Pixar is well-known and praised for its original stories and unique films with creative screenplays. However, some of those films also work as a predecessor to another film to follow it. Some Pixar movies have set up a second (or third) film to precede it, while others are fine solo. So, here’s my list of the 7 Pixar films that need a sequel (Inside Out not included for obvious reasons). With that, let’s begin.
#7: Onward (2020)
Although its story ended on a great note without room for continuation, everything else didn’t. Onward included great characters and a creative world full of opportunities for future stories to be told, especially with the film being about a quest. I could definitely see Pixar creating a new story with these characters plus new characters going on a new quest, showing us more of the world and more about these neat characters.
#6: A Bug’s Life (1998)
Like Onward, A Bug’s Life features many different characters in a large, mostly unexplored setting. The main plot of A Bug’s Life centers on the ants gathering food for the Grasshoppers. This leaves a lot of other concepts for a movie based on other things bugs have to do, which can make for a neat sequel if done right.
#5: Elemental (2023)
Elemental arguably has the largest and unexplored setting of any Pixar movie. Elemental shows other areas outside of the already huge Element City, such as Fire Town. This leaves room for lots of new stories to show more of this world, leading the way to new characters and more. Plus, what happens to Wade and Ember next? Only a sequel could answer that question.
#4: Incredibles 2 (2018)
It’s no doubt that one day (probably another 14 years from now) we’ll see a third installment in the Incredibles series. Not only did Incredibles 2 make over $1.2 billion worldwide, but it also left us on two cliffhangers, the Underminer’s escape and the car chase at the end of the film, which both could be revisited events in Incredibles 3. If the Underminer will return isn’t as obvious and continuing right from that aforementioned car chase before Violet and Tony’s movie, but all of these definitely lead to some ideas for Incredibles 3.
#3: Luca (2021)
Luca ends with Luca joining Julia to go to school, while Alberto stays home with Julio’s father in Portorosso. Although the credits do show snip-its of what happens at school, and some of what happens with Alberto is shown in the short film “Ciao Alberto”, there is still room for lots of new stories to be told between these characters, especially with Luca literally being a sea monster. Lots of possibilities come from the plot in Luca.
#2: Ratatouille (2007)
There are many ideas that came together to form Ratatouille, though not all of them were thoroughly explored in the film. From the legacies of Auguste Gusteau and Anton Ego, to where the rats including Remy’s family lives, and so much more. All of these open the possibilities for future stories based on these elements from Ratatouille to become possible.
#1: Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Of all the Pixar movies, this one seems to be the one with the most ideas from fans about future stories. Monsters, Inc. introduced us to many unique characters, a huge world being Monstropolis (along with the areas of Earth behind the doors to kids’ bedrooms), and even a start for a future storyline. Monsters, Inc. ended with Sully being reunited with Boo, however this could lead to new ideas for future stories. What if the Monsters got trapped in our world, or what if a movie featured Boo trying to find Sully after many years? The ideas that could stem from Monster’s, Inc. are endless, and that’s why I think it could easily get a sequel. (And no, Monsters at Work definitely doesn’t count.)
What’s your favorite Pixar movie? Let me know in the comments.
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