Best Pixar Movies, Ranked

Summary

Pop Culture Happy Hour: "Best Pixar Movies, Ranked" Summary

Release Date: June 24, 2025

In this engaging episode of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour, hosts Stephen Thompson and Aisha Harris delve into the enchanting world of Pixar Animation Studios, celebrating nearly three decades of beloved animated films. Through a listener poll, they uncover the community's favorite Pixar movies, providing insightful commentary, personal anecdotes, and lively discussions about what makes these films stand out. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of their conversation, highlighting key points and memorable quotes with timestamps.

---

1. Introduction to the Pixar Poll

[00:23] Stephen Thompson:
Stephen sets the stage by reminding listeners of the historic journey Pixar has embarked upon since the release of Toy Story 30 years ago. He introduces the episode’s focus: ranking the best Pixar movies based on listener votes.

[00:57] Stephen Thompson:
“For those of you who didn't vote in our Pixar poll, a quick bit of background. We gave listeners a list of Pixar features, 28 of them in all, prior to the release of Elio. And the chance to pick no more than three of them, which given the number of classic films, was a tough task.”

---

2. Top Six Pixar Movies

Due to a tie for the fifth position, the hosts present a top six list instead of a top five.

2.1. Toy Story (#5 Tie)

[01:30] Aisha Harris:
Aisha kicks off the rankings with Toy Story, highlighting its nostalgic value and foundational role in Pixar’s success.

[02:07] Aisha Harris:
“Coco, I think it might be the best Pixar, personally... and the music's great. And that last scene, 'Remember Me,' I have to travel far, Remember me...”

[03:07] Stephen Thompson:
Stephen praises Toy Story for not only launching Pixar but also setting the stage for its exceptional sequels.

[04:21] Stephen Thompson:
“Toy Story is a masterful film. It is funny. It is warm. ... It lays all this groundwork for a bunch of magnificent sequels.”

2.2. Coco (#5 Tie)

[01:58] Aisha Harris:
Aisha expresses her deep admiration for Coco, emphasizing its emotional depth and cultural richness.

[02:07] Aisha Harris:
“This a movie that came out in 2017, so it's later era Pixar, but to me it kind of has all the ingredients that we, or at least I've come to love about Pixar movies. It's about family...”

[05:37] Aisha Harris:
“The Land of the Dead is just such a visual feast. ... I think it's one of the most gorgeous, gorgeous Pixar movies ever.”

[06:08] Stephen Thompson:
Stephen commends Coco for its lifelike world-building and respectful storytelling.

[06:21] Aisha Harris:
Coco was able to create an original story while being respectful and thoughtful about its cultural elements.

---

2.3. Up (#4)

[07:01] Aisha Harris:
Aisha introduces Up, praising its opening sequence as one of the greatest in animated film history.

[07:53] Stephen Thompson:
Stephen reflects on the emotional impact of Up, describing it as both a fun and profoundly moving film.

[10:16] Aisha Harris:
“One part shows Carl and his wife unable to conceive, yet finding happiness together...”

[12:09] Stephen Thompson:
“He is the one who's trying to keep the gang together. ... Up is such an object lesson in the fact that you can make a kid's movie about almost anything if you have enough of an appreciation for the characters.”

2.4. Finding Nemo (#3)

[11:20] Aisha Harris:
Aisha ranks Finding Nemo third, reminiscing about its lasting impression and emotional storytelling.

[12:09] Stephen Thompson:
“It's a story about overprotective parenting, fear of your child's safety...”

[13:57] Aisha Harris:
“Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming... When life gets you down, you know what you got to do.”

[15:20] Aisha Harris:
Finding Nemo resonates across generations, offering both humor and heartfelt lessons.

---

2.5. WALL-E (#2)

[15:42] Aisha Harris:
Aisha places WALL-E second, acknowledging its iconic silent film-like opening and poignant environmental message.

[17:11] Aisha Harris:
“WALL-E is the artiest in the Criterion fanboy film bro way...”

[18:17] Stephen Thompson:
Stephen critiques the latter part of WALL-E, feeling it detracts from the film’s initial magic despite its brilliance.

