Dec. 11, 2025
The Magic of Disney Pixar Movies
There is something genuinely special about Disney Pixar movies. They are bright and funny and endlessly rewatchable, but they also sneak up and hit you right in the chest with emotional honesty you never saw coming. As a bloke who hosts a movie podcast and still gets teary watching animated characters process their feelings, I have no shame in saying this: Pixar gets me every time.
Over the years, I have watched every Pixar release, some in cinemas, some on dodgy DVDs when that was still a thing, and now with my kids, who are seeing these worlds for the first time. What I love about the very best Pixar films is that they do not just entertain, they grow with you. They mean one thing when you are young and something completely different when you are older and have lived a bit.
So today, I want to break down five of the best Disney Pixar movies ever made, and, more importantly, what they mean to me. These are not just animated films; they are emotional landmarks that stick with you long after the credits roll.
The Heart and Humour of Early Pixar
Monsters, Inc. is one of those Disney Pixar movies that gets better every time you watch it, which is lucky for me, since I have seen it at least 50 times thanks to my daughter. What started as a fun dad-and-daughter movie night tradition has slowly revealed itself as one of Pixar’s richest stories.
The world-building is next level. Monstropolis feels lived-in and logical in its own bizarre way, and the idea that a city runs on children’s laughter rather than fear is still one of Pixar’s most brilliant concepts. Sulley and Mike remain one of the best animated duos ever put on screen. The comedy lands every time, the emotional beats sit right in that perfect Pixar pocket, and Boo, well, she gets me in the soft spots.
Watching it with my daughter has also changed the way I see the film. Seeing her laugh at Mike’s chaos and gasp at Randall’s sneakiness reminds me how important these stories are for kids, but also how beautiful they are for adults who have forgotten how to see things with that kind of wonder. Monsters, Inc. is a reminder that even the scariest things in life can become joyful once you understand them.
Where the Pixar Legacy Began
Toy Story is not just another film; it is the film. The origin point. The spark that lit the fuse for everything Pixar would go on to do. When Toy Story came out, nobody had ever seen anything like it. Fully 3D animated characters that felt alive, funny, flawed, relatable, and deeply human. Woody and Buzz are as recognisable as any characters in cinema history, and their first adventure still holds up perfectly today.
What gets me about Toy Story now is not just the nostalgia, though it is definitely there, but how clever and layered the storytelling actually is. Woody is insecure and jealous, Buzz is delusional and noble, and somehow it all comes together into a buddy comedy that still defines the genre.
Toy Story reminds me why I fell in love with movies in the first place. It is clever, warm, emotional, and genuinely groundbreaking without ever needing to brag. Out of all the great Disney Pixar movies, this is the one that made the world stop and say, “Yep, animation just changed forever.”
An Aussie Pixar Classic That Still Makes Me Smile
Finding Nemo has a special place in the Pixar universe, but also in the hearts of every Australian who has ever watched a fish with an American accent swim through Sydney Harbour. As one of the very few Disney Pixar movies set in Australia, it feels like a tiny cinematic gift just for us. The seagulls yelling “Mine!” is basically part of our national vocabulary now.
Beyond the Aussie pride, though, this film is pure heart. Marlin’s journey to find his son is simple, emotional, and beautifully told. The underwater world is stunning, and the pacing is Pixar perfection. Dory is one of the greatest side characters ever created. There is adventure, humour, and a message about letting go and trusting the people you love that hits harder than you’d expect.
Every time I watch Finding Nemo, I am reminded of the first time I saw it and how it made the entire cinema laugh. That is Pixar magic at work.
The Cryometer Nearly Exploded
Inside Out hit me harder than I expected. Pixar has always been great at playing the emotional game, but this movie operates on a completely different level. It explains childhood emotions better than most adults can. It unpacks memory, growth, sadness, and joy with absolute brilliance. And yes, on the official Born to Watch Cryometer, this one landed at a very strong 97%.
What I love most is how respectfully it treats kids. It never talks down to them. It never simplifies emotions in a way that feels fake. Instead, it turns the mess of growing up into something understandable. Joy trying to control everything, Sadness becoming unexpectedly essential, Bing Bong breaking every adult heart in the room, it is all beautifully crafted.
Inside Out proves Pixar is not just good at making children laugh. They are incredible at helping adults understand themselves.
A Masterpiece About Creativity, Courage and, Yes, a Cooking Rat
Ratatouille is one of those Disney Pixar movies that sounds ridiculous when you describe it. A rat becomes a gourmet chef in Paris and controls a human by pulling his hair. It should not work. It absolutely should. But somehow Pixar made it feel magical, believable, and emotionally powerful.
This movie is a love letter to creativity, taking risks, and trusting yourself. The food animation is still mouth-watering, the character arcs hit perfectly, and Anton Ego’s final speech is one of the best monologues Pixar has ever written. Remy is determined and brave, Linguini is hopeless but charming, and the whole thing comes together perfectly.
And let us be honest, none of us would ever knowingly eat something cooked by a rat, but Pixar makes you think, “Yeah, alright, give the little guy a chance.”
Why These Disney Pixar Movies Still Matter
The reason these films stand out is simple. Pixar does not just make animated movies; they make stories that stay with you. Whether you watch them as a kid, a parent, or a nostalgic film nerd, they hit you exactly where you are in life.
For me, these five movies represent the best of what Pixar can do. They remind me of childhood, becoming a dad, late-night movie sessions, and why I love this art form.
Disney Pixar movies are not kids’ films. They are timeless stories that continue to grow with their audience. And just like the best cinema, they stay with you long after you shut the laptop or switch off Disney Plus.
The Video Shop Owner
Matt White, affectionately known as "Whitey" on the "Born to Watch" podcast, epitomises a cinematic sage. Classics like Star Wars, Jaws, and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory sparked his passion for film at a tender age. These films not only captivated him but also moulded his path in life. While briefly flirting with creative arts himself, Matt soon realised his true calling was not in starring in or producing movies but in sharing them. This realisation led him to his true vocation as the guiding light for others’ film explorations.
Taking this passion to a professional level, Matt once owned a video rental store, turning a simple business into a thriving hub for movie enthusiasts. There, he did more than rent out films; he curated cinematic experiences. His shop became a local cornerstone where he imparted his vast knowledge, enthusiastically recommending films that catered to his customers' unique tastes.
Beyond the counters of his now-closed store, Matt's joy in movies is most vividly seen at home. Watching films with his kids, he delights in their reactions, finding profound satisfaction in passing on his love for movies to the next generation. On "Born to Watch," Whitey is more than a host; he’s a mentor, sharing his passion project with listeners and inviting them to join him on a journey through the world of film.
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