Top 10 Pixar Films to Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Pixar Animation Studios

From Cars to Toy Story, here are Pixar’s 10 best films, ranked in celebration of the studio’s 40th anniversary.

Forty years ago today, Pixar hit a milestone that helped reshape modern animation. To celebrate, here’s Nerdtropolis’ top 10 Pixar movies, counting down from 10 to 1, with each film’s release year, key voice cast, and a quick synopsis. Sequels were largely left out so more originals could shine, and we plan to rank Pixar sequels in a separate list.

10. Cars (2006)

Owen Wilson voices cocky racer Lightning McQueen. He is joined by Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt, Larry the Cable Guy, and Tony Shalhoub in a sunny, small-town detour that becomes a full reset. After getting stranded in Radiator Springs, McQueen learns patience, teamwork, and what real community looks like.

9. A Bug’s Life (1998)

Dave Foley leads the voice cast as Flik, with Kevin Spacey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Hayden Panettiere, and Phyllis Diller rounding out Pixar’s scrappy underdog adventure. When Flik’s plan to protect his colony goes sideways, he recruits a circus troupe by mistake and still has to find the courage to stand up to bullies.

8. Monsters, Inc. (2001)

John Goodman and Billy Crystal anchor the movie as Sulley and Mike. They are joined by Mary Gibbs, Steve Buscemi, and Jennifer Tilly adding extra punch to the comedy. When a human child slips into Monstropolis, two top scarers scramble to fix the mess, only to realize the rules of their world might be completely wrong.

7. Ratatouille (2007)

Patton Oswalt voices Remy, with Lou Romano, Ian Holm, Janeane Garofalo, and Peter O’Toole bringing Paris to life around him. Remy dreams of being a chef, so he secretly teams up with a clumsy kitchen worker and proves greatness can come from anywhere, even the most unexpected places.

6. Inside Out (2015)

Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader, Mindy Kaling, and Lewis Black voice the emotions running headquarters inside Riley’s mind. As her family moves and life changes fast, Joy and Sadness get knocked off course, forcing Riley to rebuild her sense of self while every feeling fights for its place.

5. Finding Nemo (2003)

Albert Brooks plays overprotective dad Marlin opposite Ellen DeGeneres as Dory, with Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe, and Geoffrey Rush lending heart and humor along the way. After Nemo is taken, Marlin crosses the ocean to find him, and the journey turns his fear into bravery one step at a time.

4. Coco (2017)

Anthony Gonzalez stars as Miguel, alongside Gael García Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Alanna Ubach, and Renée Victor in Pixar’s warm, musical love letter to family. Miguel enters the Land of the Dead to chase his dream, then uncovers a truth about his ancestors that changes how he sees memory, belonging, and home.

3. Up (2009)

Ed Asner headlines as Carl Fredricksen, with Jordan Nagai, Christopher Plummer, and Bob Peterson making the adventure sing. Carl floats his house toward a lifelong dream, but an unexpected young stowaway turns the trip into a second chance at connection and purpose.

2. The Incredibles (2004)

Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter lead the super-powered family, joined by Sarah Vowell, Spencer Fox, and Samuel L. Jackson. When Mr. Incredible gets pulled back into hero work, the whole family is forced into action. They have to learn that saving the day only works if they do it together.

1. Toy Story (1995)

Tom Hanks and Tim Allen launched a franchise as Woody and Buzz. They are joined by Annie Potts, Don Rickles, and John Ratzenberger, filling out the toy box. Woody fears being replaced when Buzz arrives, but rivalry turns to loyalty as the two fight to get back home and redefine what friendship means.

Four decades in, Pixar’s best films still hit because they aim for character first and spectacle second. These stories land because they feel personal, even when the heroes are toys, monsters, fish, or superheroes. To this day, the studio’s strongest work never dodges real emotion, and it still finds room for laughs. These originals remain Pixar’s clearest statement: bold ideas work best when they’re grounded in heart.

Watch all these films on Disney+.

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