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Cars Movies In Order [What order do you watch cars in]

in what order should i watch Cars movies

The Cars Series takes you to an Anthropomorphic world without people and is filled with machines that run themselves.

The series tells you the story of a Lightning Mcqueen who wants to become the fastest car in the world. Here is the list of all Cars movies in order of release

  1. Cars (2006)
  2. Cars 2 (2011)
  3. Planes (2013)
  4. Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014)
  5. Cars 3 (2017)

About Cars Movie Series

Started in 2006, The Cars Franchise is now one of the most popular franchises ever from Pixar Animation and has grossed a profit of over $1 billion worldwide.

The series tells you an epic story of a fictional world where machines can talk.

Cars movies are filled with Romance, friendship, and a fantastic story filled with Suspense and Adventure.

Cars series is the answer if you are looking for films that you can watch with your entire family that involves small kids.

list of all Cars movies in order of release

Cars Movies In Order: How To Watch Cars Movies?

The cars series started in 2006 with the first Installment Cars, and till now, the franchise has released three main movies and two spinoff films. The first movie introduces you to the plot and Lightning Mcqueen’s main character, A hotshot car whose only dream is to become the fastest car in the world. 

Is Cars Movies Connected?

All the cars movies are connected in terms of Characters and their relation with the Lightning Mcqueen. Many Instances involves a connection with the events in the previous film. Besides, there are television series and shorts films that further explore the Anthropomorphic world that require you to watch car movies before watching them.

What order do you watch cars in?

You can watch cars movies as Standalone if you want to! But the best way to watch cars movies is to watch them in order of release to understand the background of all the characters and the story better. Here is the list of all cars movies in order of release, aka the best order to watch cars movies.

Cars (2006)

  • Directors: John Lasseter, Joe Ranft (co-director)
  • Stars: Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt, Paul Newman
  • Written By: John Lasseter, Dan Fogelman, Joe Ranft, Kiel Murray, Phil Lorin, Jorgen Klubien
  • Runtime: 116 minutes

Cars 2 (2011)

  • Directors:- John Lasseter, Joe Ranft (co-director)
  • Stars:- Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt, Paul Newman
  • Written By: Kiel Murray, Bob Peterson, Mike Rich
  • Runtime: 109 minutes

Cars 3 (2017)

  • Director: Brian Fee
  • Stars: Owen Wilson, Cristela Alonzo, Chris Cooper
  • Written By: John Lasseter, Dan Fogelman, Ben Queen
  • Runtime: 112 minutes

Planes (2013) – Spinoff

  • Director: Klay Hall 
  • Stars: Carlos Alazraqui, Dane Cook, Stacy Keach, Brad Garrett
  • Writer: Jeffrey M. Howard
  • Runtime: 1h 32m

Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014) – Spinoff

  • Director: Roberts Gannaway 
  • Stars: Dane Cook, Ed Harris, Julie Bowen, Curtis Armstrong
  • Writer: Bobs Gannaway, Jeffrey M. Howard
  • Runtime: 1h 23m
A still from Cars (2006). it is the first movie in the list of cars movies in order of release
Edited Still from Cars Film | All credit goes to Pixar Animation

Cars (2006)

The movie starts with the last Race of Prison Camp Championship and a tie between The King, Chick Hicks, and Lightening McQueen, and now three of them have to prepare for a Tiebreaker Race in California.

McQueen decides to go to California and practice before the match but ends up in Radiator Springs’ run-down desert town. Here Macqueen makes a lot of friends and learns about Hodson Hornet.

On the day of the Race, McQueen cannot concentrate and falls at the last place, but when all of his friends from Radiator Springs encourages, McQueen Rises to the final lap.

A still from Cars 2 (2011). it is the second movie in the list of cars movies in order of release
Edited Still from Cars Film | All credit goes to Pixar Animation

Cars 2 (2011)

The movie starts with Fin Mcmissile infiltrating into an oil Rig to rescue his fellow spy. Lightning McQueen has now become four times Piston Cup Champion. When Francesco Bernoulli challenges McQueen for a race in Grand Prix Tokyo, McQueen accepts the challenge and departs for Tokyo with his friends.