[19:01] Aisha Harris:
While recognizing WALL-E’s artistic achievements, Aisha argues that it doesn’t fully sustain its early enchantment throughout the entire narrative.

---

2.6. Inside Out (#1)

[22:05] Aisha Harris:
Contrary to Stephen’s initial reveal, Aisha claims Inside Out as the top Pixar film, praising its exploration of emotions and its universal appeal.

[22:09] Stephen Thompson:
“I am so happy with our listeners right now because they picked my favorite Pixar movie at number one, The Good Dinosaur.”

[22:14] Aisha Harris:
“... it's definitely in my top three... It was every audience person I talked to connected with it.”

[24:30] Stephen Thompson:
Emphasizes the film’s portrayal of growing up and the bittersweet nature of leaving childhood innocence behind.

[24:45] Aisha Harris:
"Bing Bong represents the loss of creative spark and imagination..."

[25:43] Stephen Thompson:
Shares a personal anecdote about watching Inside Out with his daughter, highlighting its emotional resonance.

---

3. Reflections and Additional Insights

[27:10] Stephen Thompson:
Stephen acknowledges that while their top six list is comprehensive, many other beloved Pixar films like The Incredibles, Monsters Inc., and Ratatouille didn't make the cut, sparking curiosity and discussions about differing favorites.

[27:39] Aisha Harris:
Expresses disappointment over favorites like Turning Red not being included, indicating the diverse tastes among Pixar enthusiasts.

---

4. Conclusion and Teasers for Next Episode

Stephen and Aisha wrap up the episode by directing listeners to their Letterboxd page for the full poll results and hinting at a deep dive into the lower-ranked Pixar films in the following month’s episode for their Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus supporters.

[27:40] Stephen Thompson:
“We have the full list over on our Letterboxd page... And next month... talking about the movies that ranked at the bottom of the list...”

---

Notable Quotes

• Aisha Harris on Coco:
  “[...] 'Remember me.' One of the last scenes with Mama Coco. Oh, my goodness. That scene especially [...] still a gut punch.”
  [02:10]

• Stephen Thompson on Up’s opening:
  “[...] wordless, in which this little robot kind of moves through the world and is, like, still kind of. Is very dutiful.”
  [16:49]

• Aisha Harris on Finding Nemo:
  “Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.”
  [15:17]

• Aisha Harris on Inside Out:
  “It's about finding strength from our different emotions. Kind of like Finding Nemo, not only for kids, but also for their parents.”
  [24:14]

---

Closing Thoughts

Stephen Thompson and Aisha Harris provide a heartfelt and comprehensive exploration of Pixar's cinematic legacy, celebrating the artistry, emotional depth, and cultural impact of its films. Their thoughtful analysis and personal connections offer listeners a deeper appreciation of Pixar’s storytelling prowess, making this episode a must-listen for animation enthusiasts and pop culture aficionados alike.

---

Check Out More:

For the full list of listener rankings and to engage with the community’s favorite Pixar films, visit the NPR Pop Culture Happy Hour Letterboxd page.

---

Produced by Liz Metzger, Hafsa Fathoma, and Mike Katsif. Edited by Jessica Reedy.

Transcript

[NPR Sponsor]

Support for npr. And the following message come from Indeed. You just realized your business needed to hire someone yesterday. Speed up your hiring right now with Indeed. Claim your $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs More visibility@ Indeed.com NPR terms and conditions apply.

[Stephen Thompson]

It's been nearly 30 years since Toy Story kicked off a historic run of animated films. So now seemed like a good time to discuss the of the best your picks for the greatest Pixar films of all time. I'm Stephen Thompson and today we are ranking the best Pixar movies on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour. Here to reveal the list is my co host, Aisha Harris. Hey, Aisha.

[Aisha Harris]

Mike Wazowski. I mean, hey, Steven.

[Stephen Thompson]

You will forever be silly to my Mike Wazowski.

[Aisha Harris]

I love it. Thank you, Steven.

