I’m So Glad Most Of Pixar’s Upcoming Movies Belong To My Favorite Genre

August 16, 20245 Mins Read

Summary

Sci-fi is becoming a major focus for Pixar, with 3 out of 4 upcoming movies falling into this genre.
Toy Story 5
is not sci-fi, but it does continue a beloved franchise.
Pixar’s mixed results with sci-fi, like the disappointment of
Lightyear
, means its upcoming projects may not live up to the hype.

I’m a big fan of many Pixar projects, but the fact that most of the studio’s upcoming movies all sit within my favorite category is a huge bonus that enhances my excitement ahead of their release. I’ll admit that not every Pixar movie has hit home for me, but I’ve found most to be a thoroughly enjoyable watch. Away from Pixar, my viewing habits fall very heavily within a specific genre, which is why I’m so thrilled that Pixar’s immediate future is aligning even more with my tastes.

Pixar’s sequels have been its main source of revenue in recent years, and while I love seeing some of its franchises grow, their original stories often have the potential to shine much brighter. Thankfully, equal attention is now being paid to continuing existing stories as well as establishing new narratives populated with the signature quirky characters that I and so many others have grown to love. Strangely, 75% of Pixar’s upcoming movie slate shares something in common.

Every Upcoming Pixar Movie & TV Show

Here is every upcoming Pixar movie and TV show slated for release over the next few years, from new originals like Elio to sequels like Toy Story 5.

3 Of The 4 Upcoming Pixar Movies Are Science-Fiction

Pixar is seemingly focusing on 1 specific genre

I love sci-fi, and I love Pixar movies. However, the two don’t often collide. Looking to the immediate future, that rarity is becoming a thing of the past, and I’m so excited. First up, there’s Elio, which is slated for release on June 13, 2025. The movie is probably the most hard sci-fi project that Pixar has in the works, although it still boasts the studio’s iconic playfulness too. Unfortunately, the other two sci-fi movies don’t have solid release dates, but one is more definitive than the other.

Hoppers will arrive in movie theaters in the Spring of 2026, which ensures my Pixar/sci-fi fix will be met in consecutive years. The story revolves around human consciousness being transferred into animal-like machines. If I didn’t know it was a Pixar movie, I’d assume the premise belonged to a gritty dystopian neo-noir movie. Finally, Incredibles 3 was announced at 2024’s D23, but was only confirmed to be, “Coming Soon.” If I had to guess, I would assume the third installment in the superhero trilogy would arrive in 2027.

According to
Economic Times
, Pixar has a ”
confirmed but unallocated release date
” of June 18, 2027, which could accommodate
Incredibles 3
‘s release.

Toy Story 5 Has Me Equally Excited (Despite Not Being Sci-Fi)

Toy Story is my favorite Pixar franchise

Woody and his friends looking at Bonnie on her tablet in the Toy Story 5 teaser

The only confirmed non-sci-fi Pixar movie in the works is Toy Story 5. It might stand out when compared to the other upcoming projects because it’s not science-fiction, but that doesn’t stop me from eagerly anticipating its arrival. Toy Story is easily my favorite Pixar franchise, and while I was initially uneasy about the story continuing beyond Toy Story 3‘s ending, I was surprised that I found the fourth movie to be a worthwhile endeavor. It wasn’t perfect, but it was still very good.

I don’t want it to try and beat what the rest of the
Toy Story
movies have done, I just want it to be a fun ride.

The confirmed Toy Story 5 details from D23 all sound like a lot of fun. Not only is the sequel tackling modern-day challenges like screen addiction, but the thought of a group of rogue Buzz Lightyears sounds like it’ll be equal parts ominous and hysterical. I’m past the point of thinking Toy Story should end, as I know many fans believe, and I’m just ready to enjoy another adventure with Woody and company. I don’t want it to try and beat what the rest of the Toy Story movies have done, I just want it to be a fun ride.

Pixar’s Mixed Results With Sci-Fi Still Have Me Worried

WALL-E is great, but Lightyear is not

Pixar’s rare forays into sci-fi haven’t been very consistent. As a result, I’m trying to temper my expectations for the three upcoming movies in the genre. 2004’s Incredibles is practically a perfect movie for me, so the studio started strong with its first science-fiction effort. 2008’s WALL-E meets the same standard as Pixar’s animated superhero flick, so that’s another tick for getting hyped for Elio, Hoppers, and Incredibles 3. Unfortunately, the other two sci-fi Pixar movies fall very short of what I know the studio is capable of, and this concerns me.

(WALL·E--from-WALL·E-)-&-Dory-from-Finding-Dory-&-Woody-from-Toy-Story-Movies-1

The 20 Best Pixar Characters, Ranked

Pixar animation has introduced us to some heartwarming, whimsical, and realistic characters in the almost 30 years since the studio made its debut.

The long-awaited arrival of Incredibles 2 in 2018 came with many expectations, many of which were left unfulfilled. I thought it was okay, but it could have been so much better. The same is true of 2022’s Lightyear. The meta Toy Story prequel got in its own way by trying to tie itself into the main canon too creatively, which distracted from the storyline. I liked it, but it wasn’t as good as Incredibles or WALL-E. With any luck, Elio, Hoppers, and Incredibles 3 all live up to the standards set by Pixar‘s first two sci-fi efforts.