The Most Emotional Pixar Movie, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the movie you think is the most emotional!

Updated on Apr 22, 2024 06:42

Deciding which Pixar movie tugs at the heartstrings the most can be a surprisingly personal choice. Each film weaves complex emotions through vibrant storytelling and unforgettable characters, often leaving audiences both laughing and wiping away tears. By ranking these films, we tap into a communal expression of which stories resonate the deepest. This list is shaped by the voices of countless fans, each bringing their unique perspectives and emotional experiences. The interactive nature of the list invites you to contribute your own feelings and memories related to each movie. By participating, you help to paint a clearer picture of the emotional impact these movies have on a diverse audience.

What Is the Most Emotional Pixar Movie?

1

58
votes
Up (2009)

This movie tells a heart-wrenching story of love and loss, as an elderly man fulfills his lifelong dream of adventure with his late wife's spirit by his side.
Up is a heartwarming and visually stunning animated film that was released in 2009. It follows the story of Carl Fredricksen, a retired balloon salesman who embarks on an adventure to fulfill his late wife's dream of exploring Paradise Falls in South America. Along the way, he meets a young wilderness explorer named Russell and encounters various challenges and unexpected friendships. Up showcases themes of love, loss, and the power of dreams. The film combines humor, emotion, and breathtaking animation to create an unforgettable cinematic experience.

Year of Release: 2009

Director: Pete Docter

Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios

Running Time: 96 minutes

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family
2

19
votes
Toy Story 3 (2010)

Directed by Lee Unkrich

The final installment of the Toy Story trilogy deals with themes of growing up and letting go, as Andy prepares to leave for college and his beloved toys face an uncertain future.
Toy Story 3 is a 2010 animated film by Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Pictures. It is the third installment in the Toy Story franchise and follows the adventures of Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and their toy friends. The story revolves around Andy, the toys' owner, who is getting ready to go to college and must decide the fate of his beloved toys. The film explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and growing up, and is known for its heartwarming and emotional storytelling.

Release Date: June 18, 2010

Running Time: 103 minutes

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Rating: G

Box Office: $1.067 billion
Toy Story 3 (2010) in other rankings
- Position 4 of 10 in Most emotional Disney movie
- Position 5 of 10 in Most successful animated movie of all time
3

22
votes
Inside Out (2015)

Pixar Animation Studios

This movie explores the complex emotions of a young girl as she navigates a major life change, with the help of her personified emotions Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust.
Inside Out (2015) is an animated film created by Pixar Animation Studios. The movie revolves around the emotions inside an 11-year-old girl named Riley, namely Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust. These emotions help Riley navigate her life, going through challenges as she moves to a new city. Through a journey within the mind, the film explores the importance of all emotions and the complexities of human emotions.

Release Year: 2015

Director: Pete Docter

Running Time: 95 minutes

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Rating: PG
4

26
votes
Coco (2017)

This movie celebrates the importance of family and culture, as a young boy travels to the Land of the Dead to uncover the truth about his ancestors and pursue his passion for music.
Coco (2017) is an animated musical fantasy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film tells the story of Miguel, a young boy who dreams of becoming a musician, but faces a family ban on music. On the Day of the Dead, Miguel's journey takes him to the Land of the Dead, where he seeks the help of his ancestors to unravel the truth about his family history and fulfill his musical aspirations.

Release Date: November 22, 2017

Genre: Animation, Musical, Fantasy

Duration: 105 minutes

Rating: PG

Box Office: $807 million
5

5
votes
Finding Nemo (2003)

Pixar Animation Studios

This movie follows the journey of a father searching for his lost son, and explores themes of love, courage, and the bond between parent and child.
Finding Nemo is a heartwarming and emotionally captivating animated film released in 2003. It tells the story of a clownfish named Marlin who embarks on a journey across the ocean to find his son, Nemo, who has been captured by a scuba diver. Along the way, Marlin encounters various helpful and humorous characters, including Dory, a forgetful blue tang fish who becomes his loyal companion. Through their adventures, the movie explores themes of love, family, friendship, and the importance of letting go. With its beautiful underwater animation and poignant storytelling, Finding Nemo is sure to leave audiences both touched and entertained.

Release Year: 2003

Genre: Animated, Adventure, Comedy

Director: Andrew Stanton

Screenplay: Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson, David Reynolds

Main Characters: Marlin, Nemo, Dory
6

13
votes
The Incredibles (2004)

Brad Bird

This movie tells the story of a family of superheroes forced to hide their powers and live a mundane life, before rising to the challenge to save the world and each other.
The Incredibles (2004) is an animated film by Pixar that follows the story of a family of superheroes who try to live a quiet, suburban life. The film combines action, comedy, and heartfelt moments to deliver an emotionally engaging story.

Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Family

Director: Brad Bird

Runtime: 115 minutes

Rating: PG

Release Date: November 5, 2004
7

12
votes
Wall-E (2008)

This movie depicts a post-apocalyptic world where humanity has abandoned Earth, and the titular robot Wall-E discovers the true meaning of love and human connection.
Wall-E (2008) is a heartfelt Pixar movie that tells the story of a lone robot named Wall-E, who is left on Earth to clean up the planet after it has been abandoned by humans due to excessive waste and pollution. Wall-E spends his days tirelessly working and collecting objects of curiosity that he finds fascinating. One day, a sleek and sophisticated robot named EVE arrives on Earth, and Wall-E falls in love with her. Together, they embark on a thrilling adventure that takes them across the galaxy and teaches them the importance of love, friendship, and taking care of our planet.

Release Date: June 27, 2008

Running Time: 98 minutes

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Romance, Science Fiction

Box Office: $533.3 million

IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
8

7
votes
Ratatouille (2007)

This movie celebrates the power of creativity and following one's dreams, as a rat with a passion for cooking teams up with a young chef to achieve culinary greatness.
Ratatouille (2007) is a heartwarming Pixar movie that tells the story of a rat named Remy who aspires to become a great chef, defying societal norms and overcoming various obstacles along the way.

Release date: June 29, 2007

Genre: Animation, Comedy, Drama

Duration: 111 minutes

Director: Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava (co-director)

Music by: Michael Giacchino
9

4
votes
Brave (2012)

This movie centers on the complex mother-daughter relationship between a Scottish princess and her queen mother, as they navigate tradition, duty, and the desire for independence.
Brave is a 2012 animated fantasy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios. It follows the story of Merida, a young princess in the Scottish highlands who defies tradition and seeks to change her fate. When a witch grants her a wish that goes wrong, Merida must embark on a courageous journey to undo a dark curse.

Release Date: June 22, 2012

Genre: Animated, Fantasy, Adventure

Running Time: 93 minutes

Main Characters: Merida, Queen Elinor, King Fergus, Lord MacGuffin, Lord Macintosh, Lord Dingwall

Voices of: Kelly Macdonald, Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly, Robbie Coltrane, Kevin McKidd
10

7
votes
Monsters, Inc. (2001)

This movie explores the power of friendship and the importance of facing one's fears, as a pair of monsters learn the true nature of the human children they are tasked with scaring.
Monsters, Inc. (2001) is a heartwarming animated film that tells the story of two monsters, Sulley and Mike, who work at Monsters, Inc., a company that generates energy by scaring children. Things take an emotional turn when a young girl named Boo sneaks into their world, bringing joy and chaos along the way. With the help of Boo, Sulley and Mike uncover a conspiracy and work together to save both their worlds.

Release Date: November 2, 2001

Genre: Animated, Family, Comedy

Runtime: 92 minutes

Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios

Music By: Randy Newman

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Ranking factors for emotional movie

Compelling Characters

Emotional Pixar movies usually have well-developed and relatable characters that the audience can grow attached to and empathize with. The characters' emotions, experiences, and personal growth play a significant role in connecting with the viewers.
Engaging Storyline

A powerful, emotionally resonant storyline is essential for an emotional Pixar film. The narrative should take the viewers on an emotional journey and provide moments of happiness, sadness, surprise, and nostalgia.
Thematic Depth

The themes and messages presented in the movie should be meaningful, universal, and thought-provoking to engage the audiences on an emotional level. These themes may include topics such as love, loss, friendship, family, self-discovery, or overcoming challenges.
Emotional Range

The movie should offer a wide range of emotions throughout its runtime. This includes moments of happiness, laughter, sadness, and tears, resulting in a rich and heartwarming experience for the viewers.
Memorable Scenes

Emotional Pixar movies should have memorable scenes that stand out and make a lasting impact on the audience. These moments often convey strong emotions and help to define the overall emotional tone of the film.
Quality Animation

The visual aesthetic and animation quality can contribute to the emotional impact of the movie. A well-designed, visually beautiful world can immerse the viewers and enhance their emotional connection with the story and characters.
Emotional Music Score

Music plays a vital role in evoking emotions in films. The movie's score should be emotionally resonant and complement the emotional tone of the narrative, amplifying the emotions experienced by the characters and the audience.
Authenticity

Emotional Pixar movies should convey genuine emotions that feel true and honest. The way characters express emotions and react to situations should feel authentic and relatable, making it easier for the viewers to empathize with them.
Catharsis

A strong emotional climax or resolution to the story should ideally provide a sense of catharsis to the viewers by releasing the built-up emotions and creating a satisfying emotional experience.
Overall Impact

Lastly, the overall impact of the movie on viewers is essential. An emotional Pixar movie should leave a lasting impression on the audience and spark conversations and introspection about the themes and emotions presented in the film. The movie should have the power to evoke emotions even long after the credits roll.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most emotional Pixar movie. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Film is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

1833 views
172 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Film once every 24 hours. The rank of each Film is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most emotional pixar movie

Pixar movies have always been known for their ability to tug at our heartstrings and make us feel a range of emotions. From the heartwarming story of a clownfish searching for his son in Finding Nemo, to the tear-jerking tale of a robot falling in love in Wall-E, Pixar has created some of the most emotionally charged movies of our time. But what is the most emotional Pixar movie? With so many beloved films to choose from, it's a tough question to answer. In this article, we'll take a closer look at some of Pixar's most emotional movies and try to determine which one truly pulls at our heartstrings the most.