[Stephen Thompson]

So, for those of you who didn't vote in our Pixar poll, a quick bit of background. We gave listeners a list of Pixar features, 28 of them in all, prior to the release of Elio. And the chance to pick no more than three of them, which given the number of classic films, was a tough task. I personally counted seven films I wanted to put in my top three. So with that in mind, let's get to your top five, which thanks to a well placed tie, is actually a top six. Aisha hit us with the first of our two fifth place finishes.

[Aisha Harris]

Woohoo. I was very happy to see especially one of these eek their way in in this tie here. The first is Toy Story, of course, the original version which came out in 1995, the movie that started it all. You are a toy.

[Stephen Thompson]

You weren't the real Buzz Lightyear. You're, you're an action figure.

[Aisha Harris]

You are a child's plaything.

[Stephen Thompson]

You are a sad, strange little man. And you have my pity.

[Aisha Harris]

And then tied with Toy Story, we have my personal favorite, the movie I think is actually the best Pixar, which is Coco.

[Stephen Thompson]

One of those seven films in my top three for sure.

[Aisha Harris]

I am so happy to see Coco in here especially. I was not surprised to see Toy Story. I figured one of them at least was gonna make it in here. Look, this is the original. It's the one that a lot of people have a lot of nostalgia for. But Coco, I think it might be the best Pixar, personally. You know, this a movie that came out in 2017, so it's later era Pixar, but to me it kind of has all the ingredients that we, or at least I've come to love about Pixar movies. It's about family, of course, but it's a little bit more complicated than that. You've got Miguel, voiced by Anthony Gonzalez, who finds himself in the land of the dead and uncovers secrets and hidden meaning about his family. And it's about sort of the stories we tell ourselves and the ways that those things reverberate throughout generations. And it's beautiful. The music's great. And that last scene, Remember me.

[Stephen Thompson]

Though.

[Aisha Harris]

I have to travel far Remember me Each time you hear a sad guitar.

[Stephen Thompson]

Oh, my God.

[Aisha Harris]

One of the last scenes with Mama Coco. Oh, my goodness. That scene especially where Miguel is singing Remember Me to her and her recognizing it and being lucid for that brief amount of time. I rewatched it recently. Still a gut punch. I was. I was bawling.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah. These are two very different films, and they are two, I think, masterpieces.

[Aisha Harris]

Yeah.

[Stephen Thompson]

Toy Story gets a ton of credit for being kind of the movie that started it all, and rightfully so. I don't think it gets enough credit for being the bedrock on which some of the best sequels ever made were built. You know, when we talk about this poll, you know, this is not a super scientific poll. We gave everybody three votes. The Toy Story series is at a significant disadvantage compared to to other sequelized Pixar movies because it has multiple films that could credibly be considered among the best animated films of all time. And so Toy Story 1 is splitting the vote with Toy Story 2, which is actually my favorite Toy Story movie.

[Aisha Harris]

Same me too.

[Stephen Thompson]

Oh, yay. I was raised by collectors, so that film really resonated with me. Toy Story 3 is a deep, sentimental favorite for a lot of people. Where these movies come out in the span of your life ends up being very significant to whether they're your favorite. I think Toy Story is a masterful film. It is funny. It is warm.

[Aisha Harris]

Excuse me.

[Stephen Thompson]

I think the word you're searching for is Space Ranger. The word I'm searching for I can't.

[Aisha Harris]

Say because there's preschool toys present.

[Stephen Thompson]

It is laying all this groundwork for a bunch of magnificent sequels in the case of Coco. And Coco is getting a sequel. I don't know if it really needs a sequel.

[Aisha Harris]

It does not. It does not.

[Stephen Thompson]

But talk about an emotional gut punch. And we're gonna talk about a other major, like, emotionally heavyweight Pixar films. Coco is talking about death and family and remembrance and the power of music and the way memory gets distorted and the way memory can form myth. There's so many big ideas in this film. But also, Aisha, I Don't think you've even mentioned how gorgeous oh, my goodness, Coco is to look at.

