Top 5 Pixar Movies for Grown Ups

WALL-E might just be the most adult-oriented film ever released by one of the big three animation studios, Pixar, Disney, and DreamWorks Animation, as it features a virtually dialogue-free first half that’s reminiscent of an old silent movie. (The first instance of speech from a human character doesn’t occur until the 38-minute mark.) And although filmmaker Andrew Stanton does offer up an action-packed final half hour, WALL-E contains a pointed message of environmentalism that will surely be lost on younger viewers.

All three of the Toy Story movies are bursting with elements designed to appeal to older viewers, with, for example, the montage in part two detailing Jessie’s tragic past sure to leave adults sobbing into their popcorn. But it’s the now-infamous incinerator sequence in the third Toy Story movie that stands as the series’ most mature moment, as Andy’s beloved Toys, including Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz (Tim Allen), are forced to confront their own mortality after they’re caught in a deadly situation that seems inescapable. It’s an astonishingly adult scenario that almost seems out of place within a film aimed primarily towards children, yet it’s this refusal to pander to viewers that has made Pixar the champion in the animated realm.

Like WALL-E, Up features a rollicking final half hour that’s packed with several palpably exciting action sequences. But Up also boasts a number of emotionally devastating moments that will affect adults far more than children, with the tragic romance between hero Carl Fredricksen (Edward Asner) and Ellie far more heart-wrenching and moving than most live-action love stories. Directors Pete Docter and Bob Peterson have managed to perfectly capture the intense feelings of loss and hopelessness that accompany the death of a loved one, which does ensure that the movie does, from time to time, feel more like a tear-jerker than an animated adventure.

Though there are plenty of elements in the film designed to appeal to older viewers, Finding Nemo features, at its core, a storyline about a father desperately trying to find his child. Any parent will be able to relate to Marlin’s (Albert Brooks) increasingly frantic efforts at tracking down Nemo, with the many obstacles tossed in the jittery clownfish’s way heightening the inherent suspense in his situation. The film’s themes of abandonment and parental responsibility are hidden beneath oodles of fun action sequences and hilarious interludes, which ensures that Finding Nemo works for grown-up viewers on an entirely different level than it does for kids.

Ratatouille stands as yet another example of Pixar’s brilliance, as they’ve managed to marry heavy themes with a frequently silly storyline centering around a talking rat. The movie’s adult-oriented aspects are most keenly reflected in the subplot revolving around restaurant critic Anton Ego (Peter O’Toole), as the mean-spirited character is instantly taken back to his childhood after tasting just one bite of the title concoction. It’s an unexpectedly emotional sequence that will have little impact on younger viewers, to be sure, but it’s not difficult to envision adults connecting to Anton’s obvious joy at the momentary reminder of his carefree youth.