Pixar's third Cars film sends Lightning McQueen back to the track against a new generation of racers, grossing $383.9 million worldwide on a $175 million budget.
Cars 3 is a 2017 animated sports comedy from Pixar and Walt Disney Pictures, directed by Brian Fee. Lightning McQueen, now a veteran, must beat a new generation of advanced racers to avoid forced retirement. The film grossed $383.9 million worldwide.
Cars 3 is the third film in Pixar's Cars franchise, and it pits an ageing racer against a new generation of machines. Directed by Brian Fee and released in 2017, it was built on research into real NASCAR racers. The film grossed $383.9 million worldwide, the lowest total of any film in the series.
Who made Cars 3?
Cars 3 is a 2017 American animated sports comedy produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. Brian Fee directed it from a screenplay by Kiel Murray, Bob Peterson and Mike Rich.
It is the sequel to Cars 2 (2011), and its central figure is once again Lightning McQueen. Writer Kiel Murray has said the team wanted to return to McQueen's story.
A veteran racer, a young trainer and one final race that decides whether the old champion still belongs on the track.
What happens in Cars 3?
After a crash ends his worst season on record, Lightning McQueen is pushed towards retirement and then bets his future on one race, the Florida 500. Cruz Ramirez, the young technician who trains him, becomes central to the story.
Who are the main characters?
The story is carried by a small group of racers and helpers, each tied to the question of whether Lightning can adapt.
- Lightning McQueen, the veteran racer voiced by Owen Wilson
- Cruz Ramirez, the young technician voiced by Cristela Alonzo, who has always wanted to race
- Jackson Storm, the arrogant rookie with advanced technology voiced by Armie Hammer
- Smokey, Doc Hudson's old crew chief voiced by Chris Cooper
- Sterling, the new owner of Rust-eze voiced by Nathan Fillion
- Tow Mater, Lightning's friend voiced by Larry the Cable Guy
The crash and the new generation
Lightning is a seven-time Piston Cup champion, but Jackson Storm, an arrogant rookie with advanced technology, overshadows him. In the final race at Los Angeles, Lightning suffers a massive rollover crash, and the wreck ends what had been his worst season on record.
Training with Cruz and a deal with Sterling
Sponsors Rusty and Dusty sold Rust-eze to Sterling, who assigns Lightning to train under Cruz at the Rust-eze Racing Center. Lightning accidentally damages a simulator, and Sterling tries to force him into retirement. Lightning bets that he can win the Florida 500 or retire. Sterling accepts that bet only if Lightning trains with Cruz.
Cruz's training frustrates Lightning at Fireball Beach, where they try to record his top speed. Lightning then decides to train at Thunder Hollow, which hosts a demolition derby called Crazy Eight.
Lightning enters the derby in disguise, but Cruz wins and reveals him to the public. In anger Lightning breaks Cruz's trophy, and Cruz resigns as his trainer. She reveals that she had always wanted to race, thanks to Lightning, but never felt confident enough to enter.
Thomasville and Doc's old friends
Ashamed and without other options, Lightning calls his friend Mater, who suggests he track down Smokey, Doc Hudson's old crew chief, in Thomasville, Georgia. Lightning catches up with Cruz and convinces her to rejoin him.
Smokey reveals that Doc found happiness in training Lightning. Doc's old friends Barnstormer, River Scott and Midnight Moon help Lightning learn new ways to overcome his speed disadvantage against Storm.
The Florida 500 and the finish
At the Florida 500, Sterling doubts Lightning and orders Cruz back to the training centre. Lightning gives Cruz his place in the race, and she starts to overtake opponents with his coaching. She ends up behind Storm, who rams her against the wall on the final lap.
Cruz flips over Storm using an old move from Doc, then overtakes him and wins the race. Because Lightning and Cruz both wore #95, Lightning becomes a joint winner, and that result effectively settles his deal with Sterling.
When Cruz wins, Sterling offers her a role on his team, but she takes a counteroffer from Tex Dinoco instead. Later, Tex Dinoco buys Rust-eze from Sterling, which changes the sponsorship picture for the ending. Lightning decides to keep racing and to train Cruz further.
Which voice cast returns, and who is new?
Owen Wilson returns as Lightning McQueen and Larry the Cable Guy as Tow Mater, while Bonnie Hunt reprises Sally. New to the franchise are Cristela Alonzo as Cruz Ramirez, Armie Hammer as Jackson Storm and Nathan Fillion as Sterling.
Chris Cooper voices Smokey, and Lea DeLaria voices Miss Fritter, a school bus who competes in demolition derbies. Kerry Washington voices Natalie Certain, who provides data on the next-generation racers.
Richard Petty reprises Strip Weathers, and his son Kyle Petty voices Cal Weathers. Paul Newman appears posthumously as Doc Hudson, using archive audio from the first film.
Doc Hudson's legacy runs through the film. Smokey and Doc's old friends help Lightning train, and Cruz uses an old Doc move in the final race.