[Aisha Harris]

The Land of the Dead is just such a visual feast. The fact that it's like this urban metropolis that is very vibrant and electric and the neon colors and just the way that everything looks like it is beautiful. And even the skeletons that are taken from the classic Day of the Dead imagery, they have so much personality and warmth. They're dead characters, but they're alive. I think it's one of the most gorgeous, gorgeous Pixar movies ever. It's just. It's top tier.

[Stephen Thompson]

It really is. And it also really felt lived in. It felt like it took this world seriously and made something that honored that tradition instead of just, like, using it for storytelling beats.

[Aisha Harris]

I absolutely agree. And this is one of the movies that I always hold up when I'm talking about, you know, Disney, Pixar remaking their films or reimagining their films and trying to, like, shoehorn in diversity or try to correct for their past sins. And I'm just like, Coco was able to do that by creating a new, completely original story while also being very respectful and very thoughtful about the way it employed all of that. So, yeah, I'm just so happy to see both Toy Story and Coco make their way into this top five or top six.

[Stephen Thompson]

They are both correct answers.

[Aisha Harris]

Yes.

[Stephen Thompson]

Hey, speaking of emotional gut punches, what do you got for number four?

[Aisha Harris]

I feel as though listeners probably will not be at all surprised that this is in the top five. Often called one of the greatest opening sequences of a movie, especially an animated movie of all time. I think rightfully so. And that is up, of course. That is the 2009 film starring Ed Asner as Carl, the old crotchety man who is harboring a lot of just grief for the loss of his wife. I always come back to that opening sequence, but I also think the rest of the movie is fun. Like, it's hard. It's really hard. And we're gonna talk about another movie. I think people will be able to guess.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yes, we are.

[Aisha Harris]

That also, opening sequence is very hard to live up to. I think this movie does a really good job of keeping the story interesting, even if it can't quite live up to the heights of the opening. But, man, that opening sequence, it's. I don't know. I don't have any words for it. It's just. It still moves me.

[Stephen Thompson]

Aisha. I rewatched the sequence the other day and, of course, just bawled all over the place the way you did Watching Coco and what struck me, rewatching it, you know, the way it lays out, you get this kind of newsreel with like a bunch of expositions and then you have eight and a half minutes, eight and a half perfectly scored minutes. You know, it starts out with dialogue and eventually goes wordless. And you are just seeing the playing out of these two intertwined lives. But amid all of that emotion, it is really important to note this is a fun movie. This is a funny movie. Squirrel, my master made me this collar. He is a good and smart master and he made me this collar so that I may talk. Squirrel, the character of Doug, the sweet comic relief talking dog that understands dogs in a way that I think very few movies do. There is a sweetness to this film. There's some deep messaging in this film, not only about grief, but about how you honor your loved ones by the way that you live your life going forward. That I found enormously powerful. Genuinely when it came out and for a long time thereafter, I would say it was one of my favorite movies, period. I really deeply love this film and think about how novel and what a huge risk it was to make inherently a kid friendly type animated movie about an old person. Yes, and an old person as an action hero. An old person with an intuition, interior life. An old person with life ahead of him. An old person paying tribute to a loved one who has died, who is also a deeply fleshed out, warm character that you care about, who has a presence throughout this film. This movie is such an object lesson in the fact that like you can make a kid's movie about almost anything if you have enough of an appreciation for the characters that you're talking about. Aisha up is not my number one favorite Pixar movie, but it is one that I feel really, really passionately about and I'm so glad it made this list.

[Aisha Harris]

Part of that sequence is we see that Carl and his wife were unable to conceive and it was, you know, it was devastating for them, but they still found ways to find happiness together. And I love that aspect of it. And then it connects to, you know, the present day when he meets Russell who, you know, and in a way adopts, adopts a child.

[Stephen Thompson]

Russell, for assisting the elderly and for performing above and beyond the call of duty, I would like to award you the highest honor I can bestow, the Ellie Badge.

[Aisha Harris]

I concur. It's not necessarily my go to Pixar movie, but every once in a while it is nice to revisit it and nice to be Surprised again at how masterful this movie is. So can't be mad about up being in this top five.

[Stephen Thompson]

No, not the Pixar movie with the best grasp of physics, but I'll allow it.

[Aisha Harris]

It's okay.

