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.
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.
26.) 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 for once 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 and at least slightly more interesting than Cars 2 or Lightyear, but this is the one Pixar film I will always feels the least compelled to rewatch.
25.) Elemental
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!
With Transformers One now out in theaters, its time to rank some of the biggest and most overblown blockbuster franchises of the 21st century…..along with a couple of animated motion pictures! You should need no further introduction that that! Here’s my ranking of all eight Transformers films thus far from worst to best!
9.) Transformers: The Last Knight
If you want an example of literally everything wrong with modern cinema, look no further than the absolute monstrosity that is Transformers: The Last Knight! This is what happens when a franchise just stops caring and think releasing anything in any state is acceptable! From the godawful directing to the inconsistent frame rate to the nonexistent plot that makes the other films in the series make no sense whatsoever to the butchered characterization to the nearly unwatchable action to the bizarre virtual signaling, there is not enough words in the English language to describe this trainwreck of a feature film! This is not just the low point for the autobots, this is a low point for movies in general! You can tell Michael Bay was over this franchise even before he took the camera and as a result, ended up finishing his run with this series by saving his worst for last!
Not to mention, Unicorn being planet Earth this whole time and Bumblebee fighting the Nazi?!?! Really?!?!?! Just really?!?!?!?!
8.) Transformers: Age of Extinction
If Age of Extinction is better than The Last Knight, it’s not better by much! This bloated disaster took everything that was wrong about Bay’s first three Transformers movies and cranked them up to 11! The action is even more exhausting, the humor is even more unfunny, the characters are even more obnoxious, the product placement is even more on the nose, the effects are somehow even more blatantly unfinished and obvious, and the runtime is even more taunting than perhaps any movie that has ever existed. While this does at least feel like a complete film overall, it’s still an absolutely terrible one and easily the worst film to ever make a billion dollars at the box office.
Also, statutory rape as a plot point! I just…..what more can you say?!
7.) Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
The fact we now live in a timeline where this piece of crap is not even the second worst Transformers film really says a lot! At the very least, this had an excuse as to why it sucked as much as it did, most notably because this movie was rushed into production due to a writer’s strike. There is also a couple of legit good action beats here, especially the forest fight with Optimus Prime. Plus, unlike the last two films mentions, this has a proper three act structure! Just unfortunate that the script is complete garbage with a story that makes no sense with multiple plot threads that go nowhere, the typical Michael Bay humor being it’s absolute worst here, has some of the most annoying and particularly racist side characters in any film, and the Fallen himself being one of the most useless villains in any movie I’ve seen. While Revenge of the Fallen may be watchable compare to the last two films mention, it’s still pretty damn bad overall and not worth your time!
At least, it gave us Megan Fox on a motorcycle though!
6.) Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
There’s not much you can say about Rise of the Beasts other than what you come to expect from a Transformers movie at this point. With the kind of material it’s adapting in Beasts Wars and what is present onscreen, it could have made for one of the better Transformers movies rather than one that is middle-of-the-pack at best. It delivers the action, visuals, and spectacle you can come to expect from these movies and does them well to make for a fine watch but it doesn’t do enough to justify adapting the Beasts Wars and it’s plot feels frighteningly similar to that of Revenge of the Fallen, only with less crude humor and no racist stereotypes. Even with the tease at the end of a potential cross-over that could make for interesting future installments, Rise of the Beasts feels too surface value and run-of-the-mill that it’s hard to get excited about this franchise on film for the near future. And if the lackluster box office numbers have been any indication, I’m certainly not alone in thinking that. Serviceable time waster but nothing more.
It gets points for the Sonic and Tails references though!
5.) Transformers: Dark of the Moon
The third installment of the Bayverse is probably the best in terms of action, scope, and effects. The entire second half of this film delivers some of the most badass action set pieces in Transformers history with every notable character, from the human characters to the Transformers, getting to play a big part in it, with Optimus Prime being at his most badass and Leonard Nimoy as Sentinel Prime being just awesome. Sam Witwicky even has an engaging arc this time around for a man who just wants to matter in the world and his new girlfriend, while no Megan Fox, is pretty cool in her own right and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s acting is surprisingly not terrible. It’s still held back by most of the flaws with these Bay films along with Megatron being useless for 99.99% of the runtime and containing one of the most abrupt endings in recent memory (Seriously, no end of trilogy goodbye or anything!). Even so, Dark of the Moon is the only one of the Bay sequels that I was actually able to tolerate and find a good bit of enjoyment in. This is also the one where Michael Bay most certainly should have stop at.
Also, what in the world is the title of this film suppose to mean? Dark of the Moon?! What even is that?!
4.) Transformers
If we are rating this list based off pure nostalgia, I would rank this at #1, as it’s the Transformers film I have watched the most. I’m gonna sound like a hypocrite since I spent so much of this ranking bashing Michael Bay but I gotta admit, he certainly nailed it on his first try here. I don’t think anyone could forget the experience of seeing the Transformers on the big screen for the very first time and how satisfying it felt to watch in theaters. Yes, it puts a focus on the human characters first but that felt necessary since this was the first film the autobots and deceptions were on screen so having a main human lead guiding the picture felt natural. The action is spectacularly done, with the climax of the film being an all-timer, the special effects still hold up well to this very day, the soundtrack is great, the human cast blend very well with the Transformers and even the humor is actually quite funny here (every scene with Anthony Anderson always gets me cracking). You can definitely pick apart the overly complicated plot, the overlong runtime, and the overabundance of human characters (all of which would ONLY get worse in the sequels) but for what this movie needed to get right, Transformers (2007) was able to get right pretty well on the first try that I can easily overlook any faults.
And yes, Megan Fox is hotter than the sun in this movie and I crushed on her just as hard as any teen or pre-teen did in 2007 after seeing the film for the first time!
3.) Transformers: The Movie
The 1986 animated film that is based of the famous television series is certainly more than meets the eye. While on the surface it looks to be a harmless and inoffensive movie for kids that is completely design to sell toys, it’s actually a very touching and emotional tale of loss and grief with many established characters being killed off left and right, especially the ultimate fan favorite of Optimus Prime. If that doesn’t scream “balls of steel”, then I have no idea what does. The animation is also well done for it’s time with fun action, a great voice cast and a cool soundtrack throughout. It’s also nice to see human characters have a presence in a Transformers movie but does not completely steal the spotlight from the autobots themselves. It still has most of the same trappings that most of these “toy commercial” movies do and those who aren’t familiar with the animated series will likely be lost in terms of the plot but for the longest of time, Transformers: The Movie makes for one fun nostalgic movie that was as good of a Transformers movie as you could get.
And try not to cry when Optimus Prime dies! *sheds tear*
2.) Transformers One
While it does fall short in being the Into the Spider-Verse/The Last Wish/Mutant Mayhem animated gamechanger it clearly wants to be, Transformers One still delivers the action, laughs, and heart you could possibly want from an animated Transformers movie. The origins story of the early days of the Autobots is told remarkably well with hardly any beats feeling like they are in there just because it’s an origin story, the animation is gorgeous, all the Transformers get there own moments to shine, and the overall theme of different ideologies can get the best/worst out of us all is one that surprisingly works wonderfully for a Transformers movie. Plus, unlike Transformers One, you can jump right into the story and not feel lost. It does take a while to get going and the celebrity filled voice cast, while fun, definitely doesn’t hold a candle to previous voice cast for Transformers but for those that want an animated flick with our favorite autobots that has them front and center with no human presence to wear it down, Transformers One is definitely the Transformers movie for you.
1.) Bumblebee
As much as plenty of folks have fondness for the original 1986 animated movie and will (likely) have fondness for the latest animated movie, I still believe that Bumblebee is the best Transformers film to date. After Michael Bay ended his directing run of this series with an absolute whimper, Travis Knight was able to step in and deliver a Transformers movie that puts it’s characters and emotions first and action set pieces second! The plot does hit many of the same beats as the 2007 film along with tropes seen in other “kid befriends beasts/machines” story but it’s able to work to it’s advantages by making the best use of every single one of those beats and tropes. This Transformers riff of E.T. and The Iron Giants works wonderfully because it knows what made those movies works and how the best Transformer stories with human characters work, by having the main driving force between a human being and a robot car be the beating heart in all of it. Hailee Steinfeld is perfectly casted as Charlie Watson, easily the best human character in the series, and every scene between her and Bumblebee is so wholesome and serves greatly in their development. The action in the prologue is perhaps the best bit of action in any of these movies and the rest that is presented throughout the rest of the movie is very well done. Bumblebee is full of so much heart, energy, and passion that it’s genuinely a great film no matter what way you look at it. This is one of those movies that you just wish you can give a big hug too because it’s just that sweet and charming. Because of that and more, Bumblebee is the best Transformers film to date!
Also try not to cry when Charlie says goodbye to Bumblebee at the end of the film!
A new entry for A Quiet Place has just released in theaters with A Quiet Place: Day One. Because of that, it’s time to see how that entry stacks up with the previous two entries in this unique horror franchise.
