Pixar is responsible for some of the best and most beloved kids movies of all time: “Toy Story,” “Finding Nemo,” “Inside Out,” “Up,” — you know the list. Pixar has been making hits since the 1990s, but the days of those Disney clam-shell VHS cases are long gone. Streaming is king now! So, where to stream Pixar movies online? Never fear, because we’re here to show you how to watch Pixar movies without cable (and without VHS tapes and DVDs too).
cBelow, we’ll tell you about all the ways you can watch Pixar films without cable and DVDs. We’ll cover everything from on-demand subscription services such as Disney Plus to one-off rentals and digital-purchase options. We’ll also cover Pixar’s short films and TV series.
How to Watch Pixar Movies Online
There are usually a few options for watching specific movies and TV shows without cable or physical media such as DVDs and VHS tapes. The most obvious are subscription streaming services, which offer unlimited viewing for a monthly fee. If their libraries include Pixar films, you’ll find them below. Another option for watching Pixar films is to rent or buy digital copies, and our list includes major online marketplaces that have Pixar films available.
Got all that? Great! Let’s kick off the list.
Disney owns Pixar, so you’ll find Pixar films and shows on Disney Plus. The streaming service will eventually be the forever home of every Pixar movie, so it’s the best answer to the question of where to stream Pixar movies online.
As of this writing, there are no more Pixar movies left on Netflix. There were some when Disney Plus launched in late 2019, but those contracts have since expired. You will find a few Disney movies, such as “Miracle” and “The Muppets,” but all Pixar animation films are gone. Disney Plus is not only the best option for Pixar animation on demand, but also the only option.
They may not get as much attention as the feature-length movies, but there are some Pixar short films and series worth mentioning. My personal favorite is the “Forky Asks a Question” series featuring the character from “Toy Story 4.” His questions include, “What is time?” and “What is money?” Since I have an MFA in creative writing, I’m not the best person to answer the second question, but I could write an impressively pretentious essay on the first. Forky and his questions are Disney Plus originals, so you won’t find them anywhere else. But you will find short films such as “The Blue Umbrella” and “Day and Night” available for rent on other services.
Amazon Video (Rent or Buy)
Pixar films can’t be found on the Amazon Prime Video on-demand menu right now, and — given Disney’s investment in Disney Plus — there’s no reason to expect them to ever show up. Amazon also has a video marketplace where fans can rent or buy digital copies of films, though, and you will find Pixar movies there. Buying a film will add it to your Amazon Video library and allow you to watch it from anywhere, while renting offers similar flexibility but for only a short time. (You have 30 days to start your film, and you can watch it, rewind it, and otherwise use it as much as you want for 48 hours from the moment you start it.)
Apple TV (Rent or Buy)
Apple’s streaming-video-on-demand service doesn’t offer any Pixar films, but its video rental and purchase marketplace does. As with Amazon, you can hop onto Apple’s iTunes — sorry, Apple TV (Apple is killing off iTunes in favor of separate video and music apps and marketplaces) — and add your favorite Pixar movies to your collection.
Google Play (Rent or Buy)
Want to grab a Pixar movie for your digital collection or rent a Pixar movie to stream for family movie night? You could consider Google Play Movies & TV, the video marketplace within the Google Play Store. Buying a Pixar movie on Google Play will allow you to watch it through the Google Play Movies & TV or Google Play apps (depending on the platform) on any compatible device.
Can I Watch Pixar Movies and Shows on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, or Chromecast?
It’s great that you can stream Pixar movies, but the fate of your movie night hinges on whether you can stream Pixar movies on your favorite devices. You probably don’t want to have the whole family gather around the computer screen, so that begs the question: Can you use Disney Plus to watch Pixar movies on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, or Chromecast? Happily, the answer is yes. See the chart below for more options.
| Roku | Fire TV | Apple TV | Android TV | Chromecast | iOS | Android | Web browser | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disney Plus | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
More to Watch for Pixar Fans
Watching Pixar is a great way to make yourself both laugh and cry. I’m not kidding about the second part either. (Hearing the name Bing Bong still sets off my tear ducts.) If you’re worn out after a Pixar movie, why not watch some comedies that aren’t quite as emotional? Sometimes you want a belly laugh that doesn’t turn into a sob.
You’ll find plenty of belly laughs on Comedy Central. Pixar keeps things rated either G or PG, but Comedy Central definitely goes further. A big part of its brand is pushing boundaries, which makes sense for the home of shows such as “South Park” and “Broad City.” If you don’t mind R-rated material, you’ll find plenty to tickle your funny bone. So when you’ve had your fill of Pixar, put away the Kleenex and check out our guide to watching Comedy Central without cable.