Every Pixar Movie, Ranked Worst To Best

2) The Incredibles (2004)

The first, and notably only, Pixar movie to give its creator carte blanche over directing and writing — you know, as carte blanche as the Mouse House will allow — Brad Bird’s freedom over his own creations oozes cool and confidence from every minuscule pixel.

Charting the fall of “supers” thanks to the wayward public destruction caused by their heroics, The Incredibles picks up when “Mr. Incredible” aka Bob Parr (Craig T. Nelson), is called back to action to a mysterious island overrun by a rogue four-legged droid. The story is whiplash fast, the characters are unforgettable, and the set pieces — all of which blossom naturally out of the story, a novel idea — have still yet to be out-done by over ten years worth of Marvel Cinematic Universes and Dark Knights.

On the metaphorical side, it’s got brilliant bon-mots regarding the idea of being your own individual (Syndrome’s “if everyone is special” monologue in particular will fray young minds in the best way possible) and the frustration with normality. And, sure, you could dive down the Nietzschean and Randian philosophical wormhole if it so pleases you, but what truly lives up to the name here is that is has a believable, frustrating, lovable family at its core that makes it all soar.