It does feel odd how this series in particular has turned into a franchise of it’s own kind. Because when looking at it’s own premise, it doesn’t seem like it’s one that has potential to expand into it’s own franchise. Sure, maybe a sequel or two would be fine but more than that, it’s quite stretching thin. Even so, we’ve gotten three films thus far with a fourth one on the way for next year along with a new video game that looks like it could be A Quiet Place‘s version of Alien: Isolation. I don’t know how long they plan to ride this train out but if they can keep crafting installments that are as well made, acted, and engaging as they are, then I’m sure it will be able to get away from it.
Nevertheless, it’s time to rank all three A Quiet Place films thus far from worst to best. This will undoubtedly be my shortest list to date because of only three films to talk about but let’s rank them anyway because why not.
3.) A Quiet Place: Day One
The weakest A Quiet Place to date is unfortunately the newest one that just came out, even if it’s still pretty darn good in it’s own right. Three films in and this is when we are starting to get the feeling of fatigue of seeing the same monsters slaughtering everything it can in sight and only the ones that remain the most quiet will serve. There is also a much more character driven and human story at center than it’s predecessors while certainly compelling, feels like it could have done without the Quiet Place gimmick slapped onto it. Also, those that are looking for answers about how the monsters go to earth will be very disappointed.
Even so, the scares and thrills of the previous films still work here and Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn are both super compelling on-screen, with both of their characters undergoing satisfying arcs throughout. And as most people have been saying, the cat steals the show in every scene that it’s in. If you look at it as it’s own thing, it’s an intense and enjoyable sci-fi horror flick but as yet another installment in this franchise, A Quiet Place: Day One is a showcase that this series is beginning to run on fumes and should be given a proper wrap-up soon before it wears out it’s welcome completely.
2.) A Quiet Place
The original A Quiet Place has to be one of the most unique and surprising horror films in recent memory. It’s able to use it’s premise of sound-heavy monsters who roam the world as a mean to craft a story of the means of surviving when the human race is on the verge of extinction and what lengths can a parent goes through to protect their children. John Krasinski proves himself to be a tour de for even more behind the camera as he is in front of the camera, alongside the amazing Emily Blunt, A.K.A. his wife, and young stars Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe.
Sure, there are moments where you do have to suspense your disbelief on the family being able to survive for as long as it has and certain choices they make during certain moments but when a movie is this well made, acted, and directed, it’s easy to overlook these flaws. The fact it’s able to tell a genuine and heartfelt tale despite having very minimum dialogue and relying on it’s visuals and hand language is the real master stroke here. Aided by Oscar-calibar editing, a mesmerizing score, and a haunting and captivating atmosphere, A Quiet Place is a horror film for the ages and is one that is most certainly worth a look for any fan of the genere.
1.) A Quiet Place: Part II
The best film in the franchise to date is A Quiet Place: Part II. This is a horror sequel that manages to be just as good, if not better, than it’s predecessor and is one of the better horror sequels in recent memory. It shows that there is still more to explore within this world with just as much suspense, insanity, and brutal kills as the original! This one sees the family split up as they get out of their comfort zone to discover who else is left on the other side of the word and whether or not they can bring an end to this universe ruled by blind alien monsters!
A Quiet Place: Part II manages to continue the story in a very organic way and sets the tables well for an absolute banger of a third part finale! Even if it takes a few more years to come out or if we never get a third film at all, it works just when watching it back-to-back with the original making it feel like an absolutely complete experience on it’s own! Providing the best use of scares, thrills, brutal kills along with having the best direction and performances of all three movies, A Quiet Place: Part II is the best Quiet Place film to date and one of the best horror sequels out there!
This weekend saw the release of one of the most highly anticipated movies of the year with Dune: Part Two, directed by the one and only Denis Villeneuve. With that film expecting to be the biggest hit of 2024 thus far, what better time than any to rank all 11 films that have come from the great Villeneuve himself.
Denis Villeneuve is an interesting name when it comes to well known modern filmmakers. While he may not be as big of a household name such as Steven Spielberg or Christopher Nolan, he still does seem to be common favorite among film lovers, as he seems to always nail it when given the most pressure to do so. Even there are those that don’t care for his work or are currently high rolling at comments he’s made involving the push for longer films and film dialogue being devalued, they have to respect all the man has been able to accomplish thus far in his career.
With Dune: Part Two now out in theaters, the man has directed 11 motion pictures thus far. It’s time to take a look back at each one and see how each one ranks among the other. This is my best to worst ranking of the films directed by Denis Villeneuve!
