Cars (franchise)

Lore & Background

The Cars franchise began with the original Cars, which was Pixar's least well received film by reviewers at the time. The story follows rookie race car Lightning McQueen, who gets lost on the way to California and ends up in the town of Radiator Springs, where he befriends Mater and falls in love with Sally. The film was directed by John Lasseter, then chief creative officer of Pixar, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Disneytoon Studios. A short, Mater and the Ghostlight, was released on the Cars DVD on November 7, 2006. A series of shorts called Cars Toons were produced and aired on the Disney Channel to maintain interest. The brand had sold nearly $10 billion in merchandise by the time of Cars 2's release in 2011. Cars 2 became Pixar's lowest-reviewed film at that point. In 2007, the Cars Four Wheels Rally ride opened at Walt Disney Studios Park. In summer 2012, the 12-acre Cars Land theme area opened at Disney California Adventure in Anaheim as part of a $1-billion park renovation. Cars 3 was announced on October 8, 2015, and released on June 16, 2017. Three animated TV shows have been released set in the Cars universe: Cars Toons, Cars on the Road, and the upcoming Cars: Lightning Racers.

Reader's Guide

The Cars franchise is significant as a major Pixar property that expanded beyond films into theme park attractions, merchandise, and television series. Despite mixed critical reception—the original being Pixar's least well received film and Cars 2 its lowest-reviewed—the franchise achieved enormous commercial success, with over $1.4 billion in box office revenue and $10 billion in merchandise sales within five years. The franchise introduced iconic characters like Lightning McQueen and Mater, and its world expanded through Cars Land at Disney California Adventure and the Cars Toons series. The third film, Cars 3, was directed by Brian Fee, a storyboard artist on previous installments, and focused on Lightning McQueen's transition as a veteran racer. Future projects are in development, with Pixar's creative director Jay Ward stating in December 2023 that new Cars media is being created. The franchise's legacy includes its influence on Pixar's storytelling and its enduring appeal in merchandising and theme parks.

Did You Know?

• The original Cars was Pixar's least well received film by reviewers at the time of release.
• Cars 2 became Pixar's lowest-reviewed film at that point in time.
• The franchise has amassed over $10 billion in merchandising sales within its first five years.
• Cars Land, a 12-acre theme area, opened at Disney California Adventure in summer 2012 as part of a $1-billion park renovation.