Has Pixar Really Lost Its Magic? A Look at the Studio’s Original Films Since 2015
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By Alex Gilston - March 6, 2026
With Pixar’s newest original film, Hoppers, out now in cinemas, it feels like a good opportunity to discuss where Pixar is as a studio at this moment in time. Namely, the narrative that has persisted around the studio since about 2020. If you’re chronically online, like this writer, you’ll know that whenever Pixar releases a film that is based on an original idea, the prevailing conversation always falls around whether it’s as good as what came before it. To define “what came before it” is difficult because Pixar has arguably one of the strongest filmographies of any major animation studio, but the consensus is before 2015, or what you might consider the golden age of Pixar films, where they released films like Toy Story, Monsters Inc, Finding Nemo, WALL-E, and Up.
Since 2015, Pixar has released a total of 15 films, of which nine were original stories. The rest were sequels to their more popular IP like Toy Story 4, Inside Out 2, and Cars 3. It’s only since lockdown, however, that Pixar has been treated secondarily by its parent company Disney. The lack of perceived success for their films since 2020 is undoubtedly tied to the fact that Disney decided that Pixar films only deserved to be thrown onto Disney+ even after the lockdown was lifted. This strategy compounded and left last year’s release, Elio, stranded with Pixar’s lowest opening weekend ever. But when you condition people to understand that their films are more streaming service fodder rather than a cinema event, it’s plain why this has happened. But of course, a film’s impact shouldn’t just be measured by its monetary performance; so, has Pixar really dropped off? Have their more recent original films not reached the heights of what people consider to be the classic Pixar films like The Incredibles and Ratatouille? In this writer’s opinion, in the majority case this statement couldn’t be further from the truth. We’re going to work through the original films from the past ten years to try to reach a verdict of hit or miss for each one.
Inside Out (2015)
The success of certain Pixar films, especially when it comes to business interests, can always be marked by if it has had a sequel, for example, Toy Story is about to have its fifth instalment. Inside Out also got a sequel in 2024, and that is a testament to how popular the original was. This felt special for many reasons; it had that trademark Pixar originality, the story was relatable, and it resonated with audiences of all ages. It epitomises everything that a Pixar film should be. Something with universal appeal that is great self-contained entertainment, but something that also has something important to say about life, about being human. Inside Out’s capability of opening up important conversations around mental health, especially in children, is one of the reasons that this film is so beloved. And look, who doesn’t love Bing Bong?
Verdict: Hit
The Good Dinosaur (2015)
Coming off the back of Inside Out was always going to be a struggle for whatever came after it, and the film that had to do so was The Good Dinosaur. But that doesn’t stop this underrated Pixar gem from shining as brightly as any other original in their filmography. An argument can be made that this film doesn’t have the same sense of originality that people come to love with Pixar films - Disney had tackled dinosaurs before in their early 2000s flick Dinosaur, and it shares a striking similarity to one of Disney’s most popular animated films, The Lion King. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exhibit strengths in other facets. The Good Dinosaur utilises its prehistoric protagonists to drive a beautiful story of self-discovery and coming-of-age. You’ll laugh and you’ll cry and what more do you want from a Pixar film?
Verdict: Solid (not quite either but still good!)
Coco (2017)
Crying might be brought up a lot in this article as a marker of quality when it comes to what makes a great Pixar film, and Coco offers the most opportunity to weep at any Pixar film. Coco, which has recently been announced, is getting a sequel, is another Pixar film that is, on the surface, a beautiful piece of art, but deep down offers an opportunity to open what would be difficult conversations to children in a way that isn’t condescending or preachy. It’s a film full of colour and light, and its an absolute joy to behold.
Verdict: Hit
Onward (2020)
Onward was the last Pixar film to be released theatrically before the Covid pandemic. Some might say this is a weaker entry into Pixar’s filmography, and they would be right. It doesn’t have as much going for it as say Inside Out or Coco, but alas it still works. It ha all of the hallmark Pixar aspects, an original world, a journey of self-discovery, challenging conversations, and an emotive final act that gets the tear ducts running. If this is to be considered one of Pixar’s weaker efforts, then that says a lot about the consistent quality of filmmaking Pixar provides.
