It’s Time To Binge On Your Fave Pixar Flicks
From its very first film—the beloved Toy Story—Pixar established itself as a studio that creates family-friendly movies which appeal to all ages. Most of Pixar’s movies incorporate complex themes, layered storytelling, mature references, and Easter eggs that go right over kids’ heads. If you first watched any Pixar movie as a child, it’s time to rewatch it. Trust us—Pixar movies are even better when you’re an adult.
Elemental (2023)
Elemental lacks the cuteness that Pixar is known for—which is exactly why it’s better when you’re an adult. Despite that lack of cuteness, the movie is beautifully rendered and its Romeo-and-Juliet-style love story makes it a great film for a date night.
WALL-E (2008)
Pixar is known for creating movies with two layers of storytelling, one for kids and one for adults. The deep themes of WALL-E—the effects of technological dependency and consumerism on our planet and our innate need for connection—will likely be overlooked by kids while resonating deeply with adults.
Toy Story (1995)
Pixar’s first offering—1995’s Toy Story—demonstrated the company’s genius in appealing to adults and kids alike. While the cute animation captures kids’ attention, the clever storytelling, deeper themes of friendship and belonging, and Easter eggs resonate deeply with adults.
Monsters University (2013)
Kids’ movies often have the uplifting and encouraging message that dreams can be achieved through hard work and perseverance. Adults—most of whom have worked through disillusionment and broken hearts—will likely identify more with the message of Monsters University: Sometimes your dreams are unrealistic but you can find joy in your unique talents and abilities.
Walt Disney, Monsters University (2013)
Soul (2020)
Soul has the cute animations Pixar is known for but its theme is decidedly adult. It explores deep existential questions about life's purpose and what happens after we die. The soundtrack, a jazz score, is likely more appealing to adults than kids.
Lightyear (2022)
Pixar’s Lightyear has intense action scenes that may scare small children. The film seems aimed primarily at an adult audience and that makes sense. After all, the people who first fell in love with Woody and Buzz in 1995 are now well into adulthood.
Inside Out (2015)
While Pixar has always excelled at layering themes that appeal to both kids and adults, Inside Out is their most sophisticated take on that layering. The story about five basic emotions is surprisingly complex—and highly relatable for adults.
Walt Disney, Inside Out (2015)
The Incredibles (2004)
Pixar’s cutely animated superheroes work through several dark themes in The Incredibles, including attempted suicide, death, and infidelity. While the complexities of those topics are likely not fully understood by children, they resonate deeply with adults.
Ratatouille (2007)
One of Pixar’s most beloved offerings, Ratatouille excels at interweaving nuanced humor and references that only adults will understand into a beautifully rendered animated film that is beloved by children.
Walt Disney, Ratatouille (2007)
Finding Nemo (2003)
Every parent will empathize deeply with Marlin, the widowed dad who swims the entire ocean frantically looking for his lost son. Despite the cute animation and Nemo’s spunky personality, some kids may find Finding Nemo difficult to relate to, since the story is told from Marlin’s perspective.
Up (2009)
The opening scene in Up is one of the biggest tear-jerkers in movie history—and it’s aimed straight at adult hearts. While much of the film appeals to kids, Carl’s story and his grief are highly (and sadly) relatable for adults.
Toy Story 3 (2010)
Toy Story 3 is a movie that explores adult questions within a children’s movie. It does more than simply wink at adults with references that go over kids’ heads—it engages adults and elicits their bittersweet memories of transitioning from childhood to adulthood.
Coco (2017)
Coco is one of Pixar’s greatest achievements in terms of layering meaning and themes within a film. Children are enchanted by the colorful animations while adults appreciate its nuanced depiction of Mexican culture and its reminder that love will pull us through.
Luca (2021)
One of Pixar’s most underrated films, Luca is a story about differences, inclusivity, and the power of friendship. As 13-year-old Luca explores the world, adult viewers will see it through young eyes again, evoking joyful nostalgia.
Monsters Inc (2001)
Younger children, especially, may find Pixar’s Monsters Inc scary—and children of any age probably won’t understand the depth and complexity of the story. Monsters Inc is truly an adult film that appeals to children.
Cars 3 (2017)
Cars 3 isn’t just aimed at an adult audience—it’s aimed at a mature adult audience. The film, which follows Lightning McQueen as he considers retirement, will resonate deeply with older adults who worry about losing colleagues after years of working together and, more poignantly, their role in the workplace to younger dynamos.
Brave (2012)
The storytelling in Brave is layered, with its theme directed at adults. The heart of the story revolves around Merida and her mother, Queen Elinor, and their journey to understand each other, requiring growth and change from both characters. Adults may be able to empathize, recalling their struggles to understand and connect deeply with family members.
A Bug’s Life (1998)
Cutesy on the surface, A Bug’s Life certainly appeals to kids. But, the film contains some dark and heavy concepts best understood by adults including hierarchical systems of oppression and the strategies used to maintain them.
Toy Story 2 (1999)
Spoiler alert: Your perception of a key scene in Toy Story 2 will completely change once you have kids. When Jessie sings Randy Newman’s “When She Loved Me”, she isn’t singing about a child’s fear of being abandoned by an adult—she’s singing about an adult’s fear of being left behind as their child grows up and creates a life of their own.
Walt Disney, Toy Story 2 (1999)
Cars (2006)
The Cars franchise may seem like the most child-centric of all Pixar movies with its cutely animated talking autos. But, like all Pixar films, 2006’s Cars has themes that will resonate more deeply with adults than kids: figuring out your identity, overcoming your ego, and learning how to appreciate life.
The Good Dinosaur (2015)
The Good Dinosaur is visually stunning, with photorealistic sets. While kids may focus on the cute animated characters, adults will appreciate the lush detail of the set, which is based on the natural landscape at Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Pixar, The Good Dinosaur (2015)
Finding Dory (2016)
Finding Dory is a breathtaking visual masterpiece for kids and adults alike. Its storyline, which involves Dory’s parents helping her build confidence and find ways to thrive, is highly relatable for all parents who worry about their kids’ happiness and self-sufficiency.
Incredibles 2 (2018)
The subplot of Incredibles 2—Mr Incredible adjusting to his role as a stay-at-home dad while Mrs Incredible earns the family’s sole income—is aimed directly at adults. Mr Incredible’s struggles with emasculation and what it means to be a man are highly relatable.
Walt Disney, Incredibles 2 (2018)
Inside Out 2 (2024)
In Inside Out 2, Riley’s emotional growth continues and new, more complex emotions are introduced, including Anxiety, Envy, and Embarrassment. The role of Anxiety, in particular, is much more relatable for adults than children, and it may be a relief for many to see their own experiences with anxiety normalized on the big screen.
Walt Disney, Inside Out 2 (2024)
Turning Red (2022)
While Turning Red may be Pixar’s most controversial movie, it has important messages for both kids and adults, specifically parents. Mei’s journey demonstrates that as children work to define their own identities, parents need to step back and allow that to happen while providing much-needed support and encouragement.
