Cars (film)

Theatrical release poster

***Cars*** is a 2006 American computer-animated sports comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. The film was directed by John Lasseter from a screenplay by Dan Fogelman, Lasseter, Joe Ranft, Kiel Murray, Phil Lorin, and Jorgen Klubien and a story by Lasseter, Ranft, and Klubien, and was the final film independently produced by Pixar after its purchase by Disney in January 2006. The film features an ensemble voice cast of Owen Wilson, Paul Newman (in his final voice acting theatrical film role), Bonnie Hunt, Larry the Cable Guy, Tony Shalhoub, Cheech Marin, Michael Wallis, George Carlin, Paul Dooley, Jenifer Lewis, Guido Quaroni, Michael Keaton, Katherine Helmond, John Ratzenberger and Richard Petty, while race car drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. (as "Junior"), Mario Andretti, Michael Schumacher and car enthusiast Jay Leno (as "Jay Limo") voice themselves.

Set in a world populated entirely by anthropomorphic talking cars and other vehicles, it follows a hotshot rookie race car named Lightning McQueen (Wilson) who, on the way to the biggest race of his life, gets stranded in Radiator Springs, a rundown town that's past its glory days, and learns a thing or two about friendship, family, and the things in life that are truly worth waiting for.

Development for *Cars* started in 1998, after finishing the production of *A Bug's Life*, with a new script titled *The Yellow Car*, which was about an electric car living in a gas-guzzling world with Klubien writing. It was announced that the producers agreed that it could be the next Pixar film after *A Bug's Life*, scheduled for a 1999 release, particularly around June 4; the idea was later scrapped in favor of *Toy Story 2*. Shortly after, production was resumed with major script changes. The film was inspired by Lasseter's experiences on a cross-country road trip. Randy Newman composed the film's score, while artists such as Sheryl Crow, Rascal Flatts, John Mayer and Brad Paisley contributed to the film's soundtrack.

*Cars* premiered on May 26, 2006, at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina and was theatrically released in the United States on June 9, to generally positive reviews and commercial success, grossing $462 million worldwide against a budget of $120 million. The film received two nominations at the 79th Academy Awards, including Best Animated Feature, but lost to *Happy Feet* (but won both the Annie Award for Best Animated Feature and the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film). The film was released on DVD on November 7, 2006, on VHS in limited quantities on February 19, 2007, and on Blu-ray on November 6, 2007. The film was accompanied by the short *One Man Band* for its theatrical and home media releases. The film was dedicated to Joe Ranft, the film's co-director and co-writer, who died in a car crash during the film's production.

The success of *Cars* launched a multimedia franchise and a series of two sequels produced by Pixar and two spin-offs produced by Disneytoon Studios, starting with *Cars 2* (2011).

## Plot

In a world where vehicles take on anthropomorphic traits, the Dinoco 400 race marks the climax of the Piston Cup season. The event intensifies a rivalry between the retiring seven-time champion, Strip "The King" Weathers, the cunning Chick Hicks, and the talented but overconfident rookie, Lightning McQueen. During a high-stakes race, Lightning avoids a major collision instigated by Chick, opting to stay on the track and lead, but his plan backfires when his tires give out. The race ends in a three-way tie, setting the stage for a decisive race at the Los Angeles International Speedway.

Desperate to win and gain entry into the prestigious Dinoco team, Lightning struggles with teamwork due to his self-centered attitude. After the race, he races through the night to reach California, accompanied by his transport Mack. A mishap leaves Lightning stranded in the rundown desert town of Radiator Springs. Here, he inadvertently damages the main road, leading to an unexpected community service assignment: repaving the road under the supervision of Doc Hudson, a retired racer.

Over time, Lightning warms up to the town's residents, especially Mater, a rusty tow truck, and Sally Carrera, who dreams of reviving Radiator Springs. Lightning discovers the town's history and Doc's past as the legendary racer, Fabulous Hudson Hornet. As he bonds with the locals, Lightning helps rejuvenate Radiator Springs and develops a newfound appreciation for its charm.

