Why Pixar’s Cars Is Still So Popular 20 Years Later

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Published Jun 8, 2026, 9:00 PM EDT

Since 2019, Kevin Erdmann has been one of Screen Rant's Senior Staff Writers, covering all kinds of Superhero and Star Wars media with Easter egg breakdowns, theory pieces, breaking news, and more. A huge Star Wars & MCU fan, Kevin also loves Batman (because he's Batman), but could talk for hours about why Nightwing is DC's greatest hero.

With 8 years of total experience covering entertainment and pop culture, Kevin has gotten the chance to interview top creatives and talent, and has also attended major media events like Disney's D23 convention.

Majoring in Cinema Studies with a minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies from the UofO, Kevin lives in Oregon with his wonderful wife, adorable dog, and sinister cat who is no doubt currently plotting his demise.

Twenty years ago today, Pixar released Cars, one of the studio's most unique films, which has since become one of Disney's biggest and most enduring franchises. Released in 2006, Cars was Pixar's seventh feature film, following the first two Toy Story movies, A Bug's Life, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles.

While it might not be one of the most critically acclaimed Pixar movies, Cars' popularity has only increased over time. Featuring key messages about the importance of appreciating the journey as much as the destination and that success is often hollow with no one to share it with, Cars offers a dynamic story centered on the simple premise of a world inhabited by anthropomorphic vehicles rather than humans.

It's pretty remarkable to see just how far Cars has come as one of Disney and Pixar’s biggest success stories. Few animated franchises have maintained the same level of cultural relevance for so long, especially among younger generations who weren't even born when the movie first hit theaters (as a 30-year-old, I was 10 when the first movie was released). While the Cars franchise has, of course, expanded into a cultural powerhouse with sequels, shows, parks, and never-ending merchandise, it's worth looking back at the very first movie that started it all on its 20th anniversary.

Pixar Released Cars 20 Years Ago Today, Kicking Off One of Disney's Biggest Franchises

At its core, the first Cars movie succeeds due to the impressive execution of its foundational premise: what if cars and planes were also people? It's a genius idea in terms of world-building, one that kids can easily grasp in its most basic form, while leaving parents and older viewers endlessly speculating about how the mechanical anatomies, logistics, and infrastructure of this car-world running parallel to real life actually work.

Is a car or plane's brain where the driver/pilot would be, and if so, why do they still have doors if there are no humans? Is the world of Cars set in the far future, where all vehicles became sentient as the dominant species after humans went extinct? Sarge is a WWII jeep selling army surplus, so what was THAT like? Cars 2 features a car Pope riding in a popemobile, suggesting that Catholicism is real in this universe, which of course opens all kinds of wild implications that are legitimately so fun to talk about and debate.

Despite the universe of Cars becoming more and more bewildering the closer you look, the first movie in particular does provide a very solid story full of dimension, one that's centered on Owen Wilson's Lightning McQueen, a famous yet arrogant racecar and rookie sensation determined to win the Piston Cup and earn a coveted sponsorship. However, Lightning ends up getting lost on the way to the final race, finding himself in the charming small town of Radiator Springs on the forgotten Route 66.

Discovering new friends and relationships, Lightning's isolating and desperate attempts for fame and glory eventually pale as he learns to slow down and appreciate life with others, a story that's as heartwarming as it is fun (and interspersed with some great racing sequences).

Additionally, the movie also helped showcase the true beauty you'll never see on interstate highways. As a testament to how 2006's Cars resonated with audiences, even real-life forgotten destinations on Route 66 that served as inspiration for the movie received new life after Cars' release, mirroring Radiator Springs' own turnaround by the movie's end.

Cars also benefits from a cast of very fun and memorable characters beyond Lightning himself. Mater, Doc Hudson, Sally, Ramone, Luigi, and more all have distinct personalities, makes, and models. To that end, no retrospective on Cars' enduring popularity would be complete without noting its huge merchandising success. Even 20 years after release, Cars remains one of Disney's biggest merchandising cash cows.

Walk into any Target or Walmart, and you'll more than likely find plenty of licensed Cars toys sitting right next to the Hot Wheels. That's a pretty incredible achievement, and it's been reported that the Cars franchise netted Disney over $10 billion in merchandising sales within its first five years alone. Entire generations have grown up collecting die-cast versions of Lightning McQueen and Mater, with nearly every single car seen on-screen getting made into a toy at one point or another. After all, what's there for a kid not to love about talking cars with faces and eyes?

Cars Has Never Stopped Expanding Far Beyond The Original Movie

2006's Cars was only just the beginning for Disney and Pixar. Even 20 years later, the Cars franchise as a whole has never really faded from the public consciousness. The franchise has continued to expand, with two feature sequels, multiple shows, video games, and spin-offs (with even more on the way), not to mention an entire Cars-themed land perfectly modeled after Radiator Springs in Disney's California Adventure, featuring one of the most popular rides in the entire park.

