The Definitive Ranking of Pixar Movies from Worst to Best
15. Ratatouille
At this point in the Pixar movies list, the films go from pretty good to amazing. Ratatouille is a brilliant film about a rat who dreams of being a Parisian chef. The problem is that there’s this little thing called health codes and rats in the kitchen are kind of a no-no. Still, when you have a gift like Remy does, you let nothing stand in your way, not even a lousy Health Inspector. Of all the Pixar movies, I think Ratatouille has the most charm of them all. It’s a subtle film that feels like they made it more with the parents in mind than the tiny tots they bring with them.
14. WALL-E
If I had to sum up the message behind WALL-E in one sentence, it would be that humans are disgusting. Pixar went green with this film showing a dark future in which humanity has left the Earth a barren wasteland. In fact, the only thing left on the planet is an adorable little robot. At its heart, though Wall-E is a story about the lengths this scrappy little bot will go to in the name of love. It’s probably one of the few Pixar movies that’s a love story and like so many other genres they absolutely nail it. The disturbing dystopian future is just the icing on the cake.
13. Finding Nemo
For this film, Pixar took a fresh approach and emphasized the setting more than the story. Of course, the tale of a father trying to save his son is pretty interesting, but it’s been done before. Now a movie with fish characters you actually care about? That hasn’t been done since The Incredible Mr. Limpet (or at least not since Jaws). In fact, the characters are so memorable that Finding Nemo managed a great spin-off starring everyone’s favorite forgetful fish, but we’ll get to her in a minute.
12. Monsters, Inc
Pixar movies connect with audiences because they address universal themes we can all relate to. Monsters, Inc takes the childhood fear of a monster in the closet and turns it on its head. This movie is a perfect example of why Pixar movies are so good. The studio takes its time with its films and none of them ever feel rushed. Production took over two years, and the concept changed drastically over the course of it. While Monsters, Inc already had a prequel, I vote that it be the next film they make a sequel for. Boo is just too cute of a character not to revisit.
11. Onward
Pixar movies have always been pretty magical, but never has that been so literal. Elf brothers Ian and Barley (played by Marvel alum Tom Holland and Chris Pratt) head off on a quest to rediscover the magic that once existed in the world in order to spend one last day with their deceased dad. The problem is that it’s long since disappeared since technology proved to be much easier to master. The film plays like a wondrous Dungeons and Dragons campaign, with them encountering all sorts of mythical creatures with modern twists. It’s a hilarious and heartwarming tale perfect for a geek like me.