As the Piston Cup race approaches, Lightning is forced to leave Radiator Springs due to media attention. At the race, Lightning initially struggles but is buoyed by his friends from Radiator Springs, who come to his aid in the pit. With Doc now acting as his crew chief, Lightning stages a remarkable comeback. However, Chick employs a PIT maneuver that intentionally damages The King, rendering him unable to continue. In a display of sportsmanship, Lightning halts just before the finish line and pushes The King across, allowing Chick to win while ensuring The King's safe finish.

The crowd and media condemn Chick's victory but praise Lightning's integrity. Although offered sponsorship by Dinoco, Lightning chooses loyalty to Rust-eze and remains with them. Returning to Radiator Springs, he reunites with Sally and declares his intention to establish his racing headquarters there, revitalizing the town.

## Voice cast

*See also: List of Cars characters*

* Owen Wilson as Lightning McQueen, a red race car who is described by John Lasseter in the *Los Angeles Times* as "a hybrid between a stock car and a more curvaceous Le Mans endurance race car"
* Paul Newman as Doc Hudson, a blue 1951 Hudson Hornet who is later revealed to be the Fabulous Hudson Hornet
* Bonnie Hunt as Sally Carrera, a blue 2002 996-series Porsche 911 Carrera
* Larry the Cable Guy as Mater, a brown 1951 International Harvester L-170 "boom" truck with elements of a mid-1950s Chevrolet
* Tony Shalhoub as Luigi, a yellow 1959 Fiat 500
* Cheech Marin as Ramone, a 1959 Chevrolet Impala Lowrider who has different colors in each sequence of the film
* Michael Wallis as Sheriff, a black 1949 Mercury Club Coupe (police package)
* George Carlin as Fillmore, an aquamarine 1960 VW Bus
* Paul Dooley as Sarge, a brown green 1941 Willys model jeep, in the style of the US Military's usage
* Jenifer Lewis as Flo, an aquamarine 1957 General Motors Motorama show car
* Guido Quaroni as Guido, a custom blue forklift, who resembles an Isetta at the front who only speaks Italian
* Richard Petty as Strip "The King" Weathers, a blue 1970 Plymouth Superbird.
* Michael Keaton as Chick Hicks, a green race car described by Pixar as a generic 1980s stock car who is Lightning McQueen's rival
* Katherine Helmond as Lizzie, a black 1923 Ford Model T
* John Ratzenberger as Mack, a red 1985 Mack Super-Liner
* Joe Ranft as Red, a 1960s-style, red and silver fire engine (the design is most closely resembled to be a mid-1960s), and Jerry Recycled Batteries, a grumpy red Peterbilt truck who Lightning McQueen mistakes for Mack while he is lost trying to get to California. These were Ranft's last two voice roles before his death in August 2005.
* Jeremy Piven (US) / Jeremy Clarkson (UK) as Harv, Lightning McQueen's agent who is never seen on-screen
* Bob Costas as Bob Cutlass, a grey 1999 Oldsmobile Aurora and announcer for the Piston Cup races
* Darrell Waltrip as Darrell Cartrip, a grey, red, yellow, and blue 1977 Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Piston Cup racing announcer
* Humpy Wheeler as Tex Dinoco, a gold 1975 Cadillac Coupe de Ville and owner of Dinoco
* Lynda Petty as Lynda Weathers, Strip Weathers' wife
* Dale Earnhardt Jr. as "Junior"#8, a scarlet race car
* Michael Schumacher as Michael Schumacher Ferrari, a red Ferrari car
* Tom and Ray Magliozzi as Rusty and Dusty Rust-eze, a 1963 Dodge Dart and a 1967 Dodge A100 who are the owners of Rust-eze
* Richard Kind and Edie McClurg as Van and Minny, a purple 2003 Ford Windstar and a green 1996 Dodge Caravan
* Lindsey Collins and Elissa Knight as Mia and Tia, the red (later turning green, due to Lightning McQueen being stuck in Radiator Springs and Chick first arriving at California) identical twin 1992 Mazda MX-5 ("Miata") sisters
* Mario Andretti as Mario Andretti#11, a blue, white and red car
* Sarah Clark as Kori Turbowitz, a turquoise race announcer
* Jay Leno as Jay Limo, a blue car who appears in a cameo
* Jonas Rivera as Boost, a violet tuner car who is the leader of