out there!
Now that Echo is now out in (rather empty) theaters, let’s rank all 29 movies they have released thus far!
29.) Lightyear
If there is one Pixar film that I find to be downright INFRUIATING, that would be Lightyear! Because on paper, this should be an EASY film to get right! Especially since it has ALREADY been done right in the form of Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins. Instead, for what is suppose to be Andy’s favorite film, it’s actually the most bland, generic and run-of-the-mill Buzz Lightyear film you could possibly imagine. 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 (You wouldn’t believe me if I told you!). 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 weakest film to date. As much as Pixar (and John Lasseter) doesn’t want to admit it but, 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.
28.) The Good Dinosaur
The second worst Pixar film is probably one you either forget exist or didn’t even know it existed at all. The troubled production that The Good Dinosaur faced during the development of it is as clear as daylight when watching it. 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 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.
27.) 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 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 over hated, it’s also not a film that is deserving of being defended in any way.
I was quite generous to Elemental when I reviewed it a few years ago, but unfortunately, time has NOT been kind to this whatsoever. Although it looks gorgeous and has themes that certain folks might be able to engage with, it’s whole love story narrative isn’t particularly special, touching on every single rom-com cliche you’ve seen a million times before and done a million time better in other films. Not to mention, Wade is quite annoying for a good chunk of it and doesn’t become endearing until the last third of the film. It’s certainly not a terrible film and I’m glad it was able to find an audience while gaining strong legs at the box office back in 2023, Elemental is just one Pixar film I don’t see myself going back to anytime soon. Good for you if you like/love it but it’s just not for me!
24.) Elio
Here’s yet another recent original Pixar movie that is cute enough in it’s own right but feels rather safe and obligated that flopped at the box office in it’s first week but will likely gain legs and recognition over time! There’s nothing that Elio does particularly bad but there’s not much it does to stand out among the very best of Pixar! It’s got a rather beautiful world, an engaging relationship between the lead human boy and his alien friend, and it’s message about finding acceptance is one that will likely resonate with audience. But, it’s still bogged down by a rather predictable narrative, plot turns and morals you can see coming from a mile away, and a very weak main bad guy. Like with 90% of Pixar movies, Elio has it’s charms and thrills but you can definitely feel the troubled production onscreen. Still would rather see more films like this than Cars 4 or Toy Story 5/6!
23.) 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!
22.) 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 function 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 (if not quite divisive). I could have done without the “inner voice” jokes with Buzz tho. Toy Story 4 is like the equivalent of watching a friend perform a very dangerous stunt after they claimed they were done doing them a long time ago. While you are happy they succeeded by sticking the landing, you would rather they would NOT attempt that again!
Unfortunately, because Toy Story 5 is yet coming out, it can no longer justify as being a satisfying epilogue to the franchise! It’s now of more as just…..a footnote! Because of that, it falters in the rankings!
21.) 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 at the time. 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!
20.) Onward
Here’s a Pixar film that has grown with me quite a bit. Originally, I found Onward to be quite lackluster, feeling like it felt short of it’s ambition and it’s overall message was undermined by it’s ending. However, after seeing recent original Pixar films that have failed to surprise me in any meaningful way, I now admire Onward for the bold narrative decisions it chooses to make. It has a fascinating premise with an emphasis on Dungeons & Dragons, a fun universe to explore with the two main brothers, and a very recognizable cast of celebrities that seems like they are having fun in their roles. And while I was originally disappointed by the ending, I now find it commendable and quite frankly….heartwarming with the journey that the two main characters take to rediscovering their true father. I still don’t think this sticks out like Disney films such as Zootopia and the whole premise being about resurrecting a dead dad’s lower body/crotch stills feel quite weird but for what it’s worth, Onward is worthy of at least one watch and leaves room for a VERY promising sequel!
19.) Monsters 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.
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. This makes for a rather interesting tale about Lightning trying to compete in the age of 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’s arc is odd but also compelling, 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 an enjoyable sequel in the way that Cars 2 failed badly at.
17.) Finding Dory
Here’s another solid “good enough” B/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. The animation is beautiful, the journey that Dory goes on to find her parents is both fun and funny, and the new characters that are introduced fit into this movie’s world quite well. There’s too much nods and winks to the original with a climax that’s a bit too ridiculous for what it’s worth but Finding Dory manages to exceed quite well when it comes to laughs, character drama, and even emotion. Just keep swimming Dory! Keep swimming indeed!
