Overview
A race car's journey leads to unexpected friendships and life lessons in a small town.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- warm
- nostalgic
- family movie night
- road trip nostalgia
What critics said
Critics broadly found the Pixar animation visually inventive and emotionally appealing, while considering the story thinner and more familiar than the studio's strongest work.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Radiator Springs and its Route 66 identity anchor the film's contrast between old road culture and modern speed.
Lightning McQueen's stay in Radiator Springs changes his understanding of what it means to be a winner.
The entire cast is composed of expressive cars whose design, movement, and voice performance create character identity.
Lightning's race-driven ambition is set against the slower rhythms and communal life of Radiator Springs.
Films like Cars, and why
Toy Story
family-friendly animated comedy combining anthropomorphic characters, competition, friendship, and personal growth
The Incredibles
Pixar animation with a self-centered protagonist transformed by an unlikely community and heartfelt relationships
The Bad Guys
vivid animated sports comedy centered on rivalry, ambition, teamwork, and learning humility
Movie Details
- Director
- John Lasseter
- Release Date
- 2006-06-08
- Runtime
- 117 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (15577)
Cast
- Owen Wilson
- Paul Newman
- Bonnie Hunt
- Larry the Cable Guy
- Cheech Marin
- Tony Shalhoub
- Guido Quaroni
- Jenifer Lewis
- Paul Dooley
- Michael Wallis
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Disney Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Cars about?
- A vain young race car discovers that genuine victory comes from friendship, humility, and belonging in a forgotten Route 66 town.
- What is Cars like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Cars as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Cars violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Cars.
- What did critics think of Cars?
- Critics broadly found the Pixar animation visually inventive and emotionally appealing, while considering the story thinner and more familiar than the studio's strongest work.
- Which films are like Cars?
- Films with a similar feel include Toy Story, The Incredibles, and The Bad Guys.
- How long is Cars?
- Cars runs 117 minutes.
- Where can I watch Cars?
- In United States, Cars streams on Disney Plus.
