We’re back! The latest installment of our comprehensive score rankings is here, and this time, we’re taking on all 22 (as of this writing) feature films from Pixar Animation Studios!

Feel free to check out our previous rankings here, including the scores of DreamWorks Animation.

With Pixar’s 22nd film, Onward, in theaters this week, this seemed like an appropriate time. (Note that Soul is due out later this year and – with a soundtrack from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross – will likely disrupt this ranking.)

Since Toy Story debuted in 1995, Pixar has made a name for itself on the quality of its animation AND the quality of its storytelling. In 25 years, the studio has only released one or two films that were… subpar. And even if we all agree that Cars 2 is pretty bad, that’s still a phenomenal track record.

But we’re not here today to talk about the merits of the films themselves. We’re here to talk about the music. We’re ranking the orchestral scores – not the movies. That means you need to divorce the films from their music, which, I’ll admit, is kind of hard to do for so many of these.

Note: Original songs (written by the composer) factored in a tiny bit to this ranking, which is not something I’ve done in previous rankings. Not every movie has one, but it’s really hard to ignore those that do.

Pixar films tug on your heartstrings and make you feel something. Likewise, I expect the scores to make me feel something, and this ranking reflects that expectation. I was listening for themes and emotional music (that took me up or down) – not just background noise or a wallpaper score that’s barely noticeable.

It’s also important to note that in 22 films, only THREE were composed by someone whose last name isn’t Newman or Giacchino. To be fair, there were actually two Newmans – cousins Randy and Thomas – but still, we’re talking about a limited pool of composers.

I should also mention that the bottom of this ranking doesn’t necessarily mean the scores are bad. It’s all relative. Just as even the worst Pixar movie is still pretty great in the grand scheme of things, the “worst” score here is still pretty good.

However, I will say that I was almost uniformly underwhelmed by these. When I did our ranking of DreamWorks scores, I was generally surprised by the high quality across the board. By contrast, so many of the Pixar scores are… fine. They’re solid scores and good music; they’re just not overly exceptional.

Perhaps because there’s a lot of sequels in here, but too many are just too similar to one another. The ones that rose to the top (especially the top 5) are different from the pack in some remarkable way.

(Click here for our review of the Pixar in Concert performance.)

If you want to listen to the scores yourself, ALL of them are streaming on Amazon Music and Spotify. Not an endorsement; just a fact. And if you’re interested, I’ve pulled together the best of the scores (according to me) in this playlist, which is organized in order of release. Here’s the Spotify version (the Amazon Music version is here). Listen and enjoy!

So without further ado, here’s the Roarbots’ definitive yet completely subjective ranking of the scores of Pixar Animation Studios.

#22: Cars

composed by Randy Newman (2006)

available on Amazon Music

listen to: “Opening Race,” “McQueen and Sally”

Take a look at these “bottom of the pack” scores… and you’ll likely notice a common denominator: the composer. I’m sure Randy Newman has many talents, but his Pixar scores almost never stand out on their own. They work as solid accompaniment to their respective films, but on they’re own, they’re just kind of… meh.

#21: Toy Story 3

composed by Randy Newman (2010)

available on Amazon Music

listen to: “So Long”

Having just said the above, I find it hilarious how big Newman’s name is on this soundtrack. All the Toy Story scores are basically clones of one another, with just a few pieces that set them apart. On top of that, Newman’s song for the third installment – “We Belong Together” – is barely even memorable. Or worth mentioning. He somehow still won a Grammy for this one.

#20: Toy Story

composed by Randy Newman (1995)

available on Amazon Music

listen to: “Andy’s Birthday”

When you think of the music for Toy Story, you think of Newman’s songs. “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” is practically synonymous with the franchise. But my god, who keeps encouraging Randy Newman to sing? With one or two exceptions, the music here is entirely forgettable. Nevertheless, it was nominated for an Academy Award (based largely on the strength and novelty of the film in 1995, no doubt).

#19: Toy Story 4

composed by Randy Newman (2019)

available on Amazon Music

listen to: “Prepping the Jump”

Le sigh. The movie that should’ve never been made. Newman couldn’t even be bothered to come up with an original song for this one; they just reused “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” There are tunes here that only last a few bars that really should’ve been longer themes throughout the movie. Instead, they’re just teases of a much better score.