16.) 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 just plain 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, the sequence of him driving in his “prime” form wasn’t breathtaking and the ending of Lightning going back to help Mr. The King finish the race 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!
15.) 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. I don’t think I have seen an animated film that was able to capture the fun and spirit of summer vacation than this one! There’s just something so unique of seeing two best friends hanging out with a girl, who later becomes best friends with them! 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.
14.) 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!) and I’m not sure it makes for the most comfortable watch for those quite sensitive to it’s subject matter, 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!
13.) 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. Even if you know it’s premise and ideas by heart, 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 and sweet relationship between the two monsters and the little human girl that is Boo. The main villain is pretty service level and I don’t recall remembering much about any character that is not Mike, Sully, or Boo, but Monsters Inc. is still a very enjoyable watch that holds up strongly to this very day.
12.) Inside Out 2
The nine-year long awaited sequel might fall just shy of it’s predecessor 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 while making time for her current friends, 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 funny as “GIRL! GIRL GIRL!”. Even if that in of itself prevents it from topping the original, Inside Out 2 is able to act greatly as a natural continuation and expansion of the first movie’s story and themes. This is probably the one Pixar series that I wouldn’t mind seeing more sequels to! (Oh and please bring Lance Slashblade in Kingdom Hearts 4!)
11.) 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 animated film, daring to go almost complete silences and let the animation and visuals do all the talking. Then comes the second half that while very good, feels more conventional compared to the first half, with more emphasis on dialogue and character exchanges to tell the other half of the picture. Thankfully, it all still works greatly because 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 world that is dying all around you. It might’ve just missed my top 10 but make no mistake, Wall-E is still a wonderful animated film regardless!
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. Plus, there’s also that one annoying little plot hole about how Buzz acts like a toy when humans are around even BEFORE he knows he is a toy. However, NOTHING can take away the amazing accomplishment that was the original Toy Story, even 30 years later!. 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 when talking about the best of the best from Pixar. 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 lead rat that is Remy, the whole supporting cast of characters are great, it’s themes and messages are perfectly inspiring, 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 good 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! Rock on, Brad Bird!
8.) 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, even when you are not where you want to be. 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 worth living, because you may just NEVER get a second chance to do so. Jamie Fox is perfect as Joe and has 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, the whole building is exceptional, 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 within yourself, and shows why life is indeed worth living, look no further than Soul!
7.) 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. Thankfully, 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, the sequences with the flying house is breathtaking, and Kevin might just be the funniest animal side character in animation history. (I always DIE laughing at the “Squirrel” bit!” I know some like to dog (no pun intended) on this movie as being overrated because the film never quite lives up to the first ten minutes of the film! However, the rest of Up is still so fun, engaging, and emotional that I can’t help but still love it to death!
6.) Coco
This is one Pixar film that has only gotten better in age for me, 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 (I am always sobbing at the section of Miguel singing and playing his guitar to Coco)! 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 not just as it’s own thing but has yet another home run for Pixar.
5.) Finding Nemo
If there’s an animated 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. It is world building at it’s FINEST! You also got a great emotional father/son 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. Oh, and this movie is like REALLY funny! (The scene in the dentist office KILLS me every time!) No matter how many times I watch Finding Nemo, it always manages to be fun, fresh and exciting all the same! If that’s not the best compliment to give a film, then I don’t know what is!
4.) 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 it in every single way. With even more memorable characters, much stellar animation, hard hitting emotion, an incredible soundtrack, having Woody and Buzz go through reverse arcs that work perfectly, and timely themes anyone at any age can relate to, Toy Story 2 is one of the sequels that manages to be as good as the original, if not even better Also, the opening with Buzz Lightyear might legit be the best opening for any movie ever! (It gives me goosebumps EVERY single time!) 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 due to it’s very troubled production! But by the end, not only did Toy Story 2 NOT kill Pixar, it made them stronger.
