Even the biggest studios have their low points! Welcome to WatchMojo and today, we’re counting down our picks for the least impressive or least memorable features from Pixar.
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00 I never let go of him.
00:02 Nav, you have to get a hold of yourself, you're making a scene.
00:05 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the least impressive or least memorable features from Pixar.
00:12 For the record, we're not saying that these are bad movies, but rather that they pale in comparison to the studio's most acclaimed classics.
00:19 Arlo!
00:21 You'll get there.
00:24 Number 10, Finding Dory.
00:27 As much as Finding Nemo fans love Dory, does she really have the star power to carry an entire movie on her own?
00:33 Hi, I'm Dory.
00:34 Where? Which way?
00:36 It went, um, this way! It went this way! Follow me!
00:39 Pixar decided to find out when they made Finding Dory, which features the forgetful Blue Tang on a quest to find her family.
00:45 Everyone has a family, and I may not remember their names and what they look like, and I may not even be able to ever find them again, but, um, what were we talking about?
00:53 While the film boasts a beautiful message about love and humanizing disability, the road there feels drawn out, like you're just floating endlessly through the ocean waiting for the good stuff.
01:02 Not to mention, it feels like a retread of the first film with less emotion.
01:06 While Finding Dory isn't at all bad, it kind of feels unnecessary, like the original flick was enough.
01:12 It's you! It's really you! Mom, you're actually here!
01:16 I am!
01:17 And Dad, so are you!
01:19 Right here, kelpcake!
01:22 Number 9, Luca.
01:24 Imagine, if you will, Pixar's own take on The Little Mermaid, but without the heavy romance plot and starring two underwater creatures exploring the human world.
01:32 We won't be the first to say that's essentially what you get with Luca.
01:35 Oh, good morning, Mr. Branzino! And also, I'm sorry.
01:38 Well, how's Mrs. Branzino?
01:40 Hi, Luca.
01:41 The imagery and scenery are stunning, and it feels like a simple, charming fairy tale.
01:46 But maybe it's a little too simple. While it has a compelling story idea about social acceptance, it feels rather safe compared to the studio's other heavy hitters.
01:54 Plus, things work out a little too conveniently.
01:57 They are... the winners!
02:00 If you want a simple, sweet story, you'll likely enjoy Luca.
02:04 But if you want something groundbreaking or revolutionary, then you're all washed up here.
02:09 It's over. The reign of terror. It's finally over!
02:12 Number 8, Onward.
02:14 You're not gonna get that thing working?
02:16 I think I've got it.
02:17 I'm gonna watch from over here for when it's closed up.
02:20 Hello? Hello?
02:22 In a modern-age mythical land where magic has vanished, two elf brothers overcome their differences on a journey to see their late father one last time.
02:29 The chemistry between the siblings is endearing, and the story is unique.
02:32 However, the premise doesn't feel like it's used to its full potential, and the heartwarming moments are overshadowed by a whole lot of bizarre ones.
02:39 Oh, God!
02:41 Holy affidavit!
02:43 I did it!
02:45 It worked!
02:48 The can is huge!
02:50 Plus, at one point, they introduce the studio's first openly lesbian character, which is a huge step forward for Pixar, and yet they do nothing with her.
02:58 It's not easy being a new parent.
03:00 My girlfriend's daughter got me pulling my hair out, okay?
03:03 Oh. Uh, yeah.
03:05 Alright. We can let 'em go.
03:07 The fact that this film came out as the pandemic hit and movie theaters were taking a big hit didn't help at all.
03:12 Number 7. Monsters University.
03:14 I'm welling up with tears. Now get off.
03:18 We love Mike and Sully's dynamic in the original Monsters, Inc., but did we really need to see an origin story?
03:23 Apparently so, since Monsters University shows us how they met in college and how they struggle to prove their worth to their classmates and strict dean.
03:30 Careful, Mr. Sullivan. I was just warming up to you.
03:34 Sorry.
03:35 It has good values and its heart is in the right place, but it also retcons much about what we know about the characters and wraps it up with a predictable story.
03:43 Plus, without the heavy emotional moments, how can anyone be invested in Mike and Sully's "Foe to Friends" arc when we know it ends with them being besties?
03:51 You don't have to be good. You can mess up over and over again and the whole world loves you.
03:56 Mike!
03:57 Number 6. Brave.
03:59 We know Disney reigns supreme in the princess genre. However, in 2012, Pixar decided to throw its hat in the ring with Brave.
04:06 This epic tale tells of Scottish warrior princess Merida and how she learns to make a better connection with her mother.
04:12 A princess must be knowledgeable about her kingdom.
04:15 She doesnae doodle.
04:18 Who's transformed into a bear for most of the film.
04:20 While the flick has plenty of fun moments and a good message, it gets a little oversaturated at times.
04:25 I am the queen. You listen to me.
04:28 This is so unfair.
04:31 Plus, it barely takes advantage of its Scottish mythology and the way the story is wrapped up doesn't feel very satisfying.
04:37 As sad as it sounds, we're not sure Merida fits in with the other Disney princesses and neither is the studio itself.
