Every Pixar Movie Ranked Worst To Best

23. Cars 2 (2011)

If there was one thing Cars didn't need, it was a sequel focused on Mater and his sudden, accidental involvement in international espionage. There can be no denying the animation pops and the action sequences are typically outstanding, but Cars 2 is glaringly devoid of its predecessor's charm.

Mater is the kind of over-the-top, offensively cliched character who works best as a sidekick and not much else, but Cars 2 spends the whole film trying to convince its audience that he deserves the spotlight.

If that wasn't enough, Lightning McQueen himself feels unfairly sidelined by Mater's off-the-wall adventures, and the ensemble of oddball characters from the first film are missing for the vast majority of the sequel's runtime.

Cars 2 is a visually appealing romp, but when it comes to the heart and soul that characterises other Pixar efforts, it's a brutal misfire.