The easy to win looking Race turns the Toughest for McQueen when his friend Mater learns that criminals spy on the Race and they intend to Destroy all the cars participating in the Race.

A still from Planes (2013). it is the third movie in the list of cars movies in order of release
Edited Still from Cars Film | All credit goes to Pixar Animation

Planes (2013)

This movie is the first spin-off in the series that focuses on Dusty (small-town plane). This movie sets the Adventure of Dusty in which he lives his dream of competing as a high-flying air racer from being a Plane who is not meant for racing.

A still from Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014). it is the third movie in the list of cars movies in order of release
Edited Still from Cars Film | All credit goes to Pixar Animation

Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014)

This movie is the second spin-off in the series that continues the saga of Dusty. The film starts with Dusty learning that his Engine is Damaged and now he won’t be able to race further. He joins the rescue unit of Piston Peak National Park to become a Firefighter.

Dusty starts his new adventure with his new friend’s Blade Ranger, Lil’ Dipper, Windlifter, Cabbie, and the Smokejumpers.

A still from Cars 3 (2017). it is the third movie in the list of cars movies in order of release
Edited Still from Cars Film | All credit goes to Pixar Animation

Cars 3 2017

The movie starts with the Piston Cup’s final race where McQueen Crashes while trying to overtake Jackson Storm(next-generation rookie). McQueen is recovering in Radiator and is watching the footage of Hudson.

Encouraged by Sally, McQueen decides to participate again in the race but learns that his sponsors have sold the team to sterling. McQueen is finding it difficult to adapt his trainer’s advice to retire.

Finally, McQueen makes a deal that if he wins the first race, he can continue racing for as long as he wants.
In the first race, McQueen has to prove to himself that he is still the best car.

Cars Universe: All Cars Movies, Spinoffs, Television series, and short films in chronological order

Cars 3 is the latest Installment in the cars Universe. Besides three main movies and spinoffs, the franchise has developed short films and television series that tell the Anthropomorphic world’s saga.

Here is the list of All Cars Movies, Spinoffs, Television series, and short films in the cars universe in the order of release. If you wish to watch the entire Cars universe then, here is the order that you should follow.

  1. Cars (2006) – Movie
  2. Mater and the Ghostlight (2006) – Short film
  3. Cars 2 (2011) – Movie
  4. Cars Toons: Mater’s Tall Tales (2008–12) – Television Series
  5. Planes (2013) – Spinoff Movie
  6. Cars Toons: Tales from Radiator Springs (2013–14) – Television Series
  7. Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014) – Spinoff Movie
  8. Vitaminamulch: Air Spectacular (2014) – Shorts film
  9. Cars 3 (2017) – Movie
  10. Miss Fritter’s Racing Skoool (2017) – Shorts film
  11. Dancing with the Cars (2021) – Short film airing on January 22, 2021
  12. Unparalleled Parking (2021) – Short film airing on January 22, 2021
  13. Untitled Lightning McQueen and Mater series (2022) Announced on December 10, 2020

Cars Movies Ranked From Worst to Best

Cars movies are viral worldwide, especially in kids, but out of all the cars’ prominent films and Spinoffs, which cars movie is the best? Here in this section, I have ranked all the cars movies from worst to best based on Audience Ratings on IMDb.

Cars MoviesRatings on IMDb
Planes (2013)5.7/10
Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014)6/10
Cars 2 (2011)6.1/10
Cars 3 (2017)6.7/10
Cars (2006)7/10

Other Animation film Series Like Cars

Conclusion

Created by Pixar Animation Cars series is one of the most successful Animation franchises ever. The series is set in a fictional world where vehicles and machines talk and live like human beings.

The series revolves around the Car red hotshot car Lightning Mcqueen and three main movies in the series tell the story of three events of Race, where Mcqueen proves himself that he is the fastest Car.

Here in this article, I have listed all the cars’ movies in order of release. Aka the order, you should follow to watch the series. Besides, I have also listed all short films, movies, and television series in order of their release for you to watch them by the story.

If you still have any other questions, then do let me know in the comments

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