Several NASCAR personalities appear too. Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Bubba Wallace and Daniel Suarez voice next-generation versions of themselves, each with a new name.
Was there a tribute to Hayao Miyazaki?
Yes. In October 2014 John Lasseter revealed at the Tokyo International Film Festival that the film would pay tribute to Hayao Miyazaki's The Castle of Cagliostro. The homage takes the form of an old Citroen 2CV.
How was the film researched and animated?
The team researched NASCAR racers, especially older ones, and consulted a sports psychoanalyst about the mindset of drivers. Animation used a new renderer called Rix Integration Subsystem, which had first been used on Finding Dory (2016). It allowed animation and rendering to run at the same time.
Director Brian Fee described the look as art directed realism, and production designer Bill Cone sought believability for the film's world.
Director of photography Jeremy Lasky and editor Jason Hudak researched NASCAR footage for the race scenes. John Lasseter called the story a very emotional one, and development on a third Cars film began in late 2011.
Pre-production was underway by March 2014. Armie Hammer and Cristela Alonzo were announced on January 5, 2017, and Nathan Fillion, Kerry Washington and Lea DeLaria joined two months later.
Who wrote the music for Cars 3?
Randy Newman composed the score, as he had for the first film. Dan Auerbach performed the original song Run That Race, and ZZ Ward with Gary Clark Jr. performed Ride, which was released as a single on April 14, 2017. The score and soundtrack came out on June 16, 2017.
Premiere and home release
The film was first screened for the NASCAR industry in Kannapolis, North Carolina, on May 23, 2017. Its world premiere took place in Anaheim, California, on June 10, 2017.
The US theatrical release came on June 16, 2017, in 3D, Dolby Cinema and selected IMAX, accompanied in cinemas by the Pixar short film Lou. Digital HD followed on October 24, 2017, and DVD and Blu-ray on November 7, 2017.
The video game and the short film
A tie-in video game was released on June 13, 2017, in North America, with Europe and Australia following on July 14, 2017, and Japan on July 20. It appeared on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3 and 4, Wii U, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.
BBC, Disney and Lego released a short on April 13, 2018, inspired by Top Gear. It sends McQueen to the Top Gear track to race the Stig.
How much did Cars 3 earn?
Cars 3 grossed $383.9 million worldwide against a production budget of $175 million. It earned $152.9 million in the United States and Canada and $231 million in other territories, which makes it the lowest-grossing film of the franchise.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Production budget | $175 million |
| Worldwide gross | $383.9 million |
| United States and Canada | $152.9 million |
| Other territories | $231 million |
| Opening weekend | $53.7 million, first place |
| Second weekend | $24.1 million, third place |
| Third weekend | $9.7 million |
The film was released in 4,256 theaters, with a projected opening of $55-60 million. It made $2.8 million from Thursday previews and $19.5 million on its first day, then opened to $53.7 million and finished first.
Cars 3 had the lowest opening in the series, yet it was the 16th Pixar film to debut at number one. In its third weekend it made $9.7 million, and $14.1 million over the 4 July five-day holiday weekend.
The weekend figures show a steep drop after the opening, from $53.7 million to $24.1 million in the second weekend and $9.7 million in the third.
How did critics respond?
Reviews were generally positive, with 70% of 233 Rotten Tomatoes critics approving and an average rating of 6.10/10. Metacritic gave it 59 out of 100 from 41 critics, and CinemaScore audiences awarded it an A.
Owen Gleiberman of Variety called the film friendly and rollicking, and David Fear of Rolling Stone praised its emotional resonance. Mike Ryan of Uproxx called it the Rocky III of the franchise.
Alonso Duralde of TheWrap found it harmless but never stimulating, while Vicky Roach of News.com.au gave it 3 out of 4 stars. Some critics considered it an improvement over Cars 2.
Is a Cars 4 planned?
Producers Kevin Reher and Andrea Warren discussed a possible Cars 4 with CinemaBlend. Owen Wilson has said a fourth film could explore thriller elements, in the way Cars 2 did.
Cars on the Road, a miniseries following the events of Cars 3, premiered on Disney+ on September 8, 2022. In December 2023 Jay Ward said more Cars projects were brewing.
Key dates at a glance
- Late 2011: Development on a third Cars film begins.
- March 2014: Pre-production is underway.
- January 5, 2017: Armie Hammer and Cristela Alonzo are announced for the cast.
- May 23, 2017: A preview for the NASCAR industry takes place in Kannapolis.
- June 10, 2017: The world premiere takes place in Anaheim, California.
- June 16, 2017: The United States release arrives, with the Pixar short Lou.
- October 24, 2017: Digital HD release.
- November 7, 2017: DVD and Blu-ray release.
- April 13, 2018: The BBC, Disney and Lego short appears on YouTube.
- September 8, 2022: Cars on the Road premieres on Disney+.
