The Great Pixar Cinematic Universe: The Order, The Theories, and Where to Watch
An Oscar here, a box office record there, and an army of animated characters that have wormed their way into our hearts. Welcome to the world of Pixar. With the studio’s growing filmography, a longstanding theory has puzzled fans and theorists alike: Could all these movies exist in the same universe? We’re diving deep into the Pixar Theory movie order, what makes it tick, and where it takes a few, ahem, creative liberties.
The Order According to the Pixar Theory
The Pixar Theory suggests that all Pixar films exist in a singular timeline. Before you jump off the deep end, let’s get the order down pat:
- Elemental (2023)
- The Good Dinosaur (2015)
- Brave (2012)
- Luca (2021)
- The Incredibles (2004)
- Incredibles 2 (2018)
- Lightyear (2022)
- Toy Story (1995)
- Toy Story 2 (1999)
- Finding Red (2022)
- Finding Nemo (2003)
- Finding Dory (2016)
- Ratatouille (2007)
- Toy Story 3 (2010)
- Toy Story 4 (2019)
- Up (2009)
- Inside Out (2015)
- Coco (2017)
- Soul (2020)
- Cars (2006)
- Cars 2 (2011)
- Cars 3 (2017)
- Wall-E (2008)
- A Bug’s Life (1998)
- Onward (2020)
- Monsters University (2013)
- Monsters Inc (2001)
“There is also the question of the most recent Elemental. Two theories exist on how it might fit into the Pixar Theory timeline. One is that it takes place well after the events of Monsters Inc, and the other places it before even The Good Dinosaur – to a time before organic life, when only the elements were present.”
So, what about the kinks? Well, there are a few issues with this order. For example, Inside Out’s Riley visits the Marine Life Institute in Finding Dory. So why isn’t Inside Out watched before Finding Dory? The jury is still out on that.
The Easter Eggs that Bind Them
Let’s talk about the common thread: Pizza Planet trucks. Yes, those iconic delivery vehicles appear in almost every Pixar film.
“Connecting Elemental to the timeline is the inclusion of a Pizza Planet truck, but the jury is still out over whether the delivery chain is an epoch-spanning business predating humanity or outliving it.”
Catching Up with Pixar’s Latest
In case you missed it, Elemental is the latest addition to the Pixar Theory list. You can find it in video-on-demand stores such as Amazon, Sky Store, Google Play, and Apple TV. As for the rest, they’re all streaming on Disney Plus.
“As Pixar is owned by Disney, all the Pixar films are available to watch on Disney Plus – with the exception of latest release Elemental until 13th September 2023.”
Future Treasures: Elio (2024)
The next stop on the Pixar roller coaster is Elio, set to drop on March 1, 2024. Elio isn’t your regular eleven-year-old. After making accidental contact with aliens, he becomes Earth’s most unlikely ambassador.
“Elio will go on a journey of self-discovery to find his true purpose whilst navigating trials that will test his confidence and prove Uh-Earth’s worth to the Communiverse.”
To Infinity and Beyond: Our Final Take
Is the Pixar Theory perfect? Nah. Is it fun to think about? Absolutely. And with new films like Elio, who knows where this timeline will go. Until then, grab some popcorn and dive into this imaginative world because, at Pixar, the sky is just the beginning.
