Pixar has been captivating audiences with its heartwarming feature films for an impressive thirty years. With new Pixar movies being made every year, the iconic studio never ceases to dazzle its viewers, no matter how old they are. Of course, part of what makes Pixar movies so popular revolves around who they are made for. While the films primarily target young audiences, the filmmakers carefully craft each film so they can be enjoyed just as much by adults.

In fact, many scenes in the best Pixar films actually resonate much more deeply when watching them as an adult. This is particularly true when the movies delve into more emotional topics. While the stories and dialogue are generally simple enough for youthful audiences to understand what is going on, the deeper messages often pack a much stronger punch for older viewers. Certain scenes in Pixar films prove that filmmakers were thinking about the grown-ups just as much as the kids when making their movies.

10

Andy Lets Woody Go

Toy Story 3 (2010)

Toy Story 3 thoroughly stunned viewers around the world when it was released in 2010, over a decade after the previous addition to the franchise. Despite many being unsure what to expect from this tertiary installment, viewers were blown away by the maturity and emotional depth of the film as a whole. This surprising complexity was most apparent in the film’s final scene, which featured Andy finally bidding a bittersweet farewell to his favorite toy, giving Woody to Bonnie along with the rest of his toys before heading off to college.

This emotional scene really hit home for many of the adults in the audience, with few dry eyes left in the crowd by the time the credits started rolling. As an adult, it is never easy to say goodbye to the people who have meant so much to you for such a long time, especially when it is unclear if you will ever have the opportunity to see them again. On its surface, the final scene in Toy Story 3 may have just been about moving on from a toy, but for the adults watching, it was clearly about so much more.

9

Anxiety Goes Out Of Control

Inside Out 2 (2024)

Experiencing new, more complex emotions is a natural part of growing older. Unfortunately, not all of those emotions are things people want to be feeling all the time. This idea formed the foundation for Inside Out 2‘s story, the long-awaited sequel to Pixar’s Oscar-winning 2015 film. In Inside Out 2, Riley’s mind is forced to welcome a group of new emotions led by Anxiety. In the film’s climactic scene, Anxiety begins to spiral out of control, forming a violent storm of negative emotions and dark thoughts in Riley’s mind, sending Riley into a panic attack.

While the children in the audience can likely have at least a general grasp of what is happening in the scene, this pivotal moment is bound to feel much more emotional for adults. The scene perfectly captures the panicked, overwhelming feeling of an anxiety attack, something so many people experience as they grow older. Seeing this sensation experienced through the eyes of a teenager who is helpless to fight it is deeply heartbreaking, particularly for viewers who have recently experienced the same type of event.

8

Marlin Gives Up Hope

Finding Nemo (2003)

One of Pixar’s earliest films, Finding Nemo, tells the story of an overprotective clownfish who goes on a perilous journey across the ocean with his new friend in a desperate attempt to rescue his son. In a tragic turn of events, when Marlin finally reaches the end of his journey, he is led to believe that Nemo has already pᴀssed away. This immediately sends Marlin into a deep depression, prompting him to bid farewell to Dory, before sorrowfully turning around and beginning to head home.

Few animated films have ever been able to capture the same sense of hopelessness the filmmakers were able to present through Marlin in this scene. The heartbreaking moment is an emotional gut punch, one which resonates especially deeply for grown-ups who have experienced a similar sensation at some point in their lives. Marlin has not only lost his only living family member, but he has now discovered that his entire mission was for nothing. It is nearly impossible for a younger viewer to fully grasp the utter despair he feels in this scene.

7

The “Married Life” Montage

Up (2009)

The first fifteen minutes of Up are not only one of the most iconic sequences of any Pixar movie but one of the most frequently discussed openings in cinema history. In this single, decades-spanning sequence, viewers get to watch Carl and Ellie’s entire relationship play out before them, following them from their tender first meeting through Ellie’s tragic death, highlighting all the hardships they faced in between. The montage is boldly unafraid to show all the highs and lows of their time together, even depicting Ellie suffering a miscarriage, and subsequently sinking into a depression.

This sequence, often dubbed the “Married Life” montage, thoroughly stunned viewers, thanks to its breathtaking visual storytelling and heavy, emotional themes. The montage undoubtedly feels directed more toward older viewers, with some of the darker aspects (such as Ellie’s miscarriage) likely going over the heads of most children. Backed by its impeccable musical score, the “Married Life” montage brings audiences on an entire journey in a matter of minutes, one that adult viewers will continue thinking about as they progress through their own lives.

6

WALL-E Forgets EVE

WALL-E (2008)

WALL-E features one of the most unconventional but emotional love stories the studio has ever put together. With only minimal use of dialogue, the film shows two futuristic robots named WALL-E and EVE falling in love with each other as they go on a daring, beautiful journey through the stars together. In a shocking turn, however, WALL-E is nearly crushed in a climactic scene, causing him to lose all of his memories of EVE, and revert into a mindless, trash-cleaning robot, much to the heartbreak of EVE.

