#10 - #2 (The Golden Films)

#10: Onward (2020)

Moving onwards to the top 10, we have...Onward; how convenient! My God, is this film underrated or what? Many people seem to forget about Onward, but I'm not one of them; I adore this movie. This was the last movie I saw in the theaters before the COVID-19 lockdown began, so I have a lot of attachment to this movie. For one, this movie is incredibly wholesome in its message about family; especially about the relationship between siblings, in this movie's case, Ian and Barley. Speaking of which, their relationship is probably my favorite thing about this movie, they truly care about each other, and Barley is pretty much the father Ian never had. I watched this with my oldest brother, so it was an especially emotional experience. And I can say that's a good thing. Definitely my favorite Pixar film in the 2020 decade.

#9: Up (2009)

Moving on down the list, we have the animated masterpiece known as "Up". The title couldn't be more simple, but even movie titles can be decieving! This movie is fantastic in every way possible. Of course, I have to talk about the first few minutes of the movie; by far one of the best and most emotional scenes in not just Pixar, but in animation as a whole. It doesn't make me cry, but I still think its absolutely beautiful, and a perfect way to kickstart a fantastic cinematic experience. The movie then picks up with some hilarious action and characters. The breakout star here is easily Dug the golden retriever, one of the best dogs in any animated movie. The "squirrel" scenes get me everytime. I love Carl and Russell too, especially their relationship. If you think about it, Carl lost the person he loved most, and after his grand adventure, he gets that love back with Russell and Dug. There's just so much I love about this movie, I could go on talking about it for a long time. But in conclusion; watch Up. You won't be disappointed.

#8: Toy Story 2 (1999)

Everybody says that sequels are never as good as their predecessors. Right? Wrong! Toy Story 2 is one of the few exceptions to this common belief. Toy Story 1 was already such a monumental film in the world of animation; but Toy Story 2 blows it right out of the water. Practically everything from the first movie is improved upon in the second; the emotion is much more powerful; the "When She Loved Me" sequence is easily one of Pixar's saddest scenes. The humor is also improved, this is probably the funniest Toy Story movie in the franchise. So many fun references to match; especially the "I Am Your Father" reference. Of course, I have to mention the new characters, especially Jessie; her backstory is absolutely tragic, and Joan Cuosack provides an excellent voice talent for this yodeling cowgirl. Honestly, the franchise could've ended here, but of course, further down the line, we got 3 & 4; we'll talk about Toy Story 3 later. All in all; huge improvement over the original Toy Story.

#7: The Incredibles (2004)

Now here's the Pixar film almost everybody thinks is the best. While the Incredibles isn't my favorite Pixar movie, it is still an absolutely phenomenal movie. The action here is unmatched compared to other animated movies; and the music is especially reflective of that. Michael Giacchino composed an absolutely legendary soundtrack to this legendary movie. The Incredibles is also really funny at times, especially the older you get; you start to understand the jokes more. The "Where's my Super Suit?" scene cracks me up everytime, and I always quote along with it whenever it comes up. The Incredible family themselves are all amazing, and they all have superb chemistry with one another. We were also introduced to one of Pixar's most iconic villains: Syndrome, voiced by the incredible Jason Lee. I love how threatening he is, and his backstory is probably the most tragic of all Pixar villains, above Lotso. There's a lot to love about this movie: the action, the animation, the characters, practically everything about this movie is great. It can be a little too long at times, but that's a very minor nitpick. Overall, this film is truly 'incredible'. I'm sorry for all of you who had to witness that horrible pun...

#6: Cars (2006)

Conveniently, the #6 film on this list actually comes after The Incredibles in the Pixar timeline. The film in question is 2006's Cars. Where do I begin with this masterpiece? For one, I believe this movie gets a bad rep simply for the fact that it gets way too much merchandise. I get it for the sequels, but the first one? This movie deserves more recognition and love! I'm just glad there are people who love this movie as much as I do on the internet. This is one of Pixar's longest movies, even longer than the Incredibles; but it really doesn't feel long at all! Thanks to all the fun shenanigans happening throughout the film, it really flies by. Lightning McQueen has by far my favorite character development of any Pixar protagonist; he goes from being an arrogant jerk to a respectful racer on and off the track. Radiator Springs is also an amazing setting for the movie; and all the townsfolk who reside in it are all wonderful in their own way. If you like animated movies with lots of excitement and heart at the same time, Cars is definitely a film I would consider. Trust me, you won't be disappointed; maybe with the sequels, but please, give the first one a watch, you won't regret it.

