Celebrating Our 20th Anniversary!
by Alex Billington
June 14, 2026
Source: YouTube
“I didn’t come all this way to see you quit.” Disney & Pixar have revealed a brand new 20th Anniversary trailer for the 2026 re-release of the Pixar hit Cars, which first hit theaters in June 2026. Almost 20 years ago exactly! This was one of the movies we were excited to watch during the first summer of FirstShowing launching also 20 years ago. Even though Cars didn’t get great reviews from critics at first, it was a huge hit worldwide and spawned many sequels + theme park rides + merch (and so much more). I also think it’s way better than most people remember. This first Cars movie (sequels are different) is quite good, a thoughtful rumination on finding family and discovering small time life may be for you. 20 years ago today, a stop in Radiator Springs showed us that the journey matters as much as the finish line. Cars features the voices of Owen Wilson as Lightning McQueen, with Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt, Michael Keaton, Larry the Cable Guy, Cheech Marin, Tony Shalhoub, and George Carlin. This one is for all the racing fans out there. So wild realizing that it has been 20 years since the first Cars! So much has happened over 20 years…
Here’s the new 20th Anniversary trailer for Pixar’s Cars animation classic, from Pixar’s YouTube:
And here’s the old school original 2005 teaser trailer for Pixar’s Cars movie, also found on YouTube:
While traveling to California for the dispute of the final race of the Piston Cup against The King and Chick Hicks, the famous Lightning McQueen accidentally damages the road of the small town Radiator Springs and is sentenced to repair it. Lightning McQueen has to work hard and finds friendship and love in the simple locals, changing its values during his stay in the small town and becoming a true winner. Pixar’s Cars is directed by animation veteran John Lasseter, his fourth movie at the time after Toy Story 2 (1999) and before Cars 2 (2011) next. Co-directed by Joe Ranft. The screenplay is written by Dan Fogelman and John Lasseter and Joe Ranft and Kiel Murray & Phil Lorin and Jorgen Klubien. It’s produced by Darla K. Anderson. Made by Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, CA. Disney first opened Pixar’s Cars in theaters originally in June 2006. It was a massive box office hit worldwide earning $462 million leading to sequels. Disney will re-release Pixar’s Cars in theaters again in September 2026 later this year. One of your faves?
