My Top 3 Pixar Films

I’m going to come clean, this was a post that was supposed to come out months ago. It’s been sitting in my drafts for a solid couple of months now and the only reason why I haven’t published it until this moment is because I simply just couldn’t decide what my top 3 favourite Pixar films were. Boy, was this a hard list to make. If you recall a couple months back, I did a “My Top 5 Classic Disney Films” post and trust me, was it ever so difficult for me not to turn this into a top 5 list as well. But since I wanted to challenge myself and really force myself to pick and choose my absolute Pixar favourites, behold, my *tentative* list.

1. Ratatouille (2007)

Coming in hot for the number one spot on my list is one of my most beloved animated films of all time, Ratatouille. For some of you, you may be surprised to see that out of all the Pixar films, Ratatouille took home the crown. This movie has always just stood out to me in terms of its imaginative storytelling, lovable characters, and witty humour. I have always loved the strangely unique and honestly very weird concept behind the plot, and it’s made even better thanks to the beautiful animations that compliment the story. While I wouldn’t say this is one of Pixar’s more emotional and deep entries, the plot is still incredibly sweet, sincere, and heartwarming to watch.

I think Ratatouille just speaks to what I love so much about animated films – the possibility to do anything beyond your wildest imagination. Is having a talented rat chef control your movements under your hat a believable thing to do in real life? Absolutely not – but hey, it works when it’s animated!

2. Toy Story 3 (2010)

I’m sure there’s no surprise that Toy Story 3 has made it onto this list – and I’m sure for a majority of you, this movie is definitely somewhere on your own list. Wowing audiences with its vastly improved animations, beloved characters, and heartwarmingly emotional story, Toy Story 3 is without a doubt one of Pixar’s best accomplishments.

If you watched the first Toy Story (1995) film way back when you were a kid like I did (it came out 3 years before I was even born!), then you can probably understand and even relate to the nostalgia and warmth that this third film brought. I didn’t think it would make me as emotional as I got, but seeing Andy all grown up (and realizing I too had also grown up) really made me tear up. I was very surprised but also enjoyed seeing the emotional weight Toy Story 3 carried, and how it really resonated with so many people across so many different age groups. I always found there to be something so wonderfully sweet and charming behind the premise of this franchise – how the stories are built around returning to a world of childhood imagination and wonder.

3. Coco (2017)

I will always remember the one day I decided to watch Coco in theatres after my shift at work got cancelled. I knew absolutely nothing heading into the theatre, but since it was released by Pixar, I knew I would have a decently good hour and half of my time spent. Instead of “a decently good time”, I was treated to the most spectacular and vibrant visuals I have ever seen. But not only that, the story was as touching and endearing as I could’ve wished for.

Coco is what I would call Pixar at its best – a combination of absolutely stunning animation and thoughtful storytelling. I really loved the exploration into a different culture which produced both a rich educational and memorable experience. I remember laughing, smiling, and crying as I watched the film for the first time, and overall just being so so happy that I decided to check this one out in theatres. It was such a wonderful experience and to this day, I thoroughly enjoy every single Coco rewatch I have.

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With Pixar creating so many amazing animated films, I have no doubt that your own top 3 list is very different from mine. Let me know in the comments below what your personal favourites are! (You may or may not have to think about this for a while like I did)