Ka-chow! Lightning McQueen is heading back to the big screen. Pixar has announced that its beloved 2006 classic Cars will return to theaters this September in celebration of the film’s 20th anniversary.
The Announcement
The news came on June 9, exactly 20 years to the day after Cars first raced into theaters. Pixar shared the announcement on social media alongside a nostalgic video celebrating the franchise’s characters and locations, writing that “20 years ago today, a stop in Radiator Springs showed us that the journey matters as much as the finish line” and confirming that “Cars races back into theaters September” with the hashtag #Cars20, as Laughing Place reported. An exact release date, ticket details, and participating theaters have not yet been announced.
A Franchise That Never Slowed Down
Directed by Pixar legend John Lasseter, Cars follows Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson), a hotshot rookie race car chasing the Piston Cup Championship who gets stranded in the sleepy Route 66 town of Radiator Springs and slowly learns that life is about the journey, not the finish line. The voice cast also includes Bonnie Hunt as Sally, Paul Newman as Doc Hudson, Larry the Cable Guy as Mater, Cheech Marin, Tony Shalhoub, Jenifer Lewis, and George Carlin. The film spawned two sequels, multiple shorts and television series, and one of the most successful merchandise lines in animation history.
The franchise’s influence on Disney Parks is just as significant. Cars Land at Disney California Adventure, anchored by Radiator Springs Racers, is widely considered one of Disney’s most immersive themed lands, and construction is currently underway on the Cars-inspired Piston Peak National Park area coming to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Disney is also marking the anniversary with new merchandise, including a Lightning McQueen popcorn bucket at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort.
A Big Year for Pixar Re-Releases
The Cars re-release follows the successful Toy Story 30th anniversary theatrical run and arrives just a few months after Toy Story 5 hit theaters this June. Between new releases and anniversary celebrations, Pixar is keeping its classics firmly in the theatrical conversation, and giving a whole new generation the chance to meet Lightning McQueen the way audiences first did in 2006.
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