Cars introduced the Pixar Cars franchise in 2006.
The film follows Lightning McQueen, a rookie race car who accidentally damages the road in Radiator Springs while trying to reach a championship race. A court order forces him to repair the road, giving him time to form relationships with the town's residents.
Cars was Pixar's first feature directed by John Lasseter after Toy Story 2 and was the studio's seventh feature overall. Its setting expanded Pixar's storytelling into a world populated entirely by vehicles, with cars serving as characters, families, workers, racers, and local communities.
The movie became the starting point for two theatrical sequels, Cars 2 in 2011 and Cars 3 in 2017. It also led to short films, television programming, merchandise, and attractions. The first film remains the foundation for the franchise's characters, locations, and fictional racing culture.