Verdict: Hit
Soul (2020)
Soul marked the first Pixar film of three to be released straight onto Disney+. Pixar’s stripped back mediation on the meaning of life isn’t just one of the best on this list but one of the best Pixar films full stop. Between the gorgeous animation of both the real world and the world inhabited by the souls, and the journey that Joe goes on, the film allows us to really dig into what makes life worth living. When a film can exemplify what it means to be human, to appreciate the little things, and to consider how we are a part of a bigger whole then you know you’re onto a winner.
Verdict: Hit
Luca (2021)
Pixar films are incredible at showcasing all types of friendship: you have Woody and Buzz, Sully and Mike, the friendship group in Turning Red, Remy and Linguini, and more, but none explore the importance of childhood friendship quite like Luca does. On the backdrop of the Italian Riviera, sea monsters inhabit human bodies, and we follow Luca and Alberto as they develop an unbreakable bond. Luca celebrates the friendships we make, even if they aren’t the ones that are destined to last a lifetime, whilst keeping that trademark Pixar originality.
Verdict: Hit
Turning Red (2022)
Another coming-of-age delight from the Covid era of Pixar was Turning Red. A wonderful meditation on generational family pressures, especially within an Asian family. One of the best things about Turning Red, as well as having that trademark Pixar energy, was that it allowed a female protagonist the opportunity to unapologetically be her full self, in all its cringe and embarrassing glory.
Verdict: Hit
Lightyear (2022)
Lightyear almost cheats itself onto this list because it isn’t entirely an original film, but as it spins itself off from the Toy Story franchise, it feels right to include it. Lightyear did the unimaginable as it chronicled the origin story of the “real life” astronaut that the Buzz Lightyear toy was based on. Its existence in this liminal space as neither an original nor a sequel is where the problems lie within this film. It has a level of reverence to the idea of Toy Story, and in doing so, it stops it from becoming its own interesting standalone film. The twists don’t entirely work and it ends up becoming one of the weakest entries in the entire Pixar filmography.
Verdict: Miss
Elemental (2023)
Pixar has asked many questions, like what if toys had feelings? Or what if feelings had feelings? But Elemental dared to ask what if the very things that make up our world had feelings. It really tips the originality scale as the protagonists we follow in this film are made up of water and fire, respectively. Such a beautiful place is created where all the different elements inhabit the world, and there is a beautiful rumination on how our differences don’t have to make us strangers to each other. There’s also a major crying moment in this film that tops any of the great Pixar crying moments.
Verdict: Hit
Elio (2025)
Elio is the most recent Pixar film to release back last year, and as mentioned above, opened to one of the worst weeks financially than any other Pixar film. It’s a shame to think that this film didn’t break into the zeitgeist as other Pixar films have, and how not even a year on, it's been all but forgotten. It has everything key to making a great Pixar film, a strong central world and conflict, a protagonist to root for, and a strong message that delves into what it means to be human. It also does sci-fi much better than Lightyear, in that everything feels much buzzier (if you’ll pardon the pun).
Verdict: Hit
Film is completely subjective, and although here I have maybe exemplified the kinds of biases we all come into when we are watching films by studios we love (I don't think everyone would consider most of these films hits like I do), I think it’s safe to say that Pixar is still in a very strong position. It might not hit you personally, or you feel, in a nostalgic sense, that these modern outings don’t live up to the way the late 90s/2000s entries made you feel. But the truth is, Pixar is still pushing the boat out when it comes to original, impactful storytelling, and part of the reason we might not feel so strongly about these recent efforts is more to do with how Pixar has been dealt with as a studio logistically than with any kind of quality drop. Now more than ever, their original efforts need to be championed and successful so that we can get more films like Toy Story, The Incredibles, and Monsters Inc, because at the end of the day, all of those films were originals before they became franchises.
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