Pixar Slump Is Real! Critics Say Phenomenal Film Outfit Running Out Of Ideas! Will 'Inside Out' Or The Sequels Save Them? How About Another 'Cars' Sequel?

The Pixar slump is real? The phenomenal film company that became a model for both box-office and critical success is experiencing hard times. While their films are still making money, the alleged lack of original ideas seems disturbing for some.

Pixar had a streak of critically acclaimed movies. Some are not exactly new ideas but at least they were fresh takes. While Pixar made tons of money at the box office, no one felt that the company would take the low road and make films for a money grab-at least until "Cars 2."

Flavorwire argues that the recent spate of sequels simply means that Pixar is stumped: "For the sake of that conversation, let's take a look at the history. Between 1995 and 2009, Pixar released ten feature-length motion pictures: Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars, Ratatouille, WALL-E, and Up. Of those ten films, exactly one was a sequel. In the past four years and four films, that ratio has flipped: Toy Story 3, Cars 2, Brave, and Monsters University - i.e., only one original film, accompanied by two sequels and a prequel."

"Cars 2, a sequel that nobody wanted, made a mint but gave Pixar its first true critical failure, and whileMonsters University nearly outgrossed Monsters, Inc., its notices were markedly less enthusiastic. (And let's not even get into Planes, Disney's junior varsity Cars spin-off.) Meanwhile, good luck finding anybody over the age of 15 who was all that wild about Brave, their only original project since 2009. If this was the best new idea they had for us, is it possible that they're just out of good ideas?"

John Lasseter talked to the NY Times on the issue that "Cars 2" was ordered by Disney to cash in on the huge merchandise market: "I don't know what to say about that.  Well, I guess I do. It's not true. It's people who don't know the facts, rushing to judge. I recognize my place in the Walt Disney Company, but my job, my focus, my deepest desire is to entertain people by making great movies, and we did that with 'Cars 2.' "

But it's also hard to dismiss the allegations since they have sound basis. There was a lot more clamor for a sequel to "The Incredibles" and there was more of a story to tell. Also, the superhero family epic was shown first. While most other studios would not even think twice about a sequel for a movie like "Cars," Pixar was expected to be on the higher road. Also, why choose cars when there were clearly better materials on the table.

They have two original movies lined up: "The Good Dinosaur" and "Inside Out." However, they have also confirmed "Finding Dory," the highly anticipated "The Incredibles 2" and-quite shockingly-"Cars 3."

The last addition is really difficult to defend. Let's leave that to those with the fat paychecks.

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Pixar Slump Is Real
Cars 3
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