11.) August 32nd on Earth
Denis Villeneuve’s weakest film thus far just so happens to be his very first one. There is a compelling and moving story hidden somewhere within August 32nd on Earth, a story about how times flies by quicker than one would expect and we will just never accomplish all the things we want to do throughout our lifetime. However, you can tell this is when Villeneuve was still trying to get his foot through the door and let his voice be realized on screen. The journey the characters are going through can’t quite match up with the overall scope of it along with not being able to stick the landing. It’s no disaster by any means but this is when the man’s unique filmmaking techniques had yet to be ironed out. That being said, you know you have gone to places when your worst film is the very first one that you have made.
10.) Maelstorm
Well, here’s the movie that’s about the most WTF thing imaginable when saying it out loud. We follow a young business woman named Bibianne who kills a fishmonger in a accident, disposes of the body, and then proceed to fall in love with the dead man’s soon. Oh, and it also happens to be narrated by a talking fish. Even when describing the main premise, Maelström is actually a simple pyschological thriller and has that mix of suspense and black comedy that not many of Villeneuve’s movies have. There are times where those two tones clash with one another but it’s worth a watch for yourself just to see if you are able to get into what it possibly the craziest thing that Villeneuve has ever done. I’m sure the narrating fish would approve.
9.) Polytechnique
Here’s the one Denis Villeneuve film that is based off a true story. Polytechinque dives into the 1989 massacre of students at Montreal’s Ecole Polytechinque, which saw the death of 14 women. Villenueve’s attempt to tell this tragic and haunting tale through three different points of views is ambitious but is lead to mixed results. While putting the spotlight on topics surrounding women’s trouble roles in society and reckoning with violence is admirable and done relatively well, the black-and-white visual style leaves the film feeling much flatter than most of Villeneuve’s films. Although, considering we are still having controversial debates surrounding the subject matter of this film literally 35 years later is deeply sad on the real world’s part. Even so, Polytechinque is able to set the stages for Villeneuve’s best French-language film, Incendies, later on down the road, which helps make this feel like a nice beginning of the end of his run with French-language films.
8.) Enemy
Here’s the film that is most remembered for it’s absolute effed up ending. We see Jake Gyllenhaal playing two different characters named Adam and Anthony, with the two becoming intertwined in each other’s lives and at literal war within themselves. Enemy acts as far in a way the most ambiguous film in Denis Villeneuve’s library, offering more questions than answers as to what version that Jake Gyllenhall is suppose to be the real person in the story. And of course, who can forget that ending which definitely left plenty of viewers tangled in webs, quite literally. I still can’t 100% say if Enemy works the way it was intended but it certainly kept me thinking all the way through which I imagine was it’s true goal. I’m sure Spider-Man would be proud with this one!
7.) Sicario
Here’s the film that saw Thanos and the Wolfman needing the help of Mary Poppins to fight Mexican drug cartels. In all seriousness, Sicario is a rock solid film that makes for probably the one film in Denis Villeneuve’s filmography thus far that can be seen as a straight up action film. The entire cast is fantastic here with the notable standouts including Benedict del Toro being completely terrifying as Alejandro Gillick, Jon Bernthal being as brutal and intense here as he is as the Punisher, Josh Brolin being reliably good as Matt, and Emily Blunt standing strongly as the lead and lone female presence of the picture. Credit also has to go to the masterful editing, gorgeous cinematography, and action sequences that are among the best of Villeneuve’s career. It’s rather inconsistently paced and the story itself is among the most conventional of Villeneuve’s films but Sicario is still damn good regardless. The fact this is in the middle-of-the-pack in this rankings says more about this director’s impressive track record than it does to devalue the true quality of this film.
6.) Dune: Part One
The first chapter of Villeneuve’s sci-fi adaptations of Frank Herbert’s work of Dune is a remarkable and impressive visual achievement that was made for the big screen. With it’s enormous scale, diverse cast, and world building like we haven’t seen before in recent memory, this sci-fi epic is just ready to insert itself into every book of “movies you must watch before you die” imaginable! Even after how impressive Part Two delivers, Dune: Part One still can’t help of getting too wrap up of being the first part of a story with pacing that feels a tad too slow and the overall feeling of the best still having yet to come. Even so, Dune is still able to accomplish feeling like a modern day Star Wars the way is has been hyped up to be and is practically destined to become the next big sci-fi epic that Hollywood will desperately try to copy and replicate with iffy results.
