TL;DR
If you have a kid between the ages of 2 and 10, Lightning McQueen is probably a permanent resident in your house. The Cars franchise is the ultimate "gateway" fandom—it starts with a red car and ends with a bin full of die-cast metal that you’ll inevitably step on in the middle of the night.
Quick Links:
- The Original: Cars (2006) - A genuine classic about slowing down and finding community.
- The Comeback: Cars 3 - The "apology" for the second movie; actually has a great message for girls in STEM/sports.
- The Bite-Sized Version: Cars on the Road - A 2022 series of shorts that is perfect for "just one more show before bed."
- The Spin-off: Planes - Technically not Pixar, but your kid won't care.
At its core, the Cars franchise is Pixar’s most successful "toyetic" property. While Toy Story might have more critical acclaim, Cars is a multi-billion dollar merchandise machine.
The story follows Lightning McQueen, a rookie race car who learns that there is more to life than winning trophies. Over three films and several series of shorts, the world expands from the dusty town of Radiator Springs to a global spy caper (we don't talk about that one as much) and eventually to a story about passing the torch to a new generation.
It’s simple: Anthropomorphism.
Kids are naturally drawn to faces, and putting eyes on the windshield of a cool car is basically a cheat code for a toddler's brain. But beyond the character design, the franchise taps into a few key developmental stages:
- The "Things That Go" Phase: Between ages 2-5, many kids are obsessed with transportation. Cars provides a narrative for that obsession.
- Clear Archetypes: You have the hero (Lightning), the funny best friend (Mater), and the mentor (Doc Hudson). It’s easy for kids to follow.
- Collectibility: Every background character in a Cars movie has a name and a corresponding toy. It’s the ultimate "gotta catch 'em all" for the preschool set.
If you’re wondering which ones are worth your "screen time budget" and which ones you can skip, here is the No-BS breakdown.
The original is legitimately a good movie. It’s essentially a kid-friendly version of Doc Hollywood. It teaches patience, the value of the "scenic route," and that being a jerk doesn't get you as far as having friends does. It’s a safe bet for any age.
Guys, this movie is a mess. Pixar decided to turn a movie about racing into a James Bond-style spy thriller starring Mater. It’s loud, it’s confusing, and it features a weird amount of "car violence" (cars getting tortured/blown up). If your kid skips it, they aren't missing any vital plot points for the third movie.
This is where the franchise found its soul again. It deals with McQueen getting older and being replaced by high-tech "Next Gen" racers. The introduction of Cruz Ramirez is a huge win for representation, showing that girls can be the lead racers too. It’s a bit more somber, but the ending is incredibly satisfying for parents and kids alike.
Released in 2022, this is a series of 10-minute shorts. It’s episodic, weird, and low-stakes. One episode is a Mad Max parody, another is about a "dino-park." It’s great for when you need a 10-minute distraction while you're making dinner.
Ask our chatbot for more Pixar recommendations for toddlers
If your kid has been browsing YouTube, they might have seen "trailers" for Cars 4. Spoiler alert: They are fake.
The internet is currently flooded with AI-generated "concept trailers" for Cars 4 that look incredibly real to a seven-year-old. As of right now, Pixar has not officially announced a theatrical Cars 4 movie.
However, there is real news. At the 2024 D23 expo, it was confirmed that a new Cars series is in development for Disney+, slated for 2027.
While details are thin, the 2027 project is expected to be a more robust, long-form series rather than just shorts. It’s likely to follow the adventures of the Radiator Springs gang or potentially focus on Cruz Ramirez’s racing career.
Learn more about navigating fake trailers on YouTube
The Cars franchise is one of the safest bets in the digital world, but there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Ages 2-4: Stick to the original Cars and the Mater’s Tall Tales shorts. They are colorful and easy to digest.
- Ages 5-7: This is the prime age for the movies. They’ll start to understand the humor and the "sports" aspect of the racing.
- Ages 8+: They might start to grow out of it, but the Cars video games (like Cars 3: Driven to Win) can keep the interest alive through interactive play.
The "Brain Rot" Factor
Is Cars "brain rot"? No. Unlike some of the high-speed, sensory-overload content you’ll find on YouTube Kids, Pixar movies are intentionally paced. They have "quiet moments," character development, and orchestral scores. It’s "slow" media compared to the current landscape of Skibidi Toilet or MrBeast.
The Consumerism Trap
The real "danger" of Cars isn't the content—it's the toy aisle. This franchise was designed to sell die-cast cars. If you start down this road, be prepared for your kid to want every single variant of Lightning McQueen (Dinoco Lightning, Muddy Lightning, Radiator Springs Lightning... it never ends).
Gender Dynamics
For a long time, Cars was marketed heavily as a "boy" thing. Cars 3 worked hard to fix this by making Cruz Ramirez a central, powerful character. If you have daughters, don't skip this franchise—it’s actually a great way to talk about breaking glass ceilings and overcoming "imposter syndrome" in a way a 6-year-old can understand.
If you want to turn a passive viewing experience into something a bit more "Screenwise," try these conversation starters:
- After Cars 1: "Why do you think Lightning McQueen decided to help The King finish his last race instead of winning the Piston Cup?"
- After Cars 3: "Cruz Ramirez thought she couldn't be a racer because she looked different from the other cars. Why was she wrong?"
- About the 2027 Hype: "I know you saw that video of Cars 4, but sometimes people on the internet make 'fan art' that isn't a real movie yet. How can we tell what's real?"
The Cars franchise is the "comfort food" of digital media. It’s predictable, generally wholesome, and has high production values. While Cars 2 is a skip-able fever dream, the rest of the series offers genuine heart.
Keep an eye out for the 2027 series, but in the meantime, don't feel guilty about letting your kid watch Cars for the 40th time. It’s a lot better than the alternative "weird" side of YouTube.
- Check the "Wise Score": Head over to our Cars (2006) Media Page to see how other intentional parents rate the educational value.
- Audit the Toys: If the merchandise is getting out of hand, consider looking into Roblox racing games as a digital (and cheaper) alternative to physical die-casts.
- Plan for 2027: Mark your calendar—Lightning McQueen isn't retiring anytime soon.
Check out our guide on the best racing games for kids
Ask our chatbot if Cars 2 is too violent for a 4-year-old