Pixar’s movies are mostly known for one thing, making you uncontrollably ball your eyes out. Whether its about sentient toys, a realm of the dead, or a truly heartbreaking montage, Pixar knows how to make the audience feel emotions unparalleled to any other production company.
As a Disney company, Pixar’s movies are first and foremost aimed at kids, with vibrant and cartoonish characters in creative worlds, that sometimes mirror the real world. However, while their movies are for kids on the surface, every underlying theme is incredibly poignant thatmost adults will relate to and connect with it. But the magic of Pixar doesn’t stop there; these themes teach children valuable life lessons of loss, valuing our planet and ourselves, and that life doesn’t always go as expected.
Pixar has a special spice when it comes to their movies, and it’s very rare for a Pixar movie not to make you cry. With 26 feature films under their belt, and with many more to come, we have so many emotional moments we could choose from. So, grab your tissues, as we rank the most emotional moments in Pixar’s vast library of movies.
Related:Best Pixar Movies, Ranked
7Barley Says Goodbye to His Father - Onward
Onwardis one of Pixar’s funniest movies, with Tom Holland and Chris Pratt crushing the brotherly relationship in the film. However, at the heart of the film is an emotional and deeply impactful story that by the end, is guaranteed to make you shed a tear or two.
The main theme ofOnwardexplores family relationships and the loss of a loved one. The final sequence sees Ian and Barely Lightfoot restoring their fathers body, so they can speak with him once again, before the sun sets. Ian gives up his last and only chance to talk to his father for the first time, and instead allows Barley the opportunity to reunite with the father he once knew. Ian watches from a distance, as Barley and his father have a brief conversation, which the audience cannot hear. This is already emotional enough, and is sure to make most audience members cry, but what will undoubtedly make every one tear up while watching, is Ian’s realization that Barley has been the father figure that Ian has always wanted.
6Woody Becomes a Lost Toy - Toy Story 4
Most people were rightfully apprehensive to watchToy Story 4,especially after the perfect ending fromToy Story 3, which we will get to later. But there is no denying that the final sequence of the latestToy Storysequel, was incredibly emotional and heartwarming.
We have been with Woody ever since the firstToy Storyback in 1995, where we learned that he is a bit of a selfish character. But at the end of the day, he cares only for Andy and Bonnie. We have seen Woody demonstrate how much they both mean to him, but inToy Story 4, Woody finally learns to put himself first and his journey as someone’s toy is finally over. This is where we get one of the most heartwarming goodbyes in any animated feature. While yes, it is upsetting seeing Woody depart from Buzz, Jessie, Rex, and the rest of the gang, whatToy Story 4does best is find the joy in goodbyes, and states that not all goodbyes have to be upsetting.
5Hector is Almost Forgotten - Coco
The award-winning Pixar movieCoco,is sure to make you emotional multiple times throughout the movie. However, the final moment of the film is sure to make you cry more than any other. After escaping the realm of the dead, Miguel rushes to his great grandma Coco’s side before she passes, and the memory of her beloved father Hector is lost forever. Miguel then proceeds to play the song that Hector wrote for Coco when she was a little girl. This then causes Coco to remember and begin singing the song along with Miguel, allowing Hectors soul to pass through to the world of the living where he can spend forever with the family he has been longing for since his death.
4Bing Bong Disappears - Inside Out
Inside Outdeals with many emotional themes, which all culminate in a rather poignant and overall theme surrounding mental health. This already makesInside Outextremely emotional. Add Riley’s imaginary friend, who wants nothing more than for Riley to remember him again, sacrificing himself to save Joy in order to make Riley happy.
Joy and Bing Bongbecome trapped in the abyss of nothingness, and after a brief moment of panic, Bing Bong finds his magical saddle that can fly himself and Riley to the moon by singing the saddle' magical song. The two try tirelessly to escape the pit by singing the saddle’s song, but all the times they try, they fail. It isn’t long until Bing Bong realizes he must sacrifice himself to allow Joy to escape the empty abyss of nothingness, to save Riley and make her happy once again. This leads to Bing Bong’s tragic death as he utters his final words “Take her to the moon for me, okay?”.
Related:Why Inside Out is One of Pixar’s Best Movies
3Jessie’s Song - Toy Story 2
This scene in one ofPixar’s best sequelsis a heartbreaking moment that you won’t ever forget.Toy Story 2introduces a now fan-favorite character Jessie, who comes with a surprisingly emotional backstory, which we were definitely not ready for. Sporting one of the mostheartbreaking songs in any Disney movie, Jessie begins to reflect on her tragic past, and as soon as the music begins to play, the tears will come. We see Jessie go from being adored and unconditionally loved to being dumped and forgotten in the matter of seconds. There are almost no words to describe how emotional this montage is.
2Andy’s Goodbye - Toy Story 3
The ending ofToy Story 3was a perfect emotional ending to a fantastic trilogy. There isn’t more of a heartwarming ending to any Pixar movie, than the brilliant final moments ofToy Story 3.After spending three movies with the beloved sentient toys, we have grown attached to these characters and their journeys, which makes the end of their time with Andy so emotional that you are forced to shed a tear.
Andy is ready to give his toys away, but is reluctant to give Woody to Bonnie, because they were once best friends. Woody means so much to Andy, which is evident in the final moments of the film. Eventually, Andy hands Woody to Bonnie, which is undeniably devastating, and the weight we feel in this scene as Andy moves on with the next chapter in his life, is crushing. The final cherry on top of this emotional scene is when Woody utters “So long partner” and if you weren’t already tearing up at the scene, Woody’s final remark is sure to tip you over the edge.
1Married Life - Up
Up’s infamous montage is the epitome of emotional Pixar moments, and no matter how many times you watch this heart-wrenching scene, you’ll still be forced to hold back those tears. This montage is nothing short of an emotional rollercoaster, and without even a single word, you will smile, you will laugh, and you will eventually cry your heart out, in this masterful five-minute montage.
Set to the Award-winning score by composer Michael Giacchino, we go on a journey through the married life ofCarl and Ellie. The scene details their marriage, decorating their house, and sadly up until Carl and Ellie fail to start a family, all before Ellie’s emotional death. We get to witness the joys of their married life, all before a somber turn, and the tragedy of marriage and losing a loved one is beautifully, carefully, and devastatingly illustrated, forcing every adult audience member try their very hardest to fight back the tears.