#5: Monsters Inc. (2001)

Kicking off the top 5, we have Monsters Inc.. This film is nothing short of outstanding; it really does capture the world of the 'monsters' living under our beds. Mike Wazowski & Sulley are easily my favorite Pixar duo, and that's mostly thanks to John Goodman and Billy Crystal's superb voice performances. This is also Pixar's funniest movie in my opinion. Where do I begin with the jokes? Roz, the "gator", "Slumber Party"; this movie is full of laugh-out-loud moments that always have me howling with laughter. Monsters Inc. isn't without its emotional scenes, and they hit like a truck; Boo's goodbye scene is especially heartbreaking. And the music; oh, the music... It's nothing short of amazing, and the main theme is such a banger. I could go on and on about how much I adore Monsters Inc., it's just that good. It's just gonna get better from here, trust me.

#4: WALL-E (2008)

I bet all of you were expecting this one near the top; can you really blame me, though? WALL-E isn't a good movie; it's a LEGENDARY movie. This is an absolutely beautiful story all about the environment and love; and it does all of this, without that much dialogue. Some may think it makes the film boring, but for me, I absolutely LOVE this; you can still picture what the robots are saying, all through looking at their movements and body language. WALL-E himself is absolutely adorable, and you really do feel bad for him; being all alone in a polluted Earth. EVE is also great; she and WALL-E are truly a match made in heaven. The animation is also absolutely stunning in this one, it definitely makes the film look quite dark at times, especially in the beginning with the pollution all over the ground. Overall, WALL-E is an animation masterpiece, and it doesn't even need to say a single word to be as good as it is!

#3: Toy Story 3 (2010)

Conveiently at #3, we have Toy Story 3. Not only is Toy Story 3 my favorite Pixar sequel, but it's also my favorite animated sequel of all time. Everything about this movie is perfect; the characters, the music, the emotions, the message, everything about this movie is spectacular. For people who watched the first two Toy Story movies as kids, this movie hit extra hard, especially with Andy all grown up. I'd go as far as to say that this is Pixar's saddest movie. The ending is actually one of the few movie scenes that have almost made me cry; it's just that powerful. Lotso is another one of my favorite Pixar villains, and also one of the most evil ones of the bunch. And of course, I need to talk about that incinerator scene. Oh. My. God. While I don't cry at this scene, it always has me on the edge of my seat; the fact that the toys all just hold hands and accept their inevitable death is one of the darkest things to ever come out of Pixar, and I LOVE it for that. Toy Story 3 takes so many risks with its storytelling, and I couldn't respect it more for that. Also, it was one of the first movies I remember watching in a movie theater, alongside Alvin & the Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel. While Alvin 2 was alright, it just cannot compete with the animated masterpiece that is Toy Story 3. This is one animated movie I will never grow out of watching.

#2: Inside Out (2015)

Coming in as this list's runner-up, we have Inside Out. Now what can I say about this film that hasn't been said already? It's an animated masterpiece in every sense of the word. After a bit of a rut from 2011 - 2013, Pixar finally made the financial comeback they desperately needed with this emotional work of art. And quite frankly, it's well deserved. Inside Out is another one of Pixar's most emotional films; which is convenient, because this movie is all about feelings! Where do I begin? The characters are all incredible; all 5 emotions are all wonderful characters in their own way. And Bing Bong is probably one of my favorite supporting characters in any Pixar movie, which makes his death all the more heartbreaking. The movie also has an incredibly important moral; that sadness is necessary in your life. The movie does a superb job at conveying that message, and the scene where Riley breaks down in front of her parents gets me everytime. All in all, this is a movie all about growing up and expressing your emotions, and this movie does a phenomenal job. The animation is also absolutely gorgeous, the designs of all the emotions are really striking, especially when they glow. There are so many amazing things about this movie, it's just that perfect. But there's still one more Pixar film I have yet to talk about; and if you've been reading the whole list, you probably already know what #1 is...