[Stephen Thompson]

All right, Aisha, hit us with number three.

[Aisha Harris]

All right. Well, number three is actually a movie that I realized I had not seen in well over a decade, at least in part, because when it originally came out, I'd probably watch it so so many times. It was just imprinted in my brain. That is Finding Nemo from 2003. Albert Brooks voices Marlon, a clownfish who, again, talking about death and losing family members. He loses his wife, I guess. Are they married? I don't know. He loses his partner. They're fish. I don't know.

[Stephen Thompson]

I don't know that there was a legal ceremony.

[Aisha Harris]

Maybe not. Maybe not. But he loses her. But also all of their eggs that have not yet hatched, except for one, and that is Nemo, voiced by Alexander Gould. It's a story about overprotective parenting, fear of your child's safety. Okay, I was right.

[Stephen Thompson]

You know what? We'll start school in a year or two.

[Aisha Harris]

No, dad. Just because you're scared of the ocean.

[Stephen Thompson]

Clearly you're not ready and you're not coming back until you are. You think you can do these things, but you just can't.

[Aisha Harris]

Nemo, that I think, is sort of a cross generational appeal that, like, you can kind of see in the earlier movies. Monsters, Inc. Also has a little bit of that as well. But I feel like this is the first movie where Pete were like, yes, Pixar has tapped into this.

[Stephen Thompson]

Like, this is for the parents just as much as it is for the.

[Aisha Harris]

Kids, if not more, to be honest.

[Stephen Thompson]

If not more so.

[Aisha Harris]

I'm happy to see it here. It holds up. It really does.

[Stephen Thompson]

It's got a great cast. And once again, Aisha, you haven't yet acknowledged one of the things that really jumps out at this film, which is how it looks.

[Aisha Harris]

It's beautiful. Yes, it is beautiful.

[Stephen Thompson]

Gather round Grandpa's knee and he'll tell you about what it was like to walk into a Costco or any store that sold TVs for about five years after finding Nemo came out. This was what you would see. Because if you wanted to show how beautiful a TV was capable of being, you would look at Finding Nemo to get that sense, this deep blue color palette, but then these exquisite colors on top of it. It's worth noting. Ellen DeGeneres got Oscar buzz. Yes, I Remember this for her performance as Dory. And it was real Oscar buzz. She didn't get nominated, but it was talked about as why not?

[Aisha Harris]

Why wouldn I shall call him Squishy. And he shall be mine, and he shall be my Squishy. Come here, Squishy. Come here, little Squishy.

[Stephen Thompson]

Ow. Dory, that's a jellyfish.

[Aisha Harris]

Bad Squishy.

[Stephen Thompson]

Bad Squishy. Albert Brooks is so good in this and bringing so much pathos. I'm gonna come back to this point at least one more time in this conversation. Where you are in your life when you receive a Pixar movie is going to be very important to how you perceive it and how you rank it. And Finding Nem came out in 2003, in between my first child and my second child. And thinking about that feeling of needing to protect a fragile being that is your responsibility, this movie hit very hard. And it hit hard at the same time that it has this goofy surfer, stoner turtle character and the emotional support group for sharks who don't want to feed. I know a nice shark, not a mindless eating machine. If I am to change this image.

[Aisha Harris]

I must first change myself. Fish are friends, not food.

[Stephen Thompson]

So many sweet, funny characters. There's just a little fish where they're describing their different maladies, and one of them just says, I'm obnoxious. I'm obnoxious. Should have been a greater catchphrase than it was. This film gave and gave. I don't think it's aged a day. I love it.

[Aisha Harris]

It. Yeah. Just keep swimming, Just keep swimming. Part of my vocabulary for a very long time. When life gets you down, you know what you got to do.

[Stephen Thompson]

I don't want to know what you got to do.

[Aisha Harris]

Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do?

[Stephen Thompson]

We swim. That's actually really good advice.

[Aisha Harris]

Yeah, yeah. Oh, yes. Finding Nemo. So good. I was 15 when this movie came out, so, you know, I was not a child, but I was also not, not. I don't know, too cool.