5.) Incendies
Among the last of the foreign released films in Villeneuve’s rose gallery, Incendies is still more than welcome in being the top five on this list. This is the film that pulls absolutely zero punches whatsoever and doesn’t shy away from the harsh realism of society. You think everything is going to be alright for one moment and then the rug will be pulled right from under your feet. Villeneuve is able to continue that bleak and complex storytelling that he is well known for along with providing what is hands down the best twist out of any of the films he’s done. Even once you know what it is, it will still be on your mind days after seeing it. Big credit also has to go to Melissa Desormeaux-Poulin with her emotionally powerful performance that helps carry the film. Even with all of his other dark and moody films on display, I don’t think there is a film that Denis Villeneuve has made that has haunt me the way Incendies did.
4.) Blade Runner 2049
I don’t think there is a sequel that seemed like the definition of a bad idea than Blade Runner. The original was a sci-fi epic that was way ahead of it’s time and had multiple different ending that did not demand a follow-up. However, Villeneuve makes what seemed like a near impossible task seem easy as Blade Runner 2049 acts as a more than worthy companion piece to the original Blade Runner. It’s able to expand upon it’s ideas and concepts of the original surrounding identity and purpose while showcasing some of the most impressive visuals and cinematography ever put to film. Ryan Gosling is able to carry the film completely as Officer K and Harrison Ford’s return as Rick Deckard is perhaps even more satisfying than his return as Han Solo and Indiana Jones. Also, Ana De Armas might be objectively the most beautiful woman on the planet! I could have done with a shorter length and without Jared Leto’s presence whatsoever, but Blade Runner 2049 is still a great case of a dangerous stunt being performed perfectly. Even if Denis Villeneuve ultimately regrets taking the mantle from Ridley Scott’s original cult classic, this is still an example of a legacy sequel done right and he should have nothing to be ashamed about the end results of this whatsoever.
3.) Prisoners
For many film fans out there, this was likely their first exposure to Denis Villeneuve. Prisoners is a dark, bleak and depressing look on child abduction and parents facing their absolute worst fear of losing their only children. Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhal give incredible performances here, Roger Deakin’s cinematography is absolutely impeccable, and the mystery behind who kidnap their children is able to keep you guessing and have you on the edge of your seat the entire way through. Btw, NO, the ending is NOT ambiguous and should be common knowledge that it got resolved! Even with a runtime of two hours and thirty three minutes, Prisoners makes for an incredibly intense and gripping thriller that will have viewers understand the bleak reality of parents not always being there for their kids and the lengths they will go through to save them. This was admittedly my first Denis Villeneuve film that I watched and man, what an introduction that was!
2.) Dune: Part Two
If Dune: Part One acted as Villeneuve setting the training wheels on his bike in motion, Dune: Part Two sees him being able to successfully take those training wheels off and pushed that bike down the hill with good graces. Nearly all that set up that amounted in Part One has immensely satisfying pay offs in Part Two. The action and set pieces are taking to a whole new level, every single member of it’s talented, stacked cast get their own moment to shine, the cinematography is absolutely jaw dropping and makes the IMAX experience 100% worth it, and it’s able to push all the right buttons on making a perfect sequel, instantly comparable to the likes of The Empire Strikes Back, The Two Towers, and The Dark Knight. This is an instant sci-fi classic that will likely go down as one of the best cinematic experiences that I along with others will have all throughout 2024. Even if it’s not quite my favorite film of Villeneuve, Dune: Part Two will likely go on to be his most successful film to date and one that shall get the attention of the remaining moviegoing audience that aren’t yet familiar with his name.
1.) Arrival
It’s quite fascinating how Villeneuve’s recent comments about how he encourages longer films nowadays and doesn’t encourage dialogue in films when perhaps his best film to date is Arrival, a film that’s not only a slim 116 minutes long but is the best film about language that I’ve ever seen. Despite those odd comments, this still remains one of the best, riveting, complex, and most emotionally satisfying sci-fi films I’ve seen in the past decade. A film that at it’s heart is not only about language and communication but also about the whole world coming together to prevent the worst possible outcome between the human race and extraterrestrial intelligence and encouraging only the best one imaginable. Amy Adams gives an absolutely powerhouse performance alongside her fellow cast members, Denis Villeneuve’s direction has never been better than it has been here, it’s exploration of communication and how to respond to other alien species is fantastic, and it has one of the most beautiful scores for a film I’ve ever heard. Plus, if you don’t get a little misty eyed by the end, you are a robot. Brilliantly directed, written, and acted, Arrival is Denis Villeneuve’s best film to date and one of the best sci-fi films I’ve ever seen period.
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