Cars introduced Lightning McQueen before the Cars franchise continued with sequels.
The original Cars was released in 2006 and follows rookie race car Lightning McQueen after he becomes stranded in Radiator Springs. His enforced stay leads him to repair relationships, learn from Doc Hudson, and understand why the town matters to its residents.
Cars 2, released in 2011, shifts toward international espionage and makes Mater a major participant in the plot. Cars 3, released in 2017, returns to McQueen's racing career and focuses on the challenge posed by Jackson Storm and the mentorship of Cruz Ramirez.
Disney's Planes is related to the broader Cars setting but is not a Pixar Cars film. It was produced by DisneyToon Studios and released in 2013. That distinction matters because “Cars franchise” can refer narrowly to Pixar's three theatrical films or more broadly to connected Disney products, including shorts and television projects.