3.) 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 for such a long period of time, The Incredibles still stands out as being among the very best that the subgenre has offered. Not only because it’s able to subvert the very tired tropes of most superhero films but it’s also able to embrace the very best and traditional tropes that comes from them as all, managing to execute them even better than over 90% that have ever come out. The characters and family dynamics is a lot of un, the themes are all ones that feels completely timeless even nearly two decades later, the action and set pieces are absolutely fantastic, the animation holds up very well, 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! (That “BS” joke only gets funnier the older I get!) There’s not a lot I can say about The Incredibles that hasn’t been said by everyone else already. It’s just awesome!
I don’t need to tell you why The Incredibles is in the top 3 of my favorite Pixar films! It’s just THAT good!
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 throughout the early 2010s, but then Inside Out came out in the summer of 2015 and blew everyone away! This is an example of a film that takes an unique idea and does everything it possibly can with it. It showcases how negative emotions can be just as healthy as positive emotions and how to keep them all in check and finding the right balance is the most important thing of all. Plus, anyone that has gone through the struggle of moving and having to adjust to a new place/culture will certainly get a LOT from this film! The animation is beautiful, creative, and imaginative, the mind of Riley is as unique as any world in the realm of Pixar, each character is fully realized and engaging, the humor is great, the score is mesmerizing, the voice cast is prefect, nearly every idea and concept is flawlessly executed, and the emotional moments hit as hard as you could possibly imagine. (*sniffs* Bye bye Bing Bong! *sniffs*) 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! And I would NOT argue with you there!
1.) Toy Story 3
While I can concede that Inside Out is probably the best Pixar film overall, there is no other Pixar film that I would rather rewatch than Toy Story 3. There is just no other Pixar film (or possibly ANY animated film) that has 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 and women bawl like a baby! It might’ve took 11 years to be made but at the time and even now, Toy Story 3 is that rare long awaited sequel that was able to succeed EVERY expectation that I had for it! Yes, it’s a shame that Disney and Pixar didn’t stop the series right here, but taking at it’s own thing, being an impactful film about growing up and evolution, and as being a fitting conclusion to the “golden era” of Pixar, Toy Story 3 is Pixar, animation, and cinema at it’s absolute finest! This film has been one of my all-time favorites since seeing it in 2010 and it still is over 15 years later!
It’s now officially May which means it’s now officially the 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, it’s time to do a list of what I believe will be the top highest grossing films of the summer!
With Hollywood continuing to struggle in the movie theater business post-covid, only God knows how many more summer movie seasons await. Although, theaters have been picking up great momentum in the box office as of late with the likes of A Minecraft Movie, Sinners, and the very successful re-release of Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith, it’s unclear how long they will be able to carry that momentum throughout the rest of the year and even the future.
I think the 2025 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 Superman (2025) would be #1 and Jurassic World Rebirth would be dead last on this list. This list is not a matter of anticipation or movies I think will be objectively 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 summer movies WORLDWIDE from May to mid-to-late August. 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.) Karate Kid Legends
Release Date: May 30th
Box Office Projection: $300 Million
Reason:The Karate Kid franchise has had some solid popularity as of late with the smash hit Netflix series Cobra Kai, that just concluded its sixth and final season. With Legends acting as the first film entry of the franchise since The Karate Kid (2010), we see both Jackie Chan (the star of the 2010 film) and Ralph Macchio (the OG Karate Kid) coming together to train a new student in the ways of kung fu. I’m not sure how much fans out there have been eagerly awaiting for this combo or even another entry but if it’s able to capture a tiny bit of the magic of Cobra Kai, I can see Karate Kid: Legends being a solid crowd pleaser and a satisfying coming of a full circle for die-hard fans.
9.) F1
Release Date: June 27th
Box Office Projection: $400 Million
Reason: Ngl, if this movie were set to come out before Sinners, I probably would not have put this on the list. However, after the surprising success of that film, which will certainly get as strong of box office legs as it possibly can, it proves that audiences still have hunger and desire for original films. Add that to the star power of Brad Pitt (recent controversy aside) and director Joseph Kosinski coming high off of Top Gun: Maverick, I can see F1 being the exact kind of smash hit that Hollywood needs for these kinds of films. The only question is whether or not the studios will let this one grow as the summer goes on and the mega July blockbusters start coming into play.