While 2011's Cars 2 took the franchise in a bold spy adventure with Mater as the lead in a major creative pivot, 2017's Cars 3 returned to the more character-driven roots of the first film with Lightning McQueen eventually retiring from racing. While there's a range of opinions on both sequels, they both kept the franchise in the spotlight.

Pixar · Personality Profile Which Pixar Character Are You?

🤠 Woody The Loyal Leader

🐠 Dory The Free Spirit

⭐ Joy The Optimist

START THE ADVENTURE →

It’s a free Saturday with no plans. What are you doing?

AOrganizing a group hangout — someone’s gotta make sure everyone has a good time BWandering somewhere new — who knows what I’ll find! CMaking the most of every second — crafts, games, activities, GO!

Your best friend calls you in a panic — they’re lost and don’t know what to do. How do you react?

A“Don’t worry, we’ll figure this out! Think positive!” B“Stay put. I’m coming to get you. Nobody gets left behind.” C“Ooh, where are you? That sounds like an adventure!”

On a road trip with friends, what’s your role?

AThe one who missed the exit three times but found an amazing roadside diner BDJ, hype person, and snack distributor — this trip WILL be legendary CThe navigator with the itinerary — I planned rest stops and everything

Two of your friends are fighting. What do you do?

AStep in and mediate — I can’t stand seeing people I care about upset BAccidentally say something so random it defuses the whole situation CTry to cheer everyone up — group hug solves everything, right?

What does your ideal life look like?

AEvery single day filled with fun, laughter, and new experiences BGoing wherever the current takes me — no plans, just vibes CSurrounded by people who count on me — being needed is everything

Be honest — what’s your biggest flaw?

AI get distracted by literally everything — wait, what were we talking about? BI can be a little controlling — I just want things to go right! CI sometimes ignore the hard feelings because I just want everyone happy

Someone you love is feeling down. How do you help?

ARemind them of all the amazing things about their life until they smile BSit with them, listen, and promise I’m not going anywhere CDrag them on a spontaneous adventure to take their mind off things

How do you handle big, unexpected changes in your life?

AChange? What change? Oh look, something shiny! BI find the silver lining immediately — change means new possibilities! CI make a plan and try to keep everyone together through it

What are you most afraid of?

AThat the people I care about might not be happy BBeing replaced or forgotten by the people I love CI honestly can’t remember what I was afraid of…

What would your friends say is the best thing about you?

AI’d do anything for them — loyalty is everything to me BI make life more fun just by showing up CI help them see the bright side, even on their worst days

REVEAL MY CHARACTER →

Profile Complete Your Pixar Alter Ego

🤠

Woody

“You’re my favorite deputy.” You’re the one everyone turns to when things fall apart. Loyal to a fault, you’d cross the ocean — or a busy highway — for the people you love. You take responsibility seriously, sometimes too seriously, and you struggle to let go of control. But when it matters, nobody steps up like you do. You’re the steady hand, the voice of reason, and the friend who never, ever leaves someone behind.

Loyal Protective Dependable Selfless

🐠

Dory

“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming…” You live entirely in the present moment, and honestly? It’s kind of beautiful. You might forget the plan — or that there ever was a plan — but your open heart and fearless curiosity have a way of leading you exactly where you need to be. People underestimate you, but your resilience is unmatched. You find friends in the strangest places, and your optimism is genuinely contagious.

Adventurous Resilient Open-Hearted Spontaneous

⭐

Joy

“Do you ever look at someone and wonder — what is going on inside their head?” You are a radiant force of positivity who makes everyone around you feel like the best version of themselves. You throw yourself into making things wonderful — every moment is a chance for something magical. Your weakness? Sometimes you push so hard for happiness that you forget it’s okay to not be okay. But when you learn to embrace all the feelings, you become truly unstoppable.

Energetic Inspiring Passionate Empathetic

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While not produced by Pixar, there was also 2013's Planes spin-off set in the same Cars universe, not to mention all the various shows that have been released over the years like Mater's Tall Tales, Cars on the Road, and several animated shorts. There's even a Disney Junior series in development called Cars: Lightning Racers, which is set to begin streaming early next year, featuring a mix of classic characters like Owen Wilson's Lightning and Larry the Cable Guy's Mater, along with some brand-new car friends.

Across the board, Cars remains one of the few Pixar franchises that consistently seems to appeal to every new generation of children. Most kids naturally love cars, trucks, racing, and vehicles of all kinds, which has clearly given the franchise such an impressive evergreen quality two decades later. As such, it's really not that big of a surprise that 2006's Cars recently became my niece's favorite movie to watch on repeat just as much as Bluey (much to her uncle's great joy).