20 Years Later, Pixar's $461M Franchise-Starting Hit Returns to Theaters - MCE Notices | California State Portal

Pixar’s Cars will perfectly celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2026. Disney Pixar has confirmed that the original 2006 animated movie Cars will return to theaters this September.

That means it’s going to be a big couple of months for Pixar fans. Cars is returning to theaters just a few months after Toy Story 5 opens in theaters.

Cars Returns to Theaters for its 20th Anniversary

Cars is about Lightning McQueen, a hotshot rookie race car driven to succeed who discovers that life is about the journey, not the finish line, when he finds himself unexpectedly detoured in the sleepy Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. On route across the country to the big Piston Cup Championship in California to compete against two seasoned pros, McQueen gets to know the town’s offbeat characters.

Pixar legend John Lasseter directed Cars, from a screenplay he co-wrote with Joe Ranft, Dan Fogelman, Kiel Murray, Phil Lorin and Jorgen Klubien. Cars‘ voice cast includes Paul Newman, Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt, Larry the Cable Guy, Tony Shalhoub, Cheech Marin, Michael Wallis, George Carlin, Paul Dooley, Jenifer Lewis, Guido Quaroni, Michael Keaton, Katherine Helmond, John Ratzenberger, and Richard Petty.

Cars Launched a Pixar Franchise

Image via Disney

Cars was a success for Pixar when it opened in 2006. Made on a $120 million budget, Cars earned $462 million at the box office and led to plenty of related merchandise sales.

Cars was also a critical hit. On Rotten Tomatoes, the animated adventure boasts a 76% “certified fresh” critics score, with a consensus that says, “Cars offers visual treats that more than compensate for its somewhat thinly written story, adding up to a satisfying diversion for younger viewers.” Rotten Tomatoes users liked Cars even more, awarding it an 80% positive score.

Cars proved successful enough to become the cornerstone of a new franchise. Cars 2 followed in 2011, and Cars 3 in 2017. There have also been multiple Cars television series, and the spinoff film and TV franchise Planes.

Fans are still holding out hope for more installments of the Cars franchise. Jay Ward, creative director of the franchise, addressed the idea in 2023, saying, “There are more Cars things brewing, I can’t say much more yet. Cars has got a life that will keep going. I am working on some real fun projects right now that you will see in a couple of years. It takes us a while to make them.”

Producer Kevin Reher was addressing the idea of Cars 4 as early as 2017, around the time of Cars 3‘s release. “As long as there’s a good story to tell, it’s worth investing. We do love these characters, we love them as much as the public does.”

Cars returns to theatres for its 20th anniversary in September.