For nearly three decades few studios have produced films with quite the same track record as Pixar. The best Pixar movies are among some of the best movies ever made, animated or otherwise. They’re also some of the most successful, as the release of Inside Out 2 has shown, becoming the highest-grossing animated movie of all time.
Among all the upcoming Disney movies, the Pixar slate is one of the most interesting and exciting. The last several years have given us an eclectic mix of franchise sequels and brand-new creations, and that appears to be the case with the films on the way as well. Here is a look at some of Pixar’s recent releases as well as the current schedule of what’s coming in the future.
Lightyear
Released: June 17, 2022
The first Pixar movie released in theaters following the global pandemic was not the return to form that Pixar was probably expecting. The movie, which took the Buzz Lightyear character from the Toy Story franchise and imagined what the in-universe movie that inspired the toy might have been like, was the worst-performing Pixar movie at the box office to date of those that weren't hampered by cinemas closing.
Lightyear saw Buzz Lightyear as a Space Ranger whose transport full of people was stranded on a hostile alien world. In an attempt to save his people, Buzz ended up traveling in time and fighting a new threat. It was a more dramatic and action-focused Pixar story than we're used to seeing, but it had its high points as many Lightyear fans are pointing out.
Elemental
Released: June 16, 2023
Elemental was a very interesting recent release from Pixar, with an original concept setting up a romantic drama, an unusual category for the animation studio. Elemental had a rough box office domestically but found a dependable audience overseas, and eventually on Disney+. Viewers were ultimately faced with a movie that, while not a massive hit, was not exactly a catastrophic failure either.
Elemental centers on a world inhabited by people made up of the four classic elements, earth, air, fire, and water. It focuses on Ember and Wade, a woman of fire and a man of water, who fall in love and have to navigate a world that's not designed for a relationship like theirs.
Inside Out 2
Released: June 14, 2024
Pete Docter’s Inside Out is widely considered one of Pixar's upper-echelon movies, so it’s little surprise the studio decided to make a sequel, and audiences would be so excited to see it. Having said that, I’m not sure anybody was quite prepared for just how excited people were to see it. Inside Out 2 became the first billion-dollar box office hit of 2024, and it silenced those who wondered if Pixar movies had lost their stature as must-see theatrical movies.
Inside Out 2 sees a teenage Riley facing the onset of puberty and introduces several new emotions, including Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment. The story clearly touched a lot of people. The only question remaining now is whether or not we’ll see Inside Out 3.
Rent or Buy Inside Out 2 on VOD on Amazon.
Elio
Release Date: June 13, 2025
When Pixar releases Elio in the summer of 2025, there are going to be a lot of eyes on it, since the company hasn’t had a massive domestic box office hit with a wholly original concept since 2017’s Coco. Elio was originally slated for a 2024 release before being pushed back a full year. Based on what we learned about Elio at Disney’s recent D23 Entertainment Showcase, it looks like the movie may have gone through some significant changes.
What we know about Elio is that the story will focus on a young boy who is mistaken as the ambassador of Earth by an intergalactic council of multiple alien races. Elio must then attempt to navigate his new position. At D23 it was revealed that Zoe Saldana has joined the Elio cast, playing the main character’s aunt. This appears to be a brand new character, or a new voice for an existing character, indicating significant changes for the film.
Hoppers
Release Date: March 6, 2026
Many Pixar movies have been about putting the audience in the shoes of unexpected characters, from emotions to toys. However, in Hoppers, which was officially announced at the recent D23 event, a character named Mabel, voiced by Piper Curda, will see her brain literally transplanted into a robot beaver (yes, you read that right) so that she can truly experience what it’s like to be an animal.
The premise seems absolutely bonkers, but the movie is directed by Daniel Chong, the creator of the acclaimed We Bare Bears, animated series and film, so the talent is without question. We Bare Bears alum Bobby Moynihan will also appear in the film, alongside Jon Hamm. Only a brief teaser was shown at D23, but the movie looks ridiculous in all the best ways.
Toy Story 5
Release Date: June 19, 2026
Pixar began its full-length theatrical release train with the original Toy Story, and despite where the studio has gone since, that beloved franchise has not been far behind. While many fans thought Toy Story reached a natural conclusion with Toy Story 3, Toy Story 4 went on to make $1 billion at the global box office, so there is clearly still interest in these characters, from Forky to Bo Peep to Hamm.
At D23 Pixar CCO Pete Pocter confirmed that Andrew Stanton, who has written all the Toy Story films, and directed some of Pixar’s best, from Finding Nemo to Wall-E, will direct the new entry. We know the plot of Toy Story 5 will focus on the toys attempting to compete with technology for the attention of children. 50 Buzz Lightyear toys that are out of control will also fit in somehow.
Incredibles 3
Release Date: TBD
Every good superhero gets a movie trilogy, and it appears that will also be the case with Pixar’s spandex clad super family. At the D23 Entertainment Showcase in August 2024 Pixar CCO Pete Docter confirmed that Incredibles 3 is in early development. Brad Bird, who wrote and directed the first two films, is confirmed to be working on the third installment as well.
No details regarding plot or characters were confirmed. It sounds like the movie is in the earliest stages at this point. There may not even be a plan or a story at this point, simply a plan to make a third film. As such, it may or may not be Pixar’s next film after Toy Story 5, as nothing else has been confirmed to be in development at the studio beyond that, but we’ll have to wait and see.
Following the success of Inside Out 2 it’s clear that Pixar is still quite capable of making crowd pleasing movies. From creative original ideas to the continuation of popular franchises, there’s a lot to look forward to for the next few years from Pixar.
