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Several Pixar films—Onward, Ratatouille, Luca, A Bug’s Life, and Monsters, Inc.—have created rich, imaginative worlds that feel ripe for a return. Each story ends with new beginnings: magic returns in Onward, Remy’s culinary dreams take off in Ratatouille, and Luca hints at big changes for its young heroes. These films introduced beloved characters and unique settings that still hold plenty of unexplored potential.
Meanwhile, A Bug’s Life and Monsters, Inc. are classics that could benefit from a fresh chapter. A Bug’s Life could tackle new environmental threats or ant colony dynamics, while Monsters, Inc. might revisit Boo or let Sulley and Mike navigate the human world.
All five films deserve sequels, not just to satisfy fans, but to expand Pixar’s legacy of storytelling and visual wonder.
Disclaimer: The following list is ranked in no particular order, and the opinions expressed belong solely to the author.
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Monsters, Inc. and 4 other Pixar movies that deserve a sequel
1) Onward (2020)
Onward (2020) is a fantasy adventure animated film of Pixar Animation Studios, helmed by Dan Scanlon, featuring the voices of Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Octavia Spencer.
A present-day suburban fantasy world is the backdrop against which the movie is set, with elf brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot on a magical journey to resurrect their deceased father for a day.
Combining road trip comedy with epic fantasy, Onward applies the quest of the brothers to reflect their emotional development. The contained world adds depth to the quest, employing instances of humor, peril, and sorcery as they struggle through trials that test their bond.
While Onward didn't receive the across-the-board adoration to which Pixar has become accustomed, it crafted compelling characters and imaginative fantasy ideas that lent themselves well to being explored further in a sequel.
As magic re-emerges in this world incrementally, more stories might explore how it affects society and how Ian and Barley evolve as a result, on their ongoing path of discovery.
2) Ratatouille (2007)
Ratatouille (2007) is an animated comedy-drama movie directed and written by Brad Bird, from a story idea with Jan Pinkava and Jim Capobianco. In the heart of Paris, the movie follows Remy, a rat with love for fine food, who enters into an unlikely bond with a timid garbage boy, Alfredo Linguini.
Together with the assistance of Remy's secret ability, the pair hopes to restore the image of the late Chef Gusteau's former glory restaurant.
Despite its status as a Pixar classic, Ratatouille has never had a sequel, even 18 years after its release. This has left fans wondering what became of Remy and Linguini’s new restaurant.
A follow-up could explore the continued evolution of their culinary dreams in the romantic and visually rich setting of Paris, which remains one of the movie’s standout features.
Fans have long speculated about what a sequel might look like, perhaps expanding the Remy and Linguini’s food empire or introducing new culinary challenges and characters.
A key story thread could involve the revelation of Remy's true identity in the public eye, adding tension and humor. No matter the plot, audiences would love to revisit this flavorful world and see Remy surrounded by another lively crew of chefs.
3) Luca (2021)
Luca is a 2021 Pixar computer-animated fantasy feature film written and co-directed by Enrico Casarosa, based on a story developed by Jessie Hicks, in a picturesque fictional seaside town on the Italian Riviera during the 1950s.
The film is about Luca Paguro, a young boy who is a sea monster whose human form is experienced when on land, as he enjoys a summer to remember in Portorosso with the friends Alberto and Giulia. With discovery, friendship, and identity as its themes, the film catches the essence of an untroubled, life-changing summer of youth.
Although it did boast its beautiful storytelling and rich backlot, Luca couldn't manage the wide-based popularity of a typical Pixar movie because of its pandemic Disney+ release. It is an underappreciated gem that has an emotional heft and lush visual splendor.
A sequel would once more make everyone recall the original film while expanding its world, introducing new layers to the characters' lives and the growing interaction between sea monsters and humans.
The ending of Luca hints at exciting sequel potential, with Luca heading to school and Alberto staying in Portorosso. A follow-up could explore their evolving friendship, personal growth, and new adventures, as the credits tease even more of this magical world.
4) A Bug's Life (1998)
Pixar's next feature film after Toy Story was the 1998 sequel A Bug's Life, an adventure comedy based on Aesop's fable The Ant and the Grasshopper. Co-directed by John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton, it follows Flik, an outcast ant who tries to save his colony from a gang of threatening grasshoppers.
Inadvertently hiring a circus insect troupe rather than soldiers, Flik's mission is one of bravery, miscommunication, and alleged heroism. While it was a massive hit when it came out, A Bug's Life has since faded into relative obscurity compared to some of Pixar's more long-lived franchises.
Bringing this forgotten movie back with a sequel would be a low-key but valuable choice, allowing Pixar to revisit one of its earliest tales and bring it to new audiences. It also offers the chance to demonstrate how much further along the animation method and the story itself have come since the late '90s.
A sequel might venture into new adventures in the world of Flies, either as a continuation of Flik and his colony's exploits or through the arrival of new characters in the richly imagined world of color.
After the grasshoppers’ defeat, future threats such as human-caused environmental changes could add deeper themes, blending adventure, humor, and eco-conscious storytelling.
5) Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Monsters, Inc. (2001) is a timeless classic from Pixar that tells the story of monsters Sulley and Mike who work at a factory harvesting energy by scaring children, until the door swings open for little girl Boo to complicate their lives forever. With gritty humor and warmth, the movie became a fan favorite.
Even though Monsters University came out as a prequel, the film was not nearly as emotionally rich as the first. A proper sequel still feels too long in coming and might explore how the world of monsters has changed or check in on Boo as she ages. The ending of the first left just enough to do more.
One idea that was put on the shelf was to send Mike and Sulley into the human world, a playful role reversal of the Boo character in the original. Whatever path Pixar revisits or attempts in a different direction, Monsters, Inc. has enough unused material for a comedy and drama sequel.
All five Pixar movies on the list are available to stream on major platforms such as Disney+, Apple TV+, and Amazon Prime Video.
