At one point in time,Pixarwasn’t really known for making sequels. Outside of a few Toy Story movies, every Pixar film was an original, self-contained adventure. These days, however, the studio has begun to make more follow-ups to its classic originals. Overall, the results have been mixed.
Some have really expanded on their predecessors in exciting ways, continuing character arcs and adding fresh faces in the process. Other ones, though, have felt like underwhelming films designed to make money on the back of the popularity of the original film. There have been nine of them in total, and this is how they all stack up against one another.
9Cars 2
The original Cars is a solid movie, but it has never been considered one ofPixar’s best efforts. It is, however, much better than its sequel. Cars 2 sees Lightning McQueen compete in the World Grand Prix, which takes place in several different countries around the globe. Mater also comes along as part of his race crew, but quickly gets wrapped up in a dangerous espionage mission for some reason.
The fact that this movie is partially a spy film is odd and makes it feel very different from the original. This could be seen as a good thing, but the espionage stuff is more weird than exciting. Plus, it puts too much focus on Mater, who works much better as a side character.
8Cars 3
By Cars 3, Lightning McQueen is a veteran racer who struggles to keep up with the highly advanced newcomers. One, in particular, Storm, is making a name for himself. McQueen has to figure out how to keep up.
The movie is vastly different from Cars 2, as there is no espionage in this one. It is more about racing, which makes it feel in line with the original film. This is to its benefit, as it’s superior to Cars 2. However, it still isn’t the greatest Pixar film of all time or the studio’s most excellent sequel.
7Finding Dory
Finding Dory is somewhere between a sequel and a spin-off of Finding Nemo. It focuses on Dory’s journey to find her parents, with Marlin and Nemo along for the ride.
Dory was more of a comic relief figure in the original movie, so turning her into the main character was never going to be easy. Yet, Pixar managed to do it. Finding Dory isn’t as good as Finding Nemo, but it still contains some great jokes and is as emotional as the original movie.
6Monsters University
Monsters University is actually a prequel more than a sequel, as it follows Mike and Sully’s adventures in college before the events of Monsters, Inc. It details how the two characters met and became friends. These weren’t really questions people were asking after Monsters Inc., but it is nice to find out that information anyway.
Overall, the movie lacks a bit of the heart of the original. This is partly down to the lack of Boo, who couldn’t have been in the film due to Sully and Mike not meeting her yet. So, it’s understandable why she’s not there, but she is missed. Some of the jokes still land, though.
5Toy Story 4
In Toy Story 4, the toys no longer belong to Andy. They are with Bonnie now, and they are going on a road trip together. Once this movie was announced, there was a bit of trepidation. After all, Toy Story 3 provided a perfect ending to the series, so Pixar didn’t need to make another one.
Yet, this film proves that Toy Story is amongthe most consistent series in cinema history. It retains the same level of quality that Toy Story has become known for. This mainly comes from the humor, as this is a hilarious film throughout. Also, toward the end, it contains the heart you expect when you watch Toy Story.
4Incredibles 2
Incredibles 2 was actually a sequel that people had been anticipating for a long time before it was announced. This is because the original ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, with the Parr Family ready to fight a new villain called the Underminer. Yet, that isn’t actually what the movie ended up being about.
The tussle with the Underminer is just the opening of the film, and it causes a lot of damage, which hurts the reputation of superheroes. So, Elastigirl joins an organization to help that rep. Mr. Incredible, on the other hand, becomes a stay-at-home dad. It makes for a divisive movie, but it arguably gets much more criticism than it deserves. Yes, it doesn’t hold up to the original, but it still contains some good moments.
3Toy Story 2
Toy Story 2 was the first sequel Pixar ever made. In it, Woody is stolen by a collector and taken away from Andy’s house. So, the rest of the toys go to get him back. While it isn’t quite as iconic as the first or third entries in the series, it’s stilla strong animated movie.
It provides plenty of laughs and some tear-jerking moments. Plus, the new characters, like Jesse and Bullseye, fit in with the rest of the crew really well. And the old prospector is a compelling twist villain with understandable motives.
2Inside Out 2
Like the first movie, Inside Out 2 revolves around the emotions of a girl named Riley. This time, however, she is a teenager, meaning she is dealing with more emotions, which are even harder to manage.
This premise makes a lot of sense and seems the most natural way to follow on from the first film. It results in a movie that meets the high standards set by the original. Much of this comes down to the exceptional writing, which is witty, heartfelt, and very clever.
1Toy Story 3
Andy’s toys are accidentally donated at the start of Toy Story 3, meaning they end up at a daycare center. This place seems pleasant at first, but they soon discover it’s a darker establishment than they initially think.
The movie was originally designed to be a send-off for the series until Toy Story 4 came around. That said, the release of another entry doesn’t diminish the impact of this one. It’s still a very emotional film that teaches the importance of letting go and saying goodbye. There are some laughs along the way, too.