04:43 [Speaking in a foreign language]
04:49 Uh-huh.
04:51 What did she just say?
04:53 We don't know.
04:54 We can't understand her.
04:55 She's from the other studio.
04:56 Number 5, The Good Dinosaur.
04:59 Hello, Buck.
05:01 He's got your eyes.
05:06 2015 gave us one of Pixar's very best with Inside Out.
05:09 Wait a minute. Wasn't there another Pixar flick released that year?
05:13 Oh, right. The Good Dinosaur also came out in 2015.
05:17 And nobody really remembers it.
05:19 You're all set.
05:21 Can I do something else, Mama?
05:24 Get going.
05:25 That's not because it's horrible.
05:26 It's actually a charming flick with nice imagery, but the story doesn't hold much weight to it.
05:30 It has an interesting concept where the dinosaurs didn't go extinct and one befriends a human, but that's about as far as it goes.
05:37 It ended up doing poorly in theaters, so it's understandable that this has become something of a forgotten chapter in the studio's library.
05:43 I blamed him for what happened to you, but...
05:47 It wasn't his fault.
05:49 Number 4, Elemental.
05:51 When the trailer for Elemental first came out, the online response was mild at best.
05:56 She's not in love with him.
05:57 I'm not in love with you.
05:59 Knew it!
06:01 A lot of that might stem from poor marketing, but it was almost a box office flop until more folks started giving it a chance.
06:07 The animation, as usual, is universally praised, but the actual story has garnered a very divisive response.
06:13 My dad was so angry.
06:15 Burn somewhere else!
06:17 While it has a very heartfelt allegory for immigration and emotional balance, the romance plot feels like it's been done to death.
06:23 Add to it, the ending feels a little hastily resolved, and the elemental focus was unbalanced.
06:29 The earth and air people are more like afterthoughts, with the fire and water people taking the spotlight.
06:34 I really do love it when your light does that.
06:37 Number 3, Cars 3.
06:44 Honestly, the Cars series has always been considered the black sheep of Pixar's library.
06:48 Thankfully, we can say Cars 3 is a big improvement over its predecessor.
06:52 We'll get to that later.
06:53 Ha ha, laugh it up, real fun.
06:56 It's a heartwarming tale that brings Lightning McQueen's journey full circle.
06:59 However, compared to more groundbreaking narratives, many have pointed out that it seems like another generic sports narrative of the old geezer passing the torch to the younger generation.
07:08 You are a racer.
07:10 Use that.
07:13 It's not made any better by the subpar antagonist and demolition derby scene that takes the story off track.
07:19 If you weren't already invested in the Cars series, you probably won't miss much if you skip this one.
07:24 Good evening, Storm!
07:25 How did you-
07:26 Just back here, dropping on your butt. Nothing to be concerned about.
07:29 Thank you.
07:30 Number 2, Lightyear.
07:32 The mission was unsuccessful?
07:34 Affirmative.
07:35 Remember Buzz Lightyear of Star Command?
07:37 Don't worry, it seems Pixar forgot about it too, or at least didn't care about it, since they made a new Buzz Lightyear origin story.
07:44 Buzz Lightyear mission log, stardate 3901.
07:47 Sensors have detected potential life forms on an uncharted planet, so we're making a detour to investigate.
07:53 While it's gorgeously animated as usual, we adore Sox the robotic cat, and Chris Evans does a good job as Buzz, the story feels very limited and takes itself too seriously.
08:03 Not to mention, they took the evil emperor out of Zurg and made him into a head-scratching paradox.
08:08 Robots can't quite say Buzz, so around here I'm just Zurg.
08:12 Buzz-urg.
08:13 And apparently, this is what inspired Andy's love for Buzz Lightyear in the original movie?
08:18 Honestly, we could've just stuck with the initial Star Command spinoff. At least you're guaranteed to have more fun there.
08:23 Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos.
08:29 You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.
08:34 If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
08:39 Number 1. Cars 2
08:41 "Boy, these best friend greetings, they get longer every year!"
08:44 "You ready to have some serious fun?"
08:47 "Well, actually, I've got something to show you first."
08:49 Cars 2 has been so universally panned that even the creators seemingly try to retcon its existence from the franchise, and we can't say we blame them.
08:57 For starters, Mater takes Lightning McQueen's spot as the lead character.
09:01 While he's lovable in a supporting role, he doesn't have enough star power to carry a whole film.
09:05 What's even worse is that it steers away from the studio's smart storytelling and instead settles for an obvious toy commercial wrapped in a clumsy attempt at a spy thriller.
09:13 "Mater, just cut to the chase."
09:16 "Okay, and tam!"
09:18 "What?"
09:19 Not to mention, it raises way too many questions about how the world of Cars operates.
09:23 Like, how could a tow truck eat wasabi?
09:26 "Whatever you do, do not eat the free pistachio ice cream. It has turned."
09:35 What do you think was Pixar's less than stellar flick? Let us know in the comments.
09:39 "No one realizes they're being fooled because they're too busy laughing at the fool."
09:44 Did you enjoy this video? Check out these other clips from WatchMojo, and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.
09:53 [outro music]