All 24 Pixar Movies, Ranked

Lightning McQueen and Mater from the original “Cars” are back for this cash-grab sequel, which takes cues from the spy sub-genre. As they prepare for the World Grand Prix, Mater gets embroiled in an international kidnapping plot.

Racing legend Lightning McQueen sets out to prove there’s still some gas left in his tank. The third installment fared slightly better than its predecessor among critics, but drastically underperformed at the box office.

Pixar imagines a world in which dinosaurs never went extinct, chronicling the unlikely friendship between an Apatosaurus and a young human. Despite some visually striking set pieces, the film’s rote storytelling failed to connect with viewers. It’s generally regarded as the studio’s first box office bomb.

While chock full of high-octane adventure, “Cars” features weaker writing and character development than most Pixar efforts. Heading to California for a major event, arrogant racer Lightning McQueen gets waylaid in Radiator Springs. The film was a bigger hit with younger viewers than with many critics or adults.

A fearless female archer breaks free from tradition in this fantasy adventure, which derives some of its story elements from Scottish folklore. Far better than the standard family fare, it still ranks among Pixar’s weaker efforts. Empire critic Ian Nathan described it as “boutique Pixar: less ambitious, more succinct, excellence at a lower ebb.”