Anyone can understand the tragedy of this scene, as watching the characters’ tender romance fade away is heartbreaking at any age. However, the scene hits especially close to home for older audiences, as the thought of losing one’s memory becomes increasingly relevant with age. For people who have known someone who has begun to lose their memory as they grow older, the scene is heartbreaking. WALL-E may be a robot, but his human-like personality and emotions make these moments all the more tragic.

5

Ian Never Meets His Dad

Onward (2020)

Much of Onward, follows the dangerous quest of two brothers, Ian and Barley, in an attempt to interact with their dad one final time after (partially) bringing him back to life for a day. Going against what many viewers would expect, the film actually ends with Ian, the younger brother, never getting to have the interaction with his dad that he had always dreamed about. Instead, he comes to realize that Barley had been like a father figure to him for his whole life and finds a newfound appreciation for his brother.

Onward‘s ending came as a major surprise to many, offering a poignant, bittersweet resolution that few saw coming. The idea that the film was inspired by a true story made the ending even more emotional, prompting many adult viewers to think deeply about their relationships with their own siblings. The messages about the importance of brotherhood and the realization that our role models may not always be who we expect them to be resonated very deeply with countless adults, even more so than the younger viewers who may have focused more on the fantasy elements.

4

Woody And Buzz Go Their Separate Ways

Toy Story 4 (2019)

The ending of Toy Story 4 left audiences rather divided in 2019, coming nearly a decade after Toy Story 3. Throughout the franchise, audiences spent decades watching the bond between Woody and Buzz grow, even becoming one of the most iconic friendships in film history. The fourth feature-length installment made a bold, unforeseen choice, however, electing to end their latest adventure with Woody and Buzz bidding each other farewell, as Woody embarks on a new chapter of his life with Bo Peep.

The Toy Story franchise began in 1995, meaning that these characters (and their friendship) had been a staple in some people’s lives for 24 full years. Seeing this unexpectedly come to an end was heartbreaking for these dedicated viewers, but also understandable given the complex story and message of the film as a whole.

3

Bing Bong Fades Away

Inside Out (2015)

At the start of 2015, few people would have guessed that a character named Bing Bong would be making them cry at the movie theater, but this proved to be the case for countless audience members. Pixar’s 2015 Inside Out explores the inner workings of Riley’s mind, personifying her emotions and creating a whole world out of her memories, thoughts, and feelings. This includes Riley’s former imaginary friend, Bing Bong. In a pivotal scene late in the film, Bing Bong sacrifices himself to save Joy, encouraging her to make Riley’s dreams come true as he fades away.

While no one was happy to see Bing Bong disappear, the tragic scene hit particularly close to home for the grown-ups in the audience, inspiring them to reflect on the imaginary playmates from their childhood that they had since forgotten about. To make matters even more emotionally devastating, the scene also prompted those viewers to look back on all the dreams they had when they were young, and whether they achieved them. Bing Bong’s last words brought tears to the eyes of numerous adults as they pondered whether they ever made it to the moon.

2

Miguel Sings To Coco

Coco (2017)

Over the years, Pixar has touched on the topic of memory many times, but Coco stands out as perhaps the most poignant examination of the concept thus far. Despite the film including many loud, exciting moments, the climactic scene of Coco is actually one of the most peaceful. After returning to the land of the living, Miguel finds his great-grandmother Mamá Coco and softly plays her the song that her father wrote for her many years ago. The tune sparks Coco’s memory, even leading her to begin singing with Miguel.

Every element of the scene works together perfectly to form a beautiful, emotional moment. Even details as minor as the inflection in the characters’ voices as they sing are enough to bring a tear to the eye of any adult viewer. Not only are the lyrics heartfelt and deeply moving, but the effect they have on Coco reminds the audience of the power of love, and how the people we love dearly can never truly leave us. Coco offers a heartwarming message for anyone who has lost someone close to them, making it even more powerful for older viewers.

1

Sully Says Bye To Boo

Monsters, Inc. (2001)

Pixar is no stranger to emotional goodbyes, but many would agree that the most memorable one comes near the end of the 2001 instant classic, Monsters, Inc. After completing his crazy mission to rescue Boo and return her to the human world safely, Sully realizes that he will have to say goodbye to the young girl. This proves to be very difficult for him, as the two have formed a strong bond throughout the film. Nevertheless, he knows what he has to do, and offers her an emotional farewell before returning to the monster world once again.

For Pixar fans who are closer in age to Boo, it can be difficult to fully grasp the sadness of Sully having to leave his new friend. Even though they come from different worlds, Sully had formed a deep emotional bond with Boo, coming to care for her the way a parent would. Leaving her would mean that he would no longer be able to protect her, a feeling that any parent knows is unbelievably difficult. The scene is sad no matter what, but even more so when seen through Sully’s perspective.