Pixar's Best 2020s Movie Isn't Inside Out 2, Despite $1.7 Billion Box Office

Pixar’s Best 2020s Movie Isn’t Inside Out 2, Despite .7 Billion Box Office

Pixar has experienced a roller coaster six years. Widespread theatrical uncertainty in 2020 was followed by a stint on Disney+, but distribution woes aside, the inconsistency has surprised the most. Whereas Pixar was once famous for its ability to reliably produce one beloved hit after another, the 2020s have proven less predictable thanks to releases like Onward, Lightyear, and Elio.

On the other side of Pixar’s coin, there have still been huge success stories: the critical acclaim of Soul, the box office recovery of Elemental, and the complete domination of Inside Out 2, which soared to the tune of around $1.7 billion and somehow followed-up the untouchable 2015 original with something just as brilliant.

And, make no mistake, Inside Out 2 is a brilliant movie. Emotionally poignant, endlessly innovative, and with a painfully relatable depiction of anxiety, there isn’t much to fault in Pixar’s sequel. Even so, Inside Out 2 is not the best Pixar movie released in the 2020s.

Why Turning Red Is Pixar’s Best Movie From The Past 6 Years

Released in 2022, Domee Shi’s Turning Red fell somewhat under the radar compared to most Pixar movies, largely due to premiering on Disney+, but also by virtue of being a very atypical Pixar release. Eschewing the usual “what if X had feelings” format, Turning Red instead provides a hilarious and colorful depiction of puberty and growing up. Like Inside Out, but if the kid was actually the main character.

But Turning Red goes even bolder, adding a supernatural angle and mixing in a heavy dose of modern pop – all of which you’d normally not find in a Pixar feature. As such, Turning Red feels truly unique, and that becomes its biggest advantage over Inside Out 2. Great the latter may be, but it follows broadly the same beats and basic premise as its predecessor. Even with an older Riley, Inside Out 2 is more of the same, whereas Turning Red offers a truly one-off experience.

It’s not just originality that makes Turning Red great. Pixar’s trademark ability to make us cry is felt through Mei’s teenage friendships, tested by the shame of her red panda secret. There’s a strong sense of identity, both in Mei’s ancestry and the life she’s building for herself, and it’s a journey viewers of all ages and cultures can find familiarity in. With the addition of Mei’s transformation and the folklore-based mythology surrounding it, Turning Red also invites mystery, magic, and monsters.

That ancient-ness makes for a wonderful contrast with the modern life Mei is navigating – particularly her love for 4*Town, and that’s where Turning Red is elevated further. With a score by increasingly in-demand composer Ludwig Göransson and original songs from Billie Eilish, there’s a strong musical backbone to Turning Red that, again, pushes it beyond the realms of traditional Pixar.

The vivid characters, the striking visuals, the standout music, the melting pot of ideas – everything combines to make Turning Red a truly stunning experience.

2025’s Biggest Animated Movie Proves Turning Red Deserved Better

Mira, Rumi, and Zoey hugging each other in KPop Demon Hunters.

There was already an argument that Turning Red deserved a bigger and better reputation among Pixar’s repertoire, but 2025’s standout animated movie proved it. Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters took the entire world by storm, shattering records and becoming a true cultural phenomenon.

And while KPop Demon Hunters deserved all the acclaim that came its way, Turning Red fans would have been forgiven for feeling like they’d been there before. Rumi hiding her demon transformation mirrored Mei’s red panda, both films combined modern music with supernatural folklore, and each story ultimately rested upon a tight-knit friendship group determined to overcome individual adversity.

KPop Demon Hunters‘ wider selection of songs, neon visuals, and roots in K-Pop fandom gave it distinguishing features, but it remains an injustice that Pixar’s effort never got to experience the cultural impact KPop Demon Hunters enjoyed three years later, despite having a very similar premise.

With the benefit of hindsight, KPop Demon Hunters‘ success highlights how great Turning Red actually was, even compared to the massive critical and commercial hit Pixar had with Inside Out 2. The comparison confirms that, despite not getting enough attention at the time, Domee Shi’s movie is still Pixar‘s best release of the decade thus far.