Kachow. Speed, I am speed. Like tuh-mater, but without the tuh.

Adult or child, most people will know exactly where those quotes come from.

As of June 9th, 2026, the Pixar animated film Cars is officially 20 years old.

If that makes you feel old, you’re not the only one. I was a child when this movie came out, but somehow two decades have passed. 

Unlike me, though, Cars has barely aged a day. The only giveaway that perhaps the film is a little older is the aspect ratio.

The animated movie, released during what could be considered Pixar’s Golden Era between The Incredibles and Ratatouille, follows big-time race car, Lightning McQueen, after he becomes stranded in the small town of Radiator Springs. It’s a simple premise, as it is with many children’s movies, but it features a stellar voice cast and an even better soundtrack. 

Formula 1 legends Michael Schumacher and Mario Andretti feature, as do NASCAR greats Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Darrell Waltrip. Even Lewis Hamilton has a part in the second and third films (but let's not talk about those…)

But while the cast was top-tier, critics were far less enthusiastic about the final result.

According to Rotten Tomatoes, Cars currently ranks 27th out of 30 Pixar films, with a score of 74%, placing it well below classics like Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and Monsters, Inc. Critics weren’t kind, and many felt it was a flop in comparison to the studio’s past films.

It does, however, have a higher score of 80% on the Popcornometer, which indicates the percentage of everyday viewers and fans who gave a movie a positive rating.

Regular moviegoers were forthcoming in saying that Cars was far from a cinematic masterpiece. What they also said was that it was a little silly, very nostalgic, animated to perfection and overall an extremely enjoyable watch.

Even Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson makes no secret of his love for the film. In 2024, Lawson told F1 that as a child, he would watch the film every other day and estimated his viewing count of the film was in the hundreds.

A post shared by Liam Lawson (@liamlawson30)

For Disney and its subsidiary Pixar though, the real success of Cars wasn’t the views; it was in the merch. You may be surprised to know that Cars is one of the most commercially lucrative franchises Disney has ever owned.

According to the Los Angeles Times, in the five years following the 2006 release of the film, Disney reported that they made an estimated USD $10 billion in revenue from global Cars merchandise.

When looking at the top 10 Disney franchises, it’s of no surprise to see the likes of Star Wars, Marvel and the Disney Princesses on the list, given the scope of these brands, the myriad of different characters and the large back catalogue of films. 

What is a surprise is that Cars is listed as seventh in the top revenue earners for Disney. It is estimated that of the USD $21.5 billion lifetime revenue, roughly $19.1 billion came from merchandise. In comparison, that’s 45% more than the Toy Story franchise (worth an estimated $14.8 billion), whose first three movies claimed #1, #2 and #5 on the list of the best Pixar movies, according to Rotten Tomatoes. 

Sometimes the best films aren’t those that are critically acclaimed or Oscar-nominated. Sometimes a good film is actually just one that makes you smile. Any motorsport fan would likely say Cars is their favourite animated movie, and if the merchandise sales are any indication, a few people do in fact, enjoy Cars. 

Further to my points, two of The Race journalists named it their favourite motorsport movie in a recent round-up. Megan White said, “Yes, it’s simple, but that’s part of its beauty. Anyone can watch it, and everyone should enjoy it. It’s the perfect film to just switch off, enjoy, and get plenty of laughs.”

Josh Suttill said, “Cars isn't actually even the best Pixar movie by any stretch, but it still does an excellent job of storytelling with proper stakes, great characterisation and a thrilling climax. Every other motorsport movie lacks at least one of those.”

I’d argue there is nothing wrong with enjoying something a little basic.

Like most children’s animated movies, there is always a message. Cars is about slowing down and enjoying the journey - something many people could benefit from.

It may not be considered a masterpiece, but for two hours I slowed down, put away my phone and just smiled. And as far as I’m concerned, and in this day and age, that was two hours well spent. 

So, happy 20th anniversary Cars. May you continue to delight audiences for years to come. Kachow.