[Stephen Thompson]

If you're too cool for Pixar, don't hang out with me.

[Aisha Harris]

Yeah, that's true.

[Stephen Thompson]

Aisha, I think you and I are of one mind on this one. I'm very intrigued to discuss it with you. Number two is.

[Aisha Harris]

All right. Well, we might have to rain on some parades. Number two is no surprise, I think.

[Stephen Thompson]

No, I'm not surprised by it. Wally.

[Aisha Harris]

Yes, it's Wally. Let's just get right to it. This is the other movie, I think when people think of Pixar. And think of great opening sequences. This is the movie everyone thinks of. Of course, you've got Wall E, voiced by Ben Burtt. He is the last remaining robot on Earth after everyone. All the humans have left because climate change, they ruined the Earth. It's very. It's very poignant. And then, of course, you have this amazing sequence of just being with this robot and he has sentience and it's just beautiful. And then you get the rest of the movie when we go to see the humans, and it's such a precipitous drop, in my opinion, to be fair.

[Stephen Thompson]

To this film, unlike up, what people talk about when they talk about up is often a sequence of about eight and a half minutes.

[Aisha Harris]

Sure.

[Stephen Thompson]

In the case of Wally, it is a much longer sequence.

[Aisha Harris]

Yes.

[Stephen Thompson]

It basically plays out as a masterful silent film, mostly wordless, largely wordless, in which this little robot kind of moves through the world and is, like, still kind of. Is very dutiful. It's still like doing the tasks it was assigned to do, but it has such life and such personality.

[Aisha Harris]

Wally, Wally, Wally. It's a short film. It's an excellent short film.

[Stephen Thompson]

If it were just a short film, it would be like one of the best short films I've ever seen. I do not want to rain on the parade of how brilliant that movie is until the moment the rocket takes off with the little robot attached to it. And as soon as it goes into space, it becomes not only a fairly rote Pixar quest epic, but it is also Aisha. It is so deeply cynical about humanity in ways that I found shocking. It's not just like I can't handle the fact that it's this scathing indictment of humanity's worst excesses. It's a more cynical than accurate view of what humanity is capable of.

[Aisha Harris]

Well, also, so much of the criticism coming from within the movie hinges on this idea that being fat is the worst thing in the world. It's very kind of queasy to watch, to be honest.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah. And it's played for laughs, but it's also just like. It's also, you know, I mentioned the physics in up, the ending is also a complete cop out. Like the world is not suddenly inhabitable. Just to me, it's like they made a perfect short film but then grafted a best kind of C Pixar quest to the back of it and it just loses everything that's so magical about how it starts.

[Aisha Harris]

Yeah. I mean, here's the thing. Obviously a lot of people disagree with us because I know we're gonna get so much. It's at number two and it is the first Pixar movie to be entered into the Criterion colle. So like it has its fans and it has its defenders.

[Stephen Thompson]

In some ways it's the artiest Pixar movie, right?

[Aisha Harris]

It is the artiest in the Criterion fanboy film bro Way and I say this as someone who can absolutely play into all of those stereotypes.

[Stephen Thompson]

You can out film bro. A lot of people, sure.

[Aisha Harris]

And yes. And look, I can hear them, our listeners typing now and being like how dare you blast me. Ah. But I also, I understand why people gravitate toward it. I think there are other movies that they may not come to the highest height of Wally, but as a full picture execution of a story, you're not going to convince me that Wally is one of the top tier Pixars outside of that opening sequence. Sorry, not sorry.

[Stephen Thompson]

All right, well that's Wally at number two. After the break we will reveal the number one pick, which by the way is my favorite Pixar movie. So stick around. Woohoo.

[NPR Sponsor]

This message comes from Smalls. Smalls cat food is protein packed recipes made with preservative free ingredients you'd find in your fridge and it's delivered right to your door. That's why cats.com named Smalls their best overall cat food. Give your cat the food they deserve. To get 60% off your first order and free shipping, head to smalls.com and use promo code Happy hour for a limited time only.

