Every Pixar Sci-Fi Movie, Ranked From Worst to Best

by

Science fiction has remained popular for decades, and it’s easy to see why. Though it can often explore serious themes, sci-fi is ultimately hopeful, prompting us to see the world in new ways and consider what truly makes life meaningful. While many well-known sci-fi franchises like Star Trek, Alien, and The Matrix are geared towards adults, there’s also a lot of fun, accessible sci-fi perfect for introducing kids to the genre.

It’s tempting to make fun of the more optimistic parts of science fiction, or point out how it differs from darker, more realistic stories. But doing so misses the point of the genre, which encourages us to be hopeful. And what better way to explore sci-fi than by starting with fun, accessible films – especially those from a fantastic animation studio like Pixar? Here’s a ranking of Pixar’s four sci-fi movies.

4) Lightyear

The movie Lightyear took a surprisingly self-aware approach for a children’s film, and that might be why it didn’t perform as well as expected, even as part of the popular Toy Story franchise. The film presented itself as the movie that inspired the Buzz Lightyear action figure from Toy Story, telling the story of the ‘real’ character before he became a toy. However, it didn’t capture the emotional core of the Toy Story films, particularly the earlier ones. The plot was unnecessarily complicated, and despite aiming for something grand, it ended up feeling predictable and failed to successfully use familiar story elements to create a nostalgic experience.

3) Elio

Ever since its disappointing release in 2025, the Pixar film Elio has left many wondering what could have been. It was a unique attempt at science fiction for the studio, boasting a compelling story and visual style. The film follows Elio Solís, a boy accidentally identified as Earth’s ambassador when aliens try to contact the planet. He then finds himself in the middle of a galactic crisis involving a warlord and the alien child he befriends. During production, Pixar’s creative director, Pete Docter, felt the story was too focused on personal experiences and took over the project, leading the original director, Adrian Molina, to leave. This raises questions about the film’s potential if Molina had been allowed to finish his vision, which drew heavily from his own childhood.

2) Hoppers

Pixar’s newest film, Hoppers, marks the studio’s latest venture into science fiction. Featuring a talented voice cast including Jon Hamm, Kathy Najimy, and Dave Franco, the movie has been praised by critics as wonderfully unpredictable. It tells the story of Mabel Tanaka, an animal-loving girl who uses technology to transfer her consciousness into a realistic robotic beaver. Her goal is to connect with animals and protect their home, but her actions accidentally spark a rebellion—a classic Pixar plot point designed to tug at your heartstrings. Released on March 6th, Hoppers has already received overwhelmingly positive reviews, with a 94% critics’ score, leading many to believe it could become a major franchise for the studio.

1) WALL-E

It’s no surprise that WALL-E tops this list – it’s not only Pixar’s best science fiction film, but one of their very best overall. The movie follows WALL-E, which stands for Waste Allocation Load Lifter – Earth Class, a robot whose job is to clean up Earth. As time passes, WALL-E develops a personality and feels the sadness of being the last robot left. That changes when he meets EVE, an extraterrestrial probe sent to Earth to see if the planet can support life again. The two robots quickly fall in love and embark on a galactic adventure. Despite being rated G, WALL-E deals with surprisingly serious themes, making it feel especially relevant even today. With a 95% critics rating 18 years after its release, the film’s beautiful animation and meaningful story combine to create a truly touching experience, solidifying its place as a cinematic masterpiece.

https://comicbook.com/anime/news/the-legend-of-aang-director-speaks-out-on-streaming-release-deserves-to-be-seen-on-a-big-screen/embed/#

Read More

2026-03-09 20:10