Cars 3 is the title of the third main Pixar film in the Cars franchise.
Released in 2017, Cars 3 follows Lightning McQueen as he faces a new generation of technologically advanced racers. Jackson Storm, a fast and highly optimized rookie, becomes the leading symbol of that change. McQueen must decide whether he can continue competing and what his future in racing should be.
The film returns the story to the emotional and competitive themes established in the first Cars. It also gives McQueen a mentoring relationship with Cruz Ramirez, whose abilities and ambitions become increasingly important. The movie was directed by Brian Fee, who had worked as a storyboard artist on earlier Pixar films.
Cars 3 is the latest released feature-length entry in the main Cars film series. The franchise also includes Cars 2, animated shorts, and the Disney+ series Cars on the Road, but those titles are separate from the numbered theatrical films.