[Stephen Thompson]

This message comes from Schwab At Schwab, how you invest is your choice, not theirs. That's why when it comes to managing your wealth, Schwab gives you more choices. You can invest and trade on your own. Plus get advice and more comprehensive wealth solutions to help meet your unique needs. With award winning service, low costs and transparent advice, you can manage your wealth your way at Schwab. Visit schwab.com to learn more.

[NPR Sponsor]

This message comes from NPR's sponsor, IKEA. With IKEA, you'll find everything the student in your life needs to get ready for college. Whether they're moving into a dorm room or an off campus apartment, IKEA has you covered with what they need to make it feel more like home. Choose from thousands of pickup locations if you're headed toward campus or find affordable delivery options that take the stress out of getting set up. It's so convenient you may think about going back to college yourself. Shop now and enjoy convenience with a click. This message comes from Capital One Your business requires commercial banking solutions that prioritize your long term success with Capital One. Get a full suite of financial products and services tailored to meet your needs today and goals for tomorrow. Learn [e-mail] Commercial Member FDIC. This message comes from NPR. Sponsor the official Gilded Age Podcast from hbo. Unpack each episode and hear from the people who bring 19th century New York to life. Listen to the official Gilded Age Podcast wherever you get podcasts.

[Stephen Thompson]

Welcome back, Aisha. I am so happy with our listeners right now because they picked my favorite Pixar movie at number one, the Good Dinosaur. The Good Dinosaur.

[Aisha Harris]

Give us the pick. It is, of course, inside out.

[Stephen Thompson]

Do you ever look at someone and.

[NPR Sponsor]

Wonder what is going on inside their head?

[Aisha Harris]

Well, I know, I know Riley's head. I mean, duh, right? Even if it's not my personal favorite, it's definitely in my top three. And it is definitely. I remember when this movie came out in 2015, it made so many critics top 10 lists. But it wasn't just a critical hit. It was every audience person I talked to connected with it. And I think back to watching that movie and feeling as though I had been seen. I could remember being that age, the same age as Riley, and feeling all those feelings and talk about execution and big swing. Like, you know, this is not, it's not necessarily a wholly original concept. When it came out, a lot of people talked about Herman's head and how this sort of concept has been explored before. But to do so in a movie directed at children and this idea of what happens when you're no longer an innocent who may be shielded from the world in that first encounter with all these other feelings. And Amy Poehler as Joy in trying to protect that. She's kind of the Woody of this movie. She is the one who's trying to keep the gang together.

[Stephen Thompson]

I get it, you guys have concerns.

[Aisha Harris]

But we've been through worse. Tell you what, let's make a list.

[Stephen Thompson]

Of all the things Riley should be happy about. She's trying to hold everything together, but she can't.

[Aisha Harris]

And learning to accept that in the same way that Woody has to learn to accept that Andy cannot always be his partner. Oh, man. And then of course, I will say it looks beautiful. It's gorgeous. Amazing. But also bing bong.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah, but we have not said the words Richard Kind in the Richard Kind Iest performance ever committed to screens. Shape wise.

[Aisha Harris]

I'm part cat, part elephant, part dolphin. Dolphin.

[Stephen Thompson]

You gotta remember, when Riley was three.

[Aisha Harris]

Animals were all the rage. The cow goes moo the horse goes neigh.

[Stephen Thompson]

That's all people talked about back then. Yeah, yeah.

[Aisha Harris]

Oh, bing bong. Just the idea of losing that creative spark, that imagination, the imaginary friend, like, oh my goodness.

[Stephen Thompson]

That sense of what you let go when you grow up, the sense of imagination that you are not going to be able to access again. And creating a sense of melancholy in a young audience that isn't just like making them sad to make them sad, it's making them sad in ways that introduce them to the workings of their brain. And we haven't mentioned Phyllis Smith from the Office as sadness. Part of what is so great about Inside out is it's not just about finding balance among our different emotions. It's about finding strength from our different emotions. It's finding strength from darkness. It's finding strength from sadness. It's understanding that all of these things have to work together and they're all there to regulate something. They're all there to make our brains work the best possible way. I just think like, what an incredibly valuable lesson this film put out there. Kind of like Finding Nemo, not only for kids, but also for their parents. You need me to be happy, but I want my old friends and my hockey team.

