Over the last three years, some Pixar films had streaming-only releases: 2020’s Soul, 2021’s Luca, and 2022’s Turning Red. But in early 2024, you’ll be able to see these animated features as they were meant to be seen: In actual movie theaters, accompanied by countless enthused and/or screaming children.
Each film will, as is Pixar tradition, be accompanied by a short film. Here’s the lineup:
January 12: Soul, with the short “Burrow”
February 9: Turning Red, with the short “Kitbull”
March 22: Luca, with the short “For the Birds”
That last one is interesting; “For the Birds” is a 2000 short that originally showed before Monsters, Inc. Time to introduce it to a new generation!
Pixar’s most recent theatrical release, Elemental, had a poor opening weekend but wound up being a huge smash; their next release is Inside Out 2, on June 14, 2024. Earlier this year, Pixar’s chief creative office, Pete Docter, said that the streaming-only releases “trained” people that new Pixar movies would be available on Disney+—so presumably these theatrical runs are meant to retrain you into wanting to see Pixar’s family-friendly stories as they were intended. “We’re trying to make sure people realize there’s a great deal you’re missing by not seeing it on the big screen,” Docter told Variety.
Tickets for all three films go on sale January 2, 2024.
