Pixar has been stepping up its sequel production in tthe last few years, but there are still plenty of overlooked movies waiting for their own follow-ups. For a long time, Pixar seemed resistant to the idea of sequels. This explains why some of thebest Pixar movieshad to wait over a decade or more before they finally got sequels, while other studios likely would have pounced on this financial opportunity much sooner.
After the critical and commercial success ofInside Out 2,Pixar is continuing theToy Storyfranchise, and the studio confirmed thatCoco 2is in development. While there are still a healthy number of original movies in the works, it seems more likely than ever that Pixar will look at old classics and overlooked gems to create more sequels in the next few years. Some movies, likeWall-EandUp,should probably be left alone, but others have the potential to inspire genuinely worthwhile sequels.
Onwardis a road trip comedy, but its suburban fantasy setting means that it has a sense of epic adventure. As two teenage brothers set out to magically revive their father, the trials they must overcome mirror their own feelings in such a dangerous and enormous quest. AlthoughOnwardwraps up its story nicely, its setting gives it plenty of sequel potential, as Barley and Ian can explore the edges of the map even further.
As magic might be making a gradual return to the world ofOnward,a sequel could explore the ways that this changes society.
Onwarddidn’t receive the kind of glowing reviews that Pixar has become accustomed to, but this doesn’t mean that a sequel couldn’t be better. As magic might be making a gradual return to the world ofOnward,a sequel could explore the ways that this changes society, and how Ian and Barley might fit in. One ofOnward’s strengths is the way it touches on new characters and fantasy concepts along the route of its road trip, so there’s a chance that a sequel could continue to play with these tropes.
UnlikeOnward,Ratatouilleis one of Pixar’s true classics, but it has never seemed like a likely candidate for a sequel. 18 years later, it’s possible thatRatatouille’s time has passed. This would be a shame, sincePixar fans would surely welcome another adventure inRatatouille’s gorgeous vision of Paris. It would also be a pleasure to see how Remy and Linguini’s new restaurant pans out.
Fans have had to resort to pitching their ownideas for aRatatouillesequelover the years, and it’s clear that there’s plenty of potential.Ratatouille2could see Remy and Linguini broadening their horizons by building their gastronomic empire or exploring new cuisines. Either way, the secret of Remy’s identity could be pivotal to any story. Hopefully, the two friends will be surrounded by another group of eccentric chefs no matter what happens.
Lucais one of a few recent Pixar movies which was released on Disney+, which may have affected its popularity. It still hasn’t reached the kind of huge audience that the studio usually has, and it remains something of an underrated gem. Regardless,Lucahas many different paths that a sequel could take, and making another movie could draw more attention to the first.
Lucatakes place in Portorosso, a fictional Italian coastal town obsessed with sea monsters. Although Luca and Alberto’s true identities are exposed at the end of the movie, this seems like a new beginning for them, rather than a true finale. With Luca sent off to school with Giulia and Alberto helping Massimo, aLucasequel could explore how their friendship might change, as well as developingLuca’s intriguing world.The vignettes shown during the credits sequence offer an exciting taste of what could lie ahead.
A Bug’s Lifewas just the second feature-length film that Pixar ever produced, and it’s been all but forgotten in the decades since. WhileToy Storyhas stood the test of time and launched the studio’s biggest franchise,A Bug’s Lifenow looks like an oddity with no hope of revival. Announcing a sequel would certainly be a shocking move, but it would create the perfect opportunity for Pixar to revive an important film from their history.
SinceA Bug’s Lifehas almost faded into obscurity, a new sequel would have the freedom to create plenty of different stories. It could use a time jump while taking place in the same setting, or it could pick up after Flik’s victory with the same group of characters. With the grasshoppers gone,there could still be dangerous threats to the ants, perhaps created by human activity, which could be an interesting way to discuss environmental themes.
Braverepresents the synthesis of Pixar and Disney more distinctly than most other films, since Merida is the only official Disney princess to have come from a Pixar movie. Still, there’s enough unmistakable Pixar DNA inBraveto separate it from the bulk of Disney princess movies. The combination of action and humor means that aBravesequel could take many different forms.
Brave’s worldbuilding suggests that a sequel could focus on more of the obscure magic that runs throughout the first movie. By combining Scottish mythology and history,Bravecreates a world of limitless possibilities. Although the mother-daughter story of the first movie is resolved neatly,it would still be interesting to see Merida growing upand facing new challenges as she struggles to fit in.
AlthoughThe Good Dinosauris one of Pixar’s most visually stunning movies, the story doesn’t quite live up to the quality of the animation. Arlo and Spot’s unlikely friendship has some highlights, but a sequel toThe Good Dinosaurcould be what’s needed to deliver on the potential of the film’s concept. Fortunately, there are enough compelling elements toThe Good Dinosaurto suggest that a sequel could be a huge improvement on the original.
Most ofThe Good Dinosaur’s weak points, like its forgettable villains and its hit-or-miss humor, could easily be improved upon in the sequel. Although Arlo and Spot seem to have gone in their own separate directions, they could be reunited for a sequel, or the story could focus more on Arlo’s coming-of-age.The idea of humans and dinosaurs living side-by-side presents plenty of storytelling opportunities, even ifThe Good Dinosaurmight need a follow-up movie to show it.
Monsters Universitywas one of the first indications that Pixar was eager to mine its old classics for potential sequels, beforeFinding Dory, Incredibles 2andInside Out.However,the prequel received mixed reviews, and it certainly doesn’t have the same magic as the original.A proper sequel toMonsters, Inc.is long overdue, but there could still be time for Pixar to right this wrong.
Pixar fans may know that the studio was once working on aMonsters, Inc.sequel that would see Mike and Sully visiting the human world.
Pixar fans may know that the studio was once working on aMonsters, Inc.sequelthat would see Mike and Sully visiting the human world. Even afterMonsters University,there’s no reason why this story idea couldn’t work. The comedic potential of seeing two monsters trying to blend in with humans is palpable, and it flips the idea of Boo being disguised in the world of monsters from the first film.Monsters, Inc.doesn’t have to use this idea for a sequel, of course, since there are plenty of other viable story ideas to consider.
