The undisputed king of animated movies is Pixar Studios. Since they began making feature-length movies in 1995, they've consistently put out high-quality movies that are visually stunning, creative from start to finish, and emotionally gripping. A few have lacked being at the top of the list when compared to others but for the most part, they deliver nothing but hits.
A good majority of their films, especially the ones from recent years, have been reviewed on Screen Rant. Of course, given Pixar's track record, it should come as no surprise that many of these fantastic flicks were met with high praise.
Luca (3.5 Stars)
The most recent entry into the Pixar filmography is 2021's Luca. Released directly to Disney+, the movie tells the story of a pair of sea creatures who can turn into humans when they leave water. Once on land, they attempt to live human lives and win a race to get the one thing they want: a Vespa.
The reception for the film has been strong, with the Screen Rant review pointing out that the entire thing is a heartwarming journey. It also was lauded for delivering something that looks beautiful, though some aspects were noted to feel too similar to Pixar's past.
Finding Dory (4 Stars)
A lot of fans were concerned when Pixar started releasing sequels. 2011's Finding Dory, released in 2016, turned out to be one of the better sequels they ever made.
While 2003's Finding Nemo was never covered by Finding Dory was and it was clear that fans and critics liked it. It may not be as good as the original but the lovely tale of Dory trying to find her parents worked. The review said it had some pacing issues but was otherwise great.
Toy Story 4 (4 Stars)
In the eyes of many fans, the Toy Story franchise got a perfect ending with the third installment. The idea to release a fourth entry nearly a decade later could've been a huge mistake. It's difficult to live up to something that was so expertly done but 2019's Toy Story 4 was a worthy addition.
The review at Screen Rant made sure to note how well the prior entry wrapped things up. Despite that, Toy Story 4 delivered with emotional themes of trying to fit in, moving on, and figuring out who you are. A lot of the focus on new toys was well-received while giving just as much of the originals as needed.
The Incredibles (4 Stars)
The oldest Pixar movie to get The Incredibles, which marked a significant change for the studio. Their prior films covered things like toys, bugs, and fish but this was about people, although they were superpowered.
Interestingly, this told a mature tale about superheroes, including the ways that the world could ultimately turn on them despite their good deeds. This review said it lacked some of the heart of other Pixar works but was filled with great characters and action.
Coco (4 Stars)
Once again, it came time for Pixar to do something different. After a slew of sequels and some really interesting standalone films, the studio moved on to tell a story centered on the afterlife during the Day of the Dead celebration in Mexico.
2017's Again, SR's review found the story to be heartwarming, endearing, and emotionally touching. The visuals and the creativity behind the land of the dead were also breathtaking.
WALL-E (4 Stars)
While Pixar has been known to take risks, creating WALL-E in 2008 was probably the biggest chance they took. It's difficult to sell a movie to children that has barely any dialogue for the first half or so. Yet, they pulled it off by telling a remarkable love story in a post-apocalyptic world.
When Screen Rant reviewed WALL-E, they praised the fact that it was technically masterful in almost every aspect. They also appreciated the comedic and romantic elements but felt that the filmmakers beat the audience over the head with the social commentary at the center of the tale.
Ratatouille (4.5 Stars)
By the time 2007 rolled around, it was pretty accepted that the studio would deliver something out of the box. A film about cooking where a rodent is the chef is just the kind of concept that probably wouldn't work in the hands of anyone other than Pixar.
As expected though, the Screen Rant review had plenty of good to say about it. The characters were heavily praised, from the leads to the ing bit players. The reviewer even said that the only thing to keep it from a perfect score was being creeped out by some shots of the rats.
Toy Story 3 (4.5 Stars)
The aforementioned ending to Toy Story 3 marked what should've been the perfect way to close out an iconic series. Released in 2010, this sequel followed in the footsteps of the original two films in a way that made it arguably the greatest trilogy in history.
Though many of the fans had grown up in the decade between parts two and three, that fans could relate to. The improved animation, hilarious scenes, and touching ending were all lauded.
Inside Out (4.5 Stars)
Had Pixar lost its touch? That was the question in the early 2010s, as they released some disappointing sequels and a few original movies that hadn't lived up to the studio's high points. However, any thought of that went out the window with 2015's Inside Out, telling a story of the various emotions inside a young girl.
The stuff that Pixar excels at.
Up (5 Stars)
No matter who is writing the review, it can be next to impossible for a film to get a perfect score. Even with all of Pixar's incredible releases over the years, they hadn't pulled it off with Up hit theaters. The review was overwhelmingly positive.
The review started by simply saying that it would be easy to write because it's fantastic. The writer praised it for being an adult-oriented story while also still managing to deliver the kind of adventure that audiences want from these Pixar films. They also itted to crying because the beautiful film broke and melted their heart at several points.
