Pixar is known and beloved for its film series and duos, such as Monsters Inc. and The Incredibles, and especially Toy Story. However, the company also has a long history of successful and acclaimed standalone entries, many of which are beloved by fans. Sometimes, a film believed to be standalone can receive a sequel after years, most notable with Incredibles 2 coming 14 years after The Incredibles.
For some of the standalone films in Pixar's catalog, this should happen, and such a movie would be beloved by viewers. Others, however, work so well as standalone that a sequel seems unnecessary, and may even outrage fans if a single addition is made to the film's canon.
10 Should: Inside Out Comes With A Natural Sequel Hook
Inside Out won critical acclaim for its thorough and sensitive examination of the inner psychology of a preadolescent girl, in such a way that children her age and even younger could understand, while also being engaging to an older audience. At the end of the film, as the main character Riley turns 12, there is a joke about the emotions inside of her reacting to an option for "puberty".
Despite being a joke, this represents a perfect set-up for a sequel. Puberty is one of the hardest times emotionally for a person to go through, and an Inside Out 2 could go a long way towards helping people of that age understand what is going on, while also creating another compelling story.
9 Shouldn't: Ratatouille Could Never Top The First Film's Ending
Ratatouille is one of the most acclaimed films Pixar has ever released, considered one of the greatest motion pictures of the 21st century by critics. Its ending, before the restaurant is shut down and the main characters open a small bistro, has antagonistic food critic Anton Ego give a speech about the nature of a critic, and the true bravery it takes for one to champion something new.
This speech forms the culmination of the themes of the film and gives an impressive amount of depth to an antagonist in a very short amount of time. A sequel could doubtless create fun and amusing adventures with its unique "rat controlling a man" brand of physical comedy, but in terms of depth it would simply never live up to the first film.
8 Should: Brave Leaves Merida's Future Wide Open
Brave ends on a relatively complete note, with the clans of Scotland agreeing that their firstborns should be allowed to make their own decisions regarding who they marry and when, and with Queen Ellinor mending her feud with Princess Merida and becoming human once more.
However, its ending does still leave Merida's whole life to tell. A sequel could have her becoming queen in her own right, and explore her hard-won freedom to marry on her own terms - or even explore the growing trend of non-nuclear families by having her continue to choose not to marry.
7 Shouldn't: Up Ends On The Perfect Note
Up is a consistently poignant movie, following an elderly man named Carl Frederickstein as he attempts to fulfill the life goals of both himself and his late wife, following her passing. Along the way, Carl meets and bonds with a lonely boy named Russel, and comes face to face with his once-idol, Charles Muntz.
The film ends with Carl never making it to Paradise Falls, like him and his late wife wanted, but instead he finds new meaning in life acting as a grandfatherly figure to Russel and giving the boy a stable adult presence in life. Furthermore, the film's flying house does reach Paradise Falls, ultimately achieving the goals of Carl and Ellie. Ultimately, there is simply no story left to tell.
6 Should: Luca Could Explore Other Forms Of Discrimination
Throughout Luca, the hidden Sea Monster nature of the title character and his friend, Alberto, is used as a metaphor for 'otherness', and traits that people may use as the basis for prejudice or discrimination. At the film's ending, the townsfolk rally behind Luca and stop bully Ercole from hurting Luca and Alberto. Following this, Luca leaves with his friend Giulia to attend human school.
While a happy ending, a sequel could explore the potential implications of this. Discrimination takes many forms other than simply physically harming people, and Luca could run into difficulties in the wider world outside of the small town of Portorosso. Furthermore, a sequel could devote more time to exploring Luca and Giulia's friendship.
5 Shouldn't: A Bug's Life Fully Illustrates Its Themes
Pixar's sophomore attempt A Bug's Life shows radical inventor ant Klik helping his people overcome the oppression of the domineering grasshoppers, who extort the ants for food and eventually plan to brutally take over the colony.
Through the film, the villains are defeated, Klik gains the respect of those in his colony, and the film makes its point about the power workers have against those in power. There's not really any progression for the themes, and a sequel would need to invent wholly new problems and messages
4 Should: Onward Ends Ripe For Future Conflicts
Onward tells the story of two Elf brothers attempting to resurrect their father for a single day, in a world that was once full of magic and adventure but has now become mundane and technology-driven, despite being inhabited by mythical creatures.
After the film's final threat is dealt with, its denouement has Ian and Barley prepare to set out on a quest, while the world begins to rediscover magic. Although the quest is likely inconsequential, a sequel following the dangers and possibilities of a world rediscovering lost power could be gripping.
3 Shouldn't: Coco Perfectly Resolves Its Conflicts
Throughout Coco, there are two main conflicts. The more immediate is that protagonist Miguel is stuck in the Land of the Dead, and risks having to stay there permanently if he stays past sunrise. The other is his family's hatred of music, despite Miguel's secret love of it.
The two are interwoven perfectly through the film, and it is only in resolving the latter that Miguel is able to return home in a truly happy fashion. With both conflicts resolved so well, any sequel would just feel like it was grasping at straws for more to happen to Miguel.
2 Should: A WALL-E Sequel Would Resonate Even More
WALL-E is a similarly acclaimed movie, telling of humans and robots working together to save an Earth that was long thought unsalvageable. The first film ends with them touching down on Earth, ready to rebuild, and the credits show them working together to turn the planet back into a paradise.
A sequel could go one of two ways, either giving focus to events within the credits scene to show how humans and robots rebuilt the planet, or showing a hundred years later, with the characters trying to protect the paradise against the threat of more pollution. With WALL-E and EVE both being robots, they could well be alive in either possibility, and either would be relevant in current times with ongoing struggles with climate change that have only intensified since the first film's release.
1 Shouldn't: Soul Begins Another Story, But Not One Audiences Need To See
Soul is one of the few Pixar movies to end on a truly unambiguously happy note, with unborn soul 22 finally achieving a desire to live, and formerly deceased jazz musician Joe being offered another chance at life in gratitude. As a result, he pledges to stop being so wistful and dissatisfied in life and to enjoy everything about it.
While this does open a new journey for both him and 22, it's not one that should be explored in a sequel. The two have earned their happy endings, and to pile conflict and unhappiness on them in another film would be to cheapen Soul.