8.) Thunderbolts*
Release Date: May 1st
Box Office Projection: $450 Million
Reason: The first main blockbuster of the summer just came out in theaters and is set to at least kick off the summer box office better than last year’s The Fall Guy did. With strong reviews and early positive word-of-mouth, Thunderbolts* can most certainly outperformed early expectations and make enough in the long run to be able to make a profit. It’ll be entertaining to see how the media and YouTube will try to spin this film as being an actual failure because it didn’t make a billion dollars overnight or what was once considered “good enough” for a MCU/superhero movie is no longer good enough anymore. The only downside, other than a sudden Multiverse of Madness second week drop off, could be seeing how this is able to stack up once the likes of Mission: Impossible and Lilo & Stitch comes around and if Disney and Marvel will have cold feet early and dump it to Disney Plus once Fantastic Four is out.
7.) Elio
Release Date: June 20th
Box Office Projection: $575 Million
Reason: Last year saw Pixar’s most successful and crowd-pleasing film ever at the box office with Inside Out 2, the highest grossing animated film at the time of it’s release. However, they now face a different challenge with Elio, a new and original animated flick that has been delayed multiple times. With no Woody, Buzz, or Lightning McQueen in sight, it will more than certainly have to rely on its stellar quality to make folks want to see it in theaters rather than wait for it on Disney Plus. If Pixar and Disney can pull off the same strategy they did with Elemental and Inside Out 2, by keeping it in theaters as long as they can and saving the physical/digital releases until Fall, then I can see this making a solid 575 million dollar signs, which would most certainly be good enough. Again, this will all likely matter if the finished film is actually any good.
6.) Mission: Impossible- The Final Reckoning
Release Date: May 23rd
Box Office Projection: $600 Million
Reason: Tom Cruise is here to “save” cinema one last time with Mission: Impossible- The Final Reckoning, acting as the potential final entry to the near three decade-long running Mission: Impossible film franchise. However, I still can’t help but feel like this one is gonna underperform it’s skyrocket expectations at the box office. While making $600 million sounds like a notable success on paper, the film’s reported $400 million budget and coming off of the underwhelming (at least in terms of box office) Dead Reckoning will give The Final Reckoning a near-impossible mission to accomplish. Also, facing immediate competition with Lilo & Stitch won’t make things much easier either. I’m always rooting for this franchise but it has all odds against itself this time around. Hopefully, there’s enough of Tom Cruise running to save this film this time around.
5.) How To Train Your Dragon (2025)
Release Date: June 13th
Box Office Projection: $650 Million
Reason: After the mixed-at-best results of Disney live-action remakes since 2010, DreamWorks and Universal has decided to take their stab at it by adapting the beloved animated How To Train Your Dragon in live-action form. With a sequel already being announced and set for a 2027 release date, it’s clear that DreamWorks and Universal are expecting this one to perform well. If it’s able to live up to the promise of being a faithful transition to the animated film and avoid any Snow White-level of controversy, then How To Train Your Dragon (2025) should most certainly make the money it needs to and act as a proper re-introduction to DreamWorks’ most acclaimed animated film series to date.
4.) The Fantastic Four- First Steps
Release Date: July 25th
Box Office Projection: $750 Million
Reason: I don’t care what YouTube says or what outrageous out of context quote got social media in a pansy, this film is gonna do numbers at the box office and be Marvel’s most successful film released in 2025. Even with those that have been sour on Marvel and previous Fantastic Four incarnations, they will still owe it to themselves to see Marvel Studios themselves take their first stab at adapting Marvel’s first family onto the big screen. With the build-up to Avengers: Doomsday looming and Thunderbolts* being a potential box office success, The Fantastic Four- First Steps should have no problem in carrying that momentum from Marvel and set the stage for Doomsday and Secret Wars nicely. If I look like a foul in two months, so be it. But for now, I can’t help but have positive expectations for this one!
3.) Superman (2025)
Release Date: July 11th
Box Office Projection: $825 Million
Reason: There’s plenty of reasons to be positive and negative about Superman (2025). This is a film that sees Superman returning to the big screen in his first standalone film since 2013, the start of a brand new cinematic universe, and what will likely be viewed as the film that gives the superhero genre the shot in the arm it needs. And it’s whole “This is the movie the world needs right now!” marketing should most likely play a positive impact. However, conflicting reports of the film being released overseas along with not knowing the exact expectations that Warner Bros has for this film could hurt it in the long run, which could make James Gunn’s DC universe over before it even begins. Still, this should be one of the most talked about and discussed movies of the summer regardless and will likely attract enough audience to give it a watch on the big screen.
