how many disney cars movies are there

[DeChloe]

There are a total of three main Cars movies produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The core trilogy consists of Cars (2006), Cars 2 (2011), and Cars 3 (2017). Beyond these, the franchise includes two standalone spinoff films, Planes (2013) and Planes: Fire & Rescue (2014), which are set in the same universe but were produced by DisneyToon Studios. Additionally, there are numerous short films that expand the story.

The series is a monumental success, both critically and commercially. The first film was a massive box office hit, and the franchise as a whole has generated billions in global merchandise sales, making it one of Disney's most valuable properties.

Here is a quick overview of the main films:

Film Title	Release Year	Box Office (Worldwide)	Runtime	Director
Cars	2006	$462 million	117 minutes	John Lasseter
Cars 2	2011	$562 million	106 minutes	John Lasseter
Cars 3	2017	$384 million	102 minutes	Brian Fee
Planes	2013	$239 million	91 minutes	Klay Hall
Planes: Fire & Rescue	2014	$147 million	83 minutes	Bobs Gannaway

The world of Cars is also greatly expanded through short films. Key titles include the Cars Toons series featuring Mater's tall tales, the Tales from Radiator Springs shorts, and the emotionally charged short Miss Fritter's Racing Skoool that ties directly into Cars 3. These are essential viewing for fans wanting the complete story.

[VanAmara]

Just counting the Pixar ones that star Lightning McQueen, there are three: Cars, Cars 2, and Cars 3. My kids have watched them all a hundred times. If you include the Planes movies, which feel the same but are about airplanes, that adds two more. Don't forget the fun little shorts on Disney+—they add a lot of personality to the side characters, especially Mater.

[Karl]

As a film buff, I look at the core Pixar-produced narrative. The definitive answer is three films forming a complete character arc for Lightning McQueen. The Planes spinoffs are DisneyToon productions and are considered a separate, though adjacent, franchise. The numerous shorts are fantastic supplemental material that enrich the world, but they are not feature-length theatrical movies.

[AbigailFitz]

The franchise is bigger than just the movies. You've got the three main Cars films for sure. Then Disney made two Planes movies that are part of the same world. But the real depth comes from the shorts. To get the full experience, you should seek out series like Mater's Tall Tales and Tales from Radiator Springs on Disney+.

[DelIris]

From a collector's standpoint, the answer depends on what you're collecting. For a movie library, you'd want the three primary Cars films. The Planes duology is often grouped in. The short films are trickier; they're bundled into DVD extras or streaming playlists rather than standalone releases. So, for a complete set of distinct home media titles, you're likely looking at five core feature films, plus various collections for the shorts.