Originally founded in the late 1970s as part of the Lucasfilm computer division, Pixar grew slowly but surely in the 20th century, until eventually breaking into feature film territory some 16 years later. In 1995, Pixar’s Toy Story became the first entirely computer-animated feature film, and Pixar‘s name was secured as one of the biggest and most innovative names in movie animation.
However, despite releasing another two films before the turn of the century in A Bug’s Life and Toy Story 2, it is in the 21st century that Pixar’s stock grew to the incredible heights we know today. In the 2000s, the decade in which Disney completed their acquisition of the company, seven movies were released by Pixar, with many considering this to be the animation house’s golden period. So, without further ado, here’s a list of all seven Pixar movies from the 2000s, ranked by their IMDb rating.
7
‘Cars’ (2006)
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
The only Pixar movie of the 2000s to receive an IMDb score under 8.0, Cars follows hotshot racecar Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) as he stands on the edge of the biggest race of his life. However, after getting stranded in a place entirely alien to his fast-paced existence, McQueen learns more about himself than he ever could’ve imagined.
Sure, Cars is the weakest of Pixar’s catalog in the 2000s, and its IMDb score proves this. In fact, it is the only 2000s Pixar movie that could fairly be considered underwhelming. Nevertheless, this is still a warm-hearted, well-animated tale that has earned itself a spot in pop culture folklore thanks to McQueen’s iconic image and the brilliantly endearing supporting character, Mater (Larry the Cable Guy).
6
‘The Incredibles’ (2004)
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Before the MCU was dominating global cinema, the Parr family proved worthwhile superhero icons for family audiences. Brad Bird‘s The Incredibles follows the aforementioned clan as they battle living in a normal modern familial unit with the reality of being city-saving superheroes. However, when the deadliest threat yet emerges, one that has a link to their past, their double lives become even more strained.
Pixar movies are at their best when discussing family dynamics with both nuance and universal understanding.So, with The Incredibles exploring the dynamics of a modern family dressed in an exciting superhero image, it’s no wonder it has become such a classic. Featuring brilliant voice work from a stellar cast and a heap of memorable quotes, the double-Academy Award-winningThe Incredibles is to many the most underrated of Pixar’s entire catalog.
5
‘Ratatouille’ (2007)
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Cinema’s favorite rodent debuted in 2007, with Pixar’s Ratatouille becoming an instant global hit. The film follows Remy (Patton Oswalt), an unusually smart rat with a keen nose for culinary delight. After making his way to a Parisian restaurant to try and meet his hero, Remy instead befriends a hapless cook (Lou Romano), with the two becoming unlikely allies in the pursuit of their goals.
A visually gorgeous, utterly indulgent animated flick, Ratatouille is impossible to dislike. A winner of an Oscar back in 2008 for Best Animated Feature Film, Ratatouille arguably deserves many more accolades from the Academy, such is its timeless brilliance. A film that has aged as beautifully as a rich French wine, it is frankly remarkable that there are still four other Pixar movies from this decade rated higher.
4
‘Monsters, Inc.’ (2001)
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
One of Pixar’s earliest feature-length projects, Monsters, Inc. was the chance for the company to prove they could animate ever-complex fur. The movie follows a community of monsters who must use the screams of children to power their city. However, with the monsters allergic to children, with just one touch causing a meltdown, how will the world cope when a little girl breaks through and befriends two of their own?
One of Pixar’s most ambitious stories to date, Monsters, Inc. perfectly captures the spirit of family filmmaking. A wonderful watch for every generation, the film thrives with universally understood themes of identity and a call-back to the nostalgia of being afraid of what lurks in the dark. Another Academy Award-winning Pixar effort, Monsters, Inc. deserves all its praise and more.
3
‘Finding Nemo’ (2003)
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
A movie that turned a reported $94 million budget into just shy of $1 billion at the global box office, Finding Nemo follows Marlin (Albert Brooks), a single clownfish father, who watches his son (Alexander Gould) get kidnapped by a pair of scuba divers on his first day of school. Desperate to see his son again, and buoyed by the unlikely help of a forgetful blue tang, voiced by Ellen DeGeneres, Marlin will stop at nothing to find his child.
For any parent, watching Finding Nemo is a truly moving experience. Perfectly capturing the lengths to which a parent would go for their child, and through the lens of a clownfish no less, Pixar’s unique ability to expand simple emotional beats into overwhelmingly affecting tales is no better felt than in Finding Nemo. At the 76th Academy Awards, the movie became the first Pixar and Disney film to win the Best Animated Feature trophy.
2
‘Up’ (2009)
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
A movie sure to make any viewer laugh through their tears, the double Oscar-winning Up follows the curmudgeonly Carl (Ed Asner), a 78-year-old man stuck in a rut following the death of his beloved wife. However, with a stowaway accidentally on board, Carl finds the will within himself to fly his house by balloon to the destination he and his wife had longed to explore: Paradise Falls.
When one thinks of Up, it’s impossible not to remember the “Married Life” montage. In fact, so good is the montage, arguably one of the heights of animated filmmaking in cinema history, that many forget the joyful, moving adventure that came after it. Up is a truly delicate film with an enormous heart that takes a host of memorable characters on an unforgettable journey.
1
‘WALL-E’ (2008)
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Another Academy Award-winning entry into Pixar’s catalog, Andrew Stanton‘s WALL-E follows the titular robot who, on a desolate Earth long void of life, is sent to clean up the leftover waste. However, whilst there, he meets another robot, with the pair striking a heartfelt friendship that is set to shape humanity forever.
Of all of Pixar’s 21st-century movies, none have aged better than WALL-E. What was, in 2008, an imaginative look at the road humanity could be taking has now turned closer to reality as time has passed. However, within the alarming analysis of the future of humanity, there is a gorgeous, heartfelt tale that will never fail to bring smiles to faces. Featuring the most endearing titular character in their entire catalog, Pixar’s WALL-E is nothing short of a masterpiece, and IMDb users clearly agree.