[Aisha Harris]

I want to go home.

[Stephen Thompson]

Mm. Please don't be mad. I took my 11 year old daughter to the screening in 2015 and was an absolute wreck. And I really felt like we were sitting there understanding each other a little bit.

[Aisha Harris]

Yeah.

[Stephen Thompson]

And so this movie came out at a perfect time in my life. A perfect time in her life. I think it is an absolute masterpiece. There is one, one scene in this film I hate.

[Aisha Harris]

We. I know, we all know, we've talked about it many times. But please, please remind listeners who may not be, may not know where this is going.

[Stephen Thompson]

At one point we get the parents emotions. The mom's emotions are like a panel on the View and dad's emotions are just trying to watch the hockey game. Uh oh, she's looking at us. What did she say?

[Aisha Harris]

What? Oh, sorry, sir.

[Stephen Thompson]

No one was listening. Is it garbage night? We left the toilet seat up. What? What is it, woman? What?

[NPR Sponsor]

He's making that.

[Stephen Thompson]

So irritating.

[Aisha Harris]

Steven tapping into his disgust.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yes, it did. My disgust. My little disgust goblin got very, very, very sick during that scene. But look, it delighted a lot of people. I'm not, I'm not here to yuck anybody's yum. That scene just made me very mad. It's like two minutes I would have exiled from what was otherwise, to me, a perfect film.

[Aisha Harris]

Yes.

[Stephen Thompson]

So those are the six top vote getters. I'm guessing just in terms of sheer odds that there is a very strong possibility that we did not get to your favorite Pixar movie today. I mean, the Incredibles and Monsters Inc. Were in the top 10, but not the top five. Ratatouille didn't quite make the cut. There are some other truly great Pixar movies that did not make the cut. I was sad not to see Turning Red, which is one of my favorite favorite Pixar movies.

[Aisha Harris]

Same same.

[Stephen Thompson]

We have the full list over on our letterboxd page. You can find [e-mail] nprpopculture. We'll have a link to that in our episode description so you can kind of pour over what our listeners did and didn't get right. And next month, just for our Pop Culture Happy Hour plus supporters, Aisha, you and I are going to be talking about the movies that ranked at the bottom of the list, including the movie that got zero votes. We have more Pixar hot takes for real. You don't want to miss that. Sign up now at plus.npr.org happyaur or visit the link in our show notes. That brings us to the end of our show. Aisha Harris, thanks so much for being here.

[Aisha Harris]

You have saved our lives. We are eternally grateful. Ah, thank you, Stephen.

[Stephen Thompson]

This episode was produced by Liz Metzger, Hafsa Fathoma and Mike Katsif and edited by our showrunner, Jessica Reedy. Hello. Kamen provides our theme music. Thank you for listening to Pop Culture Happy Hour from npr. I'm Stephen Thompson and we will see you all next time.

[NPR Sponsor]

This message comes from Thrive Market. The food industry is a multi billion dollar industry, but not everything on the shelf is made with your health in mind. At Thrive Market, they go beyond the standards, curating the highest quality products for you and your family while focusing on organic first and restricting more than 1,000 harmful ingredients, all shipped at your door. Shop at a grocery store that actually cares for your [e-mail] podcast for 30% off your first order plus a sixty dollar free gift.

[Aisha Harris]

You're listening to the NPR Network, live from NPR News. I'm Lauren Schwies. A living, breathing record of your neighborhood, the country, the world, told by thousands of local journalists who live in the places where stories unfold, backed by a national newsroom that puts it all in perspective. Hear the whole country's story. Hear ways of thinking that challenge your own. Hear the bigger picture with npr.

[NPR Sponsor]

This message comes from Thrive Market. The food industry is a multi billion dollar industry but not everything on the shelf is made with your health in mind. At Thrive Market, they go beyond the standards, curating the highest quality products for you and your family while focusing on organic first and restricting more than 1,000 harmful ingredients, all shipped to your door. Shop at a grocery store that actually cares for your [e-mail] podcast for 30% off your first order plus a $60 free gift.