Three theatrical Pixar Cars feature films had been released by 2017.
The series consists of Cars, released in 2006; Cars 2, released in 2011; and Cars 3, released in 2017. Together, these films form the main theatrical feature-film trilogy centered on Lightning McQueen and the wider automotive world of Radiator Springs.
The franchise also includes short films, video games, theme-park attractions, merchandise, and television productions. Those related projects do not add to the count of theatrical feature films. For example, Cars Toons: Mater’s Tall Tales is a series of animated shorts, while Cars on the Road is a Disney+ series that premiered in 2022.
The films differ in focus. Cars is a road-trip story about community, Cars 2 is an international spy adventure, and Cars 3 returns to competitive racing and mentorship. Counting only theatrical Pixar feature films avoids confusing the trilogy with the broader Cars franchise.