2.) Jurassic World Rebirth
Release Date: July 2nd
Box Office Projection: $900 Million
Reason: I don’t know how they keep making these films and why they always make so much money at the box office. That being said, this franchise is always able to draw big crowds both domestically and overseas. Coming off the (rather quiet) billion dollar grosser of Jurassic World: Dominion (which was supposed to be the final film in the franchise), Jurassic World Rebirth will see Universal try to squeeze whatever remaining dollars it has left with the Jurassic Park IP. I got nothing to say other than if it offers enough dino action and Black Widow and Blade kicking enough ass together, this should be one of the biggest hits of the year. The only question is whether or not it’s able to follow his predecessors and achieve the billion dollar mark, especially after Dominion just barely was able to accomplish that. Although if my prediction is any indication, I’m gonna go with a no on that one.
1.) Lilo & Stitch (2025)
Release Date: May 23rd
Box Office Projection: $1.1 Billion
Reason: You might be calling me crazy for putting a Disney live-action remake as not just the #1 spot but the one that will be able to achieve $1 billion at the box office. I mean, how could Disney possibly recover after Snow White (2025), right? Well, they were able to recently achieve billion dollar grossers with Inside Out 2 and Moana 2 along with a solid 700 million dollar hit in Mufasa (*insert Sonic fan punching the air). Plus, this is being sold as the cute family friendly big movie of the summer, regardless if you have seen the original animated Lilo & Stitch or not. All it needs to do is deliver exactly what it says on the cover, avoid any negative press of any sort, and give itself a good long theatrical window. Do all of that and I pretty much guarantee that this will be the #1 movie of the summer and will be yet another billion dollar grossing hit for Disney. If I end up being wrong, so be it. But if I’m not, then you can all eat cake!
As for other movies that missed the list:
I think Ballerina will avoid the fate of Furiosa if Keanu Reeves plays a significant role in the movie but it likely won’t make as much as the last few John Wick flicks.
28 Years Later and Megan 2.0 should appeal greatly to fans of the horror genre and previous installments of their respected IPs but I can’t help but feel it will get lost in the shuffle with them being released so close to other big movies.
The Naked Gun will either sneak under the radar as the one standout comedy flick of the summer or be buried and forgotten like the rest of the remaining comedy genre.
The Bad Guys 2 will certainly gain numbers during the fall if it’s able to continue the streak of perfect DreamWorks sequels but I left it off the list because it’s coming out right as the summer movie season comes to a close.
Freakier Friday is………a thing I guess. It might make noise for a week or two but then be completely forgotten about along with Haunted Mansion.
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!)
It has been announced that Pixar will be laying off 14% of current employees due to Disney’s cost-cutting measures. This will be the biggest restructuring in Pixar’s history. Even after undergoing similar layoffs last year, which included Galyn Susman, the woman who helped keep Toy Story 2 at bay during production, yet another restructure is occurring at the offices of Pixar. Never mind the fact that last year’s Elemental was able to squeeze a profit after it’s incredibly strong legs or that Inside Out 2 is set to have the biggest opening weekend at the box office in 2024 so far! Neither one of those elements were enough to continue letting talented animators get the hammer!
Unfortunately, this has not been the only layoffs in recent memory within the animation industry. Back in March, shortly after Kung Fu Panda 4 had a strong opening weekend at the box office, DreamWorks had announced massive layoffs with their company as well. Even more so than the ones with Pixars, DreamWorks confirmed that many departments were cut in half and the creative staff on movies were to be reduced at least up to 50%. Yes, around HALF of the creative staff at DreamWorks were laid off a few months ago. Never mind the fact that Kung Fu Panda 4 had a solid opening weekend at the box office and has managed to gross over 530 million worldwide, becoming the second highest grossing Kung Fu Panda sequel domestically and even outgrossing the previous Kung Fu Panda installment. Not to mention, the lower 85 million dollar budget that certainly allowed for higher revenue that perhaps any other Kung Fu Panda movie to date. None of that was enough to save DreamWorks from being forced to clean house and restructure their entire company.
There are multiple reasons why this is all occurring to not only within the animation industry but nearly all forms of entertainment in general. Mediums underperforming or tanking at the box office and/or sales, bloated budgets that makes return outcome nearly impossible, rushed development cycles which artists are constantly overworked and crunched for times, etc.. However, I do think the #1 reason behind all of this has to do with the higher ups of these studios. In the cases I just mentioned, Disney and Universal.
If you have been seeing how technology is becoming more advanced by the day, you likely are familiar with the way A.I. has been playing a bigger role now than before. With artificial intelligence features such as ChatGPT becoming more common in every day use, it’s clear that studios are looking to have that be more incorporated to the way entertainment is made now. Not for the sake of quality but for the sake of quantity. Companies want A.I. to play a big role now because it will save them extra bucks in not having to hire more animators or artists. That way, more and more money can be made that can light their own pockets and NOT be spend on actual content themselves.
Many people find it blasphemy that big studios and companies are still trying to convert A.I. into their products at the expense of actual human beings after going through at least two major strikes because of that push. However, it just doesn’t matter in the eyes of the higher ups. They don’t know how to shortened the budgets of their content that doesn’t involve laying off a good portion of their employees. They just think A.I. is the big answer to all of their problems. Not because they want to experiment on different ways to make new forms of entertainment but because that will save them a few extra pennies. It’s about as greedy, corporate, and cynical as they come.
All of those reasons and more is why whenever the contract inevitably expires this year between the Animation Guide and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), a strike is going to 100% occur. It’s not a WANT per se but an absolute NEED for both sides, if the future of animation is to thrive in the best way it can. Companies need to learn that they can NOT take animators for granted and needs them to provide quality entertainment.
Even if you take out the constant push for A.I., the animation industry has been infamous with it’s troubled production with films in recent memory. You have Across the Spider-Verse which had animators being treated extremely poorly by Phil Lord, causing hundreds of animators to leave the project. You have Kung Fu Panda 4 which had plenty of back and forth between the creatives and being rushed out of door during the multiple strikes to get out by spring. And do I even need to bring up the development history surrounding Frozen 2, which had a Disney Plus documentary in which the people who made it unironically state that they were overworked, crunched, and was basically making the whole movie up as they went along. And I can only imagine the stories we will be hearing about Moana 2, the Disney Plus series turned movie, during the holiday season this year?
Working in the animation industry or any entertainment industry is certainly hard and requires you to be working a TON to get each project out on time. But it should never come at the cost of someone’s mental health, insanity, or skills as a human being. You might be able to get away with that once or twice but to have EVERY production in animation going this way is a big no-no. That’s how you wind up with something like Megamind 2, that was litter with animation errors that became noticeable to anyone once the very first trailer dropped. Not only is the poor treatment for animators along with this constant push for A.I. to take over is affecting the work-life balance of animators but also the quality of animated motion pictures. And once you got so many of those poor quality animated films in a row, eventually people will catch on and your movies will end up bombing at the box office. Just ask Disney with Wish!
Yes, there has been plenty of great animated work as of late, regardless of their production history, but more times than not, these rushed developments cycles, harsh treatment of animators, and wanted to replace them with robots is causing major harm to the animation industry. At some point, you as an animator has to put your foot down and stand up to the studio saying “No! You will just not tolerate any longer! Treat us with the respect we deserve or we go on strike!” While it’s unlikely that will occur on it’s own, the soon-to-be expired contract between the Animation Guide and the AMPTP will certainly make the voices of animators be heard. And there is not better time for them to start speaking up than now!
Just like how actors and writers had every right to go on strike last year, animators deserve that very right! With big companies performing layoffs within the industry in the hopes of avoiding a strike, that is only going to throw more fuel into the fire. Laying off hundreds to thousands of animators in the hopes of giving those extra bucks to those that deserve it is NOT the answer! Replacing those animators with robots is NOT the answer! Putting the animators through hell with every single animation production is also NOT the answer! The only answer is to give them the proper care, treatment, and respect that they deserve to deliver the best quality creative product that they can!
It’s only then that animators may not have to strike. However, in this case and under THESE circumstances right now, they have more than earn their right to do so once they get the chance!
Adam's Blog 