Cars 3 is the third feature-length movie in Pixar’s Cars series.
The film was released in 2017 and continues Lightning McQueen’s story after the international events of Cars 2. Its plot returns more strongly to American stock-car racing, focusing on Lightning’s struggle against faster next-generation competitors. Brian Fee directed the film, making his feature directorial debut after working in story and visual development at Pixar.
The Cars franchise also includes the original Cars from 2006 and Cars 2 from 2011. Short-form projects such as Cars Toon and the Disney+ series Cars on the Road are related to the franchise but are not feature-length theatrical films. That distinction makes Cars 3 the third feature film rather than simply the third major Cars screen production. The movie also shifts Lightning toward a mentor role, especially through his relationship with Cruz Ramirez.