Rotten Tomatoes
Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Cars

Play trailer 1:01 Poster for Cars G 2006 1h 57m Kids & Family Comedy Adventure Animation Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
75% Tomatometer 201 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
While traveling to California to race The King and Chick Hicks in the Piston Cup Championship, Lightning McQueen falls out of his trailer and winds up in a run-down town called Radiator Springs. He slowly befriends the town's odd residents, including Sally, Doc Hudson and Mater. When it comes time for him to leave, the championship is no longer his top priority.
Watch on Fandango Stream Now

Where to Watch

Cars

Cars

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Cars offers visual treats that more than compensate for its somewhat thinly written story, adding up to a satisfying diversion for younger viewers.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Steven D. Greydanus Decent Films Oct 29, 2008
B+
Cars is Pixar's most improbable success to date, a film that could easily have misfired, but somehow does not. Go to Full Review
Peter Bradshaw Guardian Jul 29, 2006
2/5
Smooth, but bland and forgettable. Go to Full Review
Olly Richards Empire Magazine Jul 28, 2006
3/5
Judged against previous form, this is not Pixar firing on all cylinders, lacking the sophisticated comedy we've come to expect. Judged against fare from other studios, however, it's a triumph. Go to Full Review
Griffin Schiller FilmSpeak (Youtube) Sep 14, 2026
Cars deserves far more credit than it gets. Beneath the talking vehicles and familiar sports-movie structure is a surprisingly insightful film about how the American heartland has been failed by the very system that once allowed it to prosper. Go to Full Review
Gissane Sophia Lady Geeks Media Sep 4, 2026
4.5/5
From the voice acting to the unforgettable animation, everything about Cars shines even more vibrantly today. Go to Full Review
Lane Mills InSession Film Jun 11, 2026
A
Cars remains a weird, almost unimaginable turn of events for Pixar, even 20 years later; but it also remains my favorite of the bunch and, in the eyes of many, a crucial part of the company’s historic early run. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Porky Sep 8, 2026 10/10 Absolute cinema. See more Kirsten S. Sep 8, 2026 Its a classic. Must watch! My family and I enjoyed it! See more Daniel Pimienta Sep 18, 2022 Watched it with friends who also grew up with Cars. Great time. See more easton W @daddye 1 day ago Cars is the greatest movie of all time because it has everything a great movie needs: comedy, action, memorable characters, and a meaningful story. Lightning McQueen starts off as a selfish race car who only cares about winning the Piston Cup and becoming famous. However, after getting stuck in Radiator Springs, he meets Mater, Doc Hudson, Sally, and the rest of the town. They teach him that there is more to life than racing and being the best. Lightning changes and becomes a better person. He learns the importance of friendship, helping others, and enjoying the people around him. The movie also has some of the funniest characters and most memorable moments in Pixar. By the end, Lightning realizes that winning is not everything and that being a good person matters more than having a trophy. Cars is more than just a movie about race cars. It is funny, exciting, emotional, and has a message that people can relate to. That combination is what makes Cars the greatest movie of all time. See more Scotland H @Sdog2016 1 day ago Cars is more than a movie about talking race cars—it is a story about life, friendship, and learning what truly matters. Lightning McQueen begins as a selfish, ambitious racer who believes winning is everything. He only cares about fame, trophies, and being the fastest. At first, Lightning sees the town as boring and useless. But as he meets Mater, Sally, Doc Hudson, and the rest of the town, his attitude slowly changes. He discovers friendship, kindness, and the beauty of slowing down. trophies and fame do not last forever, but the people you care about do. realizes that winning is not everything. That is what makes Cars so special. It is funny, emotional, visually beautiful, and filled with unforgettable characters. Its message is simple but powerful: sometimes you have to slow down to appreciate the journey. Cars makes you laugh, feel nostalgic, and care about a world made entirely of automobiles. It is a movie about racing that ultimately teaches us when to stop. Ka-chow. See more Xander H @RT84232924 3 days ago The RealD 3D version was even better. The whole thing popped out. 😃 See more Read all reviews
Cars

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING
Finding Nemo 99% 86% Finding Nemo Watchlist TRAILER for Finding Nemo A Bug's Life 92% 73% A Bug's Life Watchlist TRAILER for A Bug's Life Cars 3 70% 69% Cars 3 Watchlist TRAILER for Cars 3 Meet the Robinsons 68% 74% Meet the Robinsons Watchlist Cars 2 40% 50% Cars 2 Watchlist TRAILER for Cars 2 Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis While traveling to California to race The King and Chick Hicks in the Piston Cup Championship, Lightning McQueen falls out of his trailer and winds up in a run-down town called Radiator Springs. He slowly befriends the town's odd residents, including Sally, Doc Hudson and Mater. When it comes time for him to leave, the championship is no longer his top priority.
Director
John Lasseter, Joe Ranft
Producer
Darla K. Anderson
Screenwriter
Dan Fogelman, Daniel Gerson, Kiel Murray, Phil Lorin, Jørgen Klubien
Distributor
Disney/Pixar
Production Co
Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures
Rating
G
Genre
Kids & Family, Comedy, Adventure, Animation
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 9, 2006, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Sep 4, 2026
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$11.1M
Runtime
1h 57m
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings