Number 153

 Ranking Pixar

No other movie studio in the history of film has produced such a high percentage of quality films as Pixar. There's hardly a stinker in the bunch (although there is at least one). I thought I'd have a little fun and compile my own definitive ranking of all of their movies Toy Story through Soul. I don't suppose there's a great deal of surprise in my list. It may not match yours exactly, but I bet, more or less, most of you feel the same way I do about many of these films. I suppose the biggest point of contention will be my relatively low opinion of the Toy Story films. On most other lists, they usually appear very high up. On my list, not so much. It's not that I dislike them, I just, apparently, find them less compelling than the rest of you. My list starts with my least favorite and ends with the, without a doubt, best movie Pixar ever made. Remember, this list should be fun, although, if you disagree with my top choice, you're dead to me.

Right away, I need to disqualify The Good Dinosaur from consideration. It's the only Pixar movie that I've never seen. I thought about listing it at the bottom for that reason alone, but that would be wrong. Because I've not seen it, I have no strong opinion about it one way or the other. On the other hand, I have a very strong opinion about the worst movie Pixar ever made. For that reason, The Good Dinosaur has to take a place on the bench. Perchance, if I ever revise this list, I'll have seen it by then and it can take its place among the other films.

22. Cars 2  What an incredible suckfest! It was a weird feeling leaving the theater having such a negative feelings about a Pixar movie. Until that moment, I didn't think it was possible for them to make a bad movie. Its biggest sin (among many), was taking a side character (Tow 'Mater), who was only amusing in small doses, and elevating him to main character status. The difference in quality between this and every other movie on this list is vast. (D-)

21. Monster's University  Entertaining but unnecessary. If I want to watch Mike and Sully, I'll stick to Monster's Inc., thank you. (C-)

20. Toy Story 2  This was originally going to be straight to video, but there was enough interest in a true sequel so it was turned into a theater release. Certainly entertaining, but nothing more for me. (C)

NOTE: I noticed when I was ranking these movies that they all existed on about four different levels. For instance, Cars 2 is on one level of suckitude all by itself. Monster's U and Toy Story 2 exist on the next level (considerably) up from that. A Bug's Life through Toy Story 4 live together one level higher.

19. A Bug's Life I really enjoy A Bug's Life, and think it deserves more love than it gets, although its animation looks really dated at this point. (B-)

18. Cars 3 It was a bit of a challenge working up the energy to watch this. It did just enough to redeem the franchise, but please Pixar, leave well enough alone at this point, despite the number of toys you can sell. In all seriousness, if you wish to watch a Pixar movie with anthropomorphized vehicles, search out a straight to video release called Planes: Fire and Rescue. It's actually a little gem of a story. (B-)

17. Brave This movie came out in the wake of the Cars 2 debacle, and as a result, the entire movie seems a little tentative - as if everyone involved suddenly realized that Pixar could make a piece of shit movie. Merida and her out of control red hair is a great hero, though. The movie did just enough to allow Pixar to get their mojo back. (B)

16. Toy Story 4 I watched and enjoyed this movie. I was even emotionally engaged in the story. However, even with all that going for it, I still wish it had never been made. Much like Monster's U, it just seemed unnecessary after Toy Story 3. (B)

NOTE: The next group of films, from Toy Story through Onward are together on the next highest level.

15. Incredibles 2  Based on the affection I have for the first film, I had high hopes for this movie. Alas, it wasn't to be. (B) 

14. Toy Story  There's not much for me to say. It's a great movie, but for some reason, I've always been a little standoffish towards it. It also doesn't help that I've grown weary of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen in their respective roles as Woody and Buzz. (B+)

13. WALL-E  If this movie were just a 25 minute short film, it would be much higher on the list. The first third of this movie is masterful, but I found myself getting bored with the rest of it. Still, that beginning is something else... (B+)

12. Finding Dory  I recently re-watched this movie and enjoyed it more than I did the first time, when my expectations were sky high. Still, it took a while for it to find its own identity separate from Finding Nemo. However, once it did, it became highly entertaining in its own right. (B+)

11. Cars I really enjoyed this movie on many levels. I wish they would have stopped after this one, though. (A-)

10. Onward  A very good, average Pixar movie (A-)

NOTE: The last nine movies are each brilliant in their own right. Frankly, at this point they're all fairly interchangeable, as far as the rankings go.

9. Monster's Inc.  There is so much about this movie to love, but the key ingredient is the relationship between Sully and Boo (or possibly Mike and Roz...) (A)

8. Toy Story 3  Easily the best of the Toy Story franchise. It should have been left alone after this one. (A)

7. Soul  Now that my children are grown, I often don't hear any anything about Pixar's new movies before they come out. But since I trust the Pixar folks, I'll watch whatever gets released, even if I don't have a clue what it'll be about. Such was the case with this absolutely wonderful movie. (A)

6. Ratatouille  Considering how great this movie is, it doesn't get nearly the amount of love that it deserves. (A+)

5. Finding Nemo There are so many wonderful moments in this movie it's hard to single out just one, but let's give a special shout out to the scariest villain of any Pixar movie - Darla, the dentist's neice. (A+)

4. Inside Out  In some ways, the most honest movie Pixar has ever made. (A+)

3. The Incredibles  The most quotable Pixar movie. "Bob!... Engage"; "You'd eat it if it were Tony Loaf"; "Honey, where is my super suit?"; "No Capes!"; and "I am your greater good!" all immediately come to mind. Then there's the moment when Helen contemplates her middle-aged back side with a sigh of resignation in the middle of a covert operation. (A+)

2. Coco  It was a close thing. Since it's come out, Up has been my favorite Pixar movie. Coco has come the closest to knocking it off its throne. I just simply love this movie. It easily has the best music of any Pixar movie. (A+)

1. UP  It is here for two reasons. (1) The heartbreak of the first fifteen minutes is devastating, but the pay off at the end when Carl finally sees Ellie's last message to him makes it all worthwhile. (2) Dug the dog. He is, quite simply, my favorite Pixar character. "My name is Dug. I just met you and I love you."; "Squirrel!"; "I do not like the cone of shame"; "I see a gray car"; and "I was hiding under the porch 'cause I love you" resonate deep within me, no matter how many times I've watched the movie. (A++)