Hot Take Alert: I Truly Believe Up Was The Last Great Pixar Movie (& Is Even Better Than Inside Out)

By Zachary Moser

Published Sep 1, 2024

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kids' movie opens with a death scene?

The kind of Pixar movie that earns a 98% on floating house is still a part of the public consciousness, as is saying "Squirrel" when you're distracted, Russell's yellow scout outfit, the giant bird Kevin, and more. Up resonates in a way that Pixar movies that came after simply haven't.

Split image showing Mr. Fredricksen in Up and Linguini in Ratatouille

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Up Cares More About A Deep, Emotional Story Than Franchise Potential Like Other Pixar Movies

Newer Pixar Movies Are Fixated On Creating A Tearjerking Moment

Up's story is an emotionally rich affair that later Pixar movies have not been able to match. Before I really get into this, I want to point out that the best Pixar movies are among the best animated movies ever, and arguably among the best films ever, full stop. So saying the later films aren't as good is not meant as a slam. I don't hate Inside Out or Toy Story 3, but none of these films, or at least when they are viewed as a group, can match Up and what came before.

Inside Out and Up were both directed by Pete Docter.

That gut punch at the beginning of Up is not there solely to elicit tears. It's a necessary part of the story that explains exactly why Carl literally and figuratively clings to his house. The later Pixar films feel like they're mining for those cry moments. Inside Out is a great example. It's a fantastic movie, but the only parts people seem to are when Bing Bong dies, or Joy gets sad. There should be more to Pixar movies than some big flashing arrow that says, "Emotional moment ahead!".

Pixar movies aren't great because they make you cry. Pixar movies make you cry because they are great.

Whenever a Pixar movie trailer drops, you can always find people in the comments wondering at which moment they will cry. That's like saying, "I wonder what will be the part of this movie I enjoy". You're already setting an emotional expectation before the movie even starts and Pixar seems happy to oblige. Never mind Pixar's interest in sequels and franchises, which definitely signals a shift in their priorities, it seems that the studio has somehow come to misunderstand themselves. Pixar movies aren't great because they make you cry. Pixar movies make you cry because they are great.

Average Critical Scores Of Pixar Movies
	Rotten Tomatoes	RT W/ Lowest Score Removed (Cars and Cars 2)	IMDb	IMDb W/ Lowest Score Removed (Cars and Cars 2)
Up And Earlier Movies	94.8	97.0	7.97	8.06
Movies After Up	85.11	87.82	7.31	7.38

Up Should Never, Ever Get A Sequel (Or A Live-Action Remake)

Up's Story Is Done, There's No More To Tell

Carl waving from his houose as it floats away in Up.

You can bet that an executive at Disney has tossed around the idea of doing live-action remakes of Pixar properties. They're quickly making their way through the Disney animated films; Pixar could be up next. This would be a mistake. So much of the film's charm comes from its design. The colors and shapes are critical to the story. Carl being shaped like a box is not a coincidence; I don't know how you get nuances like that across in live-action.

A sequel to Up is also a possibility, but again, that's a mistake. The story is done. Carl's house made it to Paradise Falls. He's made peace with his life. If Pixar wants to get back to the platinum standard of films like Up, best not to start with an unoriginal idea like Up 2.