#18: Toy Story 2

composed by Randy Newman (1999)

available on Amazon Music

listen to: “Jessie’s in Trouble”

I didn’t plan for all the Toy Story films to be jumbled together like this at the bottom; that’s just how it all shook out. The second film ranks highest simply because it has “When She Loved Me,” a Newman song sung by Sarah McLachlan and is probably the most emotional piece of music from the entire franchise. Would you believe the original plan was to have Newman sing that song? Shudder.

#17: Cars 2

composed by Michael Giacchino (2011)

available on Amazon Music

listen to: “It’s Finn McMissile!”

This is probably the only list where Cars 2 ranks higher than the original. Michael Giacchino took over musical duties from Randy Newman, and the score is – not surprisingly – James Bond-esque, but more fun.

#16: Monsters, Inc.

composed by Randy Newman (2001)

available on Amazon Music

listen to: “Monsters Inc.,” “The Scare Floor”

A perfectly serviceable score from Newman with a few standout tracks. Thankfully, he doesn’t sing the song in this one (“If I Didn’t Have You”), but Billy Crystal and John Goodman do. In character.

#15: Ratatouille

composed by Michael Giacchino (2007)

available on Amazon Music

listen to: “A New Deal,” “Special Order,” “Anyone Can Cook,” “Ratatouille Main Theme”

I really, really wanted to rank this one higher. Giacchino’s score, which was nominated for an Academy Award and won a Grammy – is positively overflowing with a love for classic (i.e., stereotypical) French music. Lots of jazzy riffs and accordion. And “Le Festin,” the song he wrote and that was sung by French singer Camille, is simply beautiful. Alas, this is where the ranking gets difficult since we’re getting to the really good ones. And a bulk of this score is just ho-hum.

#14: Monsters University

composed by Randy Newman (2013)

available on Amazon Music

listen to: “Young Michael,” “Rise and Shine”

Newman’s score for this sequel is more full of life than the original, and thanks to the film’s university setting, it’s even got a marching band (with some awesome drumming) on a few tracks.

#13: Finding Dory

composed by Thomas Newman (2016)

available on Amazon Music

listen to: “…Shells,” “Becky Flies”

Oddly, this has become one of Pixar’s “forgotten” films. You almost never hear anyone talk about it anymore. It may not have been as emotionally stirring as the first, but this film is better than most people remember. As is the music. The score relies heavily on the strength of Finding Nemo, but that’s enough to see it land at #13.

#12: A Bug’s Life

composed by Randy Newman (1998)

available on Amazon Music

listen to: “Flik Leaves,” “The City,” “A Bug’s Life Suite”

Skip right on over Newman’s flouncy-trouncy singing on “The Time of Your Life,” and you’ll find an exhilarating score. A Bug’s Life is one of those films you forget is so good until you catch part of it on TV or you make an effort to watch it again. It’s fantastic, and Newman actually rises to the occasion here.

#11: Cars 3

composed by Randy Newman (2017)

available on Amazon Music

listen to: “A Career on a Wall,” “Fireball Beach,” “If This Track Could Talk”

I know, right? Listen, after Cars 2, no one expected the franchise to survive. By my god, Pixar wasn’t about to let a merchandise behemoth like Cars fade away. Cars 3 defied all expectations and delivered a sweet story that’s worth revisiting. Most important, though: it has absolutely Minimal Mater. Randy Newman came back for the end of the trilogy, and surprisingly, this is his highest-ranking score. The music here really serves the story, and it makes you feel things you weren’t expecting to feel about anthropomorphic cars.

#10: Onward

composed by Mychael Danna & Jeff Danna (2020)

available on Amazon Music

listen to: “Share My Life With Him,” “Dad”

This is the only film on this list I haven’t seen (yet), so the music had to truly stand on its own. And it does! Perhaps it ranks in the top 10 because it’s so fresh, but the score here is a lovely mix of emotional strings, orchestrated adventure, and loud guitar riffs. Breaking free of the same trio of composers also helps.

#9: Finding Nemo

composed by Thomas Newman (2003)

available on Amazon Music

listen to: “Wow,” “Nemo Egg,” “Swim Down”

Nominated for an Academy Award, Thomas Newman’s score here is just as chock full of emotions as the film. Lush orchestrations, soaring strings, and intimate melodies help make this one memorable. And as one of the best films about fatherhood ever made, I expect nothing less.

#8: Incredibles 2

composed by Michael Giacchino (2018)

available on Amazon Music

listen to: “Consider Yourselves Undermined!” “Diggin’ the New Digs”

A great soundtrack for a killer sequel, but all the best themes and sounds are recycled from the first film. Still good enough to rank incredibly high (ha!), but I wish it were more unique.

#7: Wall*E

composed by Thomas Newman (2008)

available on Amazon Music

listen to: “EVE,” “Eve Retrieve,” “Define Dancing”

A movie that basically has no dialogue for the first 20 minutes really needs to have good music. And Thomas Newman knocked this one out of the park. Some of the best music in the movie is in those first 20 minutes, and Newman got well-deserved Academy Award and Grammy nominations. The film relies heavily on visuals and expressions to evoke the right emotions, but it’d all be for naught without the right soundtrack. And “Down to Earth,” the song Newman cowrote with Peter Gabriel (who sang it) remains the best end credits song in the company’s history.

#6: Up

composed by Michael Giacchino (2009)

available on Amazon Music

listen to: “Married Life,” “Stuff We Did,” “It’s Just a House,” “The Ellie Badge”

Just like Wall*E, the opening sequence of Up absolutely needed to nail the right sound. Today, there’s a general consensus that the beginning of Up makes the entire movie. It ranks as many people’s favorite Pixar movie on the strength of that dialogue-free 5-minute sequence. Most people forget there was an entire movie set in South America with with Russell, Dug, and Kevin. Giacchino’s powerfully emotional score rightfully won both the Academy Award and Grammy, and it’s a pure joy to listen to.

#5: The Good Dinosaur

composed by Mychael Danna & Jeff Danna (2015)

available on Amazon Music

listen to: “Homestead,” “Orphans,” “Run with the Herd,” “Goodbye Spot”

Remember this one? I’ll admit – I don’t understand the hate for this movie. I saw it in the theater and really liked it then. And I really like it now. Is it as good as some of the classic Pixar films? Of course not. But they don’t all need to be Classics for All Time. The Good Dinosaur is a sweet story about friendship and family, and it was only the second film for the studio that wasn’t composed by a Newman or Giacchino. The Dannas delivered a bittersweet score that’s by turns heartwarming and heartbreaking.

#4: The Incredibles

composed by Michael Giacchino (2004)

available on Amazon Music

listen to: “The Glory Days,” “Life’s Incredible Again,” “Kronos Unveiled”

Nominated for a Grammy, Giacchino’s score for The Incredibles is basically a Bond score in every positive respect. As much fun as the movie is? Yeah, the soundtrack matches it. Just a joy.

#3: Brave

composed by Patrick Doyle (2012)

available on Amazon Music

listen to: “Remember to Smile,” “Legends are Lessons,” “Noble Maiden Fair,” “We’ve Both Changed,” “Merida’s Home”

It took 17 years and 13 films to break free of the Newman/Giacchino hold over Pixar, but Patrick Doyle finally did it with the Scottish-infused soundtrack for Brave. The score features a variety of Celtic instruments, such as bagpipes, fiddle, harp, and flute, and it’s this sound that elevates the score above the pack. It’s about as far from “run of the mill” as you can get. If I were counting “Touch the Sky” and “Into the Open Air” – both sung by Julie Fowlis – this score would rank even higher. Alas, neither was penned by Doyle. He did, however, write “Noble Maiden Fair,” which is a lullaby duet sung in Gaelic. Respect.

#2: Coco

composed by Michael Giacchino (2017)

available on Amazon Music

listen to: “Will He Shoemaker?” “Crossing the Marigold Bridge,” “Coco”

Speaking of soundtracks that are far from ordinary, Giacchino’s score for Coco hits you right in the soul, which is precisely the point. Coco relies so much on the songs that form the heart of the story (notably, “Remember Me” and “Proud Corazón”), and those songs are so strong that it’d be easy for the orchestral score to slip into the background. But Giacchino brings his A game, and his typically sumptuous strings (here accented with horns and acoustic guitar) dive deep and pull the emotions out of you. This is a soundtrack I can return to over and over.

#1: Inside Out

composed by Michael Giacchino (2015)

available on Amazon Music

listen to: “Bundle of Joy,” “Nomanisone Island/National Movers,” “Down in the Dumps,” “Tears of Joy”

Real talk: Inside Out is my favorite Pixar movie. Did that influence the decision here? Maybe. Or maybe it’s my favorite film because Giacchino’s score is flawless. I’ll let you decide. Either way, Inside Out is the best score in the history of Pixar Animation Studios.