Pixar’s first Cars film was released in 2006.
Cars was directed by John Lasseter, who also co-directed Toy Story and A Bug’s Life. The film follows Lightning McQueen, a rookie race car who becomes stranded near the fading town of Radiator Springs while traveling to the Piston Cup finale. Its story combines motor racing with themes of friendship, humility, and the changing American roadside.
The movie was Pixar’s seventh feature-length animated film. It opened in the United States and Canada on June 9, 2006, and became a major commercial success. The production also launched a large franchise of sequels, toys, games, shorts, and themed attractions.
The release year is sometimes confused with the years of the sequels. Cars 2 followed in 2011, while Cars 3 arrived in 2017. The earlier release date also places Cars after The Incredibles and before Ratatouille in Pixar’s feature-film chronology.