Pixar is a pillar of animated cinema and is perhaps the most consistently critically and commercially successful animated studio alongside Disney’s main animation studio. For over thirty years it has turned out timeless classics that will be beloved for generations, while rarely creating a subpar picture.
Pixar’s films are generally of high acclaim on Rotten Tomatoes on the critics’ Tomatometer, but just as important on the well-renowned site is the audience score in which regular fans and filmgoers can go to voice their opinion. The two scores can be similar but often differ, sometimes to a huge differential. Here are the five best and five worst Pixar films according to the Rotten Tomatoes audience score.
WORST - THE INCREDIBLES - 75%
Somehow making its way on the worst section of this list, despite its 97% Tomatometer is The Incredibles. Following a family of ex-superheroes who must hide their powers in an anti-hero society, until “Mr. Incredible” gets a mysterious call and they are back in action.
The film is a great one and it is a testament to Pixar’s consistency that it falls in the ‘worst’ section of this list with a very decent 75%. Perhaps not resonating with some adults, The Incredibles lives up to its name, creating a good superhero film with slick animation, a fun, smart script, great characters, brilliant direction, and an amazing story.
BEST - MONSTERS INC. - 90%
A brilliantly delightful, smart, and lovely looking film, Monsters Inc. does not seem to be talked about much anymore like it deserves. It follows James P. Sullivan and Mike Wazowski, two best buds and factory workers as they protect a child - Boo - who has escaped into their monster world while uncovering some troublesome secrets and joyful realizations on their fun, heartfelt journey.
The film is very well acclaimed and beloved by children and adults alike. Should it not get lost in people’s minds then it will be a film that will stand the test of time for generations, entertaining people for years to come with its brilliant and funny story and characters and beautiful aesthetic.
WORST - A BUG’S LIFE - 72%
Again, surprisingly low for such a critically acclaimed animated film. However, A Bug’s Life has not aged as the better Pixar classics have. It follows a colony of ants, which ends up in a war with the dictator-like grasshoppers with many zany characters introduced along the way.
It is a fun adventure film with a witty script and good characters, and will still be loved by children to this day. It has not aged like classics such as Toy Story but still has very much earned its place in the Pixar filmography.
BEST - UP - 90%
Edging out Monsters Inc. due to its superior Tomatometer, Up is a simply brilliant film. Within the first few minutes it has audiences tearing up with emotion, and the film retains a brilliantly high quality throughout. Following the widowed Carl on his mission to fulfill his and his late wife’s dream of heading to South America, he comes across the loveable Russell and dog Dug in his adventure creating a fun, heartwarming story.
Up pulls on the audience’s heartstrings to insane effect, it is a wonderful tale in which fans constantly root for the protagonists. An exciting adventure mixed with great, complex emotion and a beautiful look, Up earns its scores on Rotten Tomatoes.
WORST - CARS 3 - 69%
Much better than its predecessor, but nowhere near as good as the first, Cars 3 is a very average Pixar production. Following Lightning McQueen, as he attempts to get back into the glory of the sport he loves while younger stars take over the spotlight, Cars 3 has some surprising rays of light in its story.
An unexceptional film, Cars 3 retains the typical great look of a Pixar film, without all the heart. The movie will likely be fun for a lot of kids even if it does leave adults feeling underwhelmed and will not be one of Pixar’s well-remembered classics as generations continue to pass.
BEST - TOY STORY - 92%
Toy Story is one of those rare perfect films, like Back To The Future, or Star Wars: A New Hope/The Empire Strikes Back. The innovation and fantastic animation alone are phenomenal for the time as it follows young Andy’s very much alive toys as they go on an adventure, with Woody and Buzz getting stuck together after an attempt by Woody to get rid of Buzz backfires and they end up encountering the evil Sid.
Woody and Buzz’s blossoming friendship and amazing chemistry carry the film which has a great supporting cast, fun, funny and emotional narrative as well as being equally as beloved by adults as it is children. Toy Story is the standard-bearer for animated films and will be for years to come.
WORST - THE GOOD DINOSAUR - 65%
The Good Dinosaur just seemed to come and go without making that much of an impact. While visually stunning the film just did not live up to the standard. Following dinosaur Arlo and his unlikely human friend Spot in a world where a meteor did not kill the species, as they go on a journey of self-discovery and exploration.
A simple movie, particularly by Pixar’s standards, the film holds good family fun entertainment value but is not one of those special films. Phenomenal animation with average storytelling which ultimately, is fun for a family sit down but nothing more.
BEST - COCO - 94%
A beautiful film with a layered narrative that can be, and has shown to be beloved by children and adults alike, Coco is wonderful. Following his dream of becoming a musician like his heroes, Miguel finds himself on a journey through the Land of the Dead meeting fantastical characters and uncovering the history of Miguel’s family.
The film dazzles in its visuals while tugging at audiences emotions with its narrative. It was another Pixar home run loved by nearly all who see it and will be remembered for a long time as perhaps a modern animated classic.
WORST - CARS 2 - 54%
Undoubtedly the weakest Pixar entry, Cars 2 has a weak story, a poorly constructed narrative and ultimately begs the question of did this need to be made? Making the mistake of focusing more on Mater, Mater and McQueen travel to the World Grand Prix and get caught up in a plethora of issues along the way.
The film is convoluted unnecessarily and while it holds the style of a typical Pixar picture it lacks the substance, fun and coherent storytelling that makes a great Pixar film so great.
BEST - TOY STORY 4 - 94%
With the same Tomatometer and audience score, Toy Story 4 surprisingly comes in at number one due to having more reviews than Coco. The latest entry to the Toy Story franchise was a phenomenal one, while recency bias is afoot, the film earned its place in quite possibly the best-animated series of films there is. With a new life to adjust to, the toys end up on a road trip with new owner Bonnie and Woody ends up on a different journey in which we see his arc come full circle in this emotional flick.
There were many a question surrounding the need to make this film following the perfect end to Toy Story 3, but Pixar obviously felt more of a story was needed to be told and they told it excellently. While perhaps not as innovative or important as the first 3, Toy Story 4 has a lot of emotional value and fantastic storytelling and despite recency bias, deserves the love it has received from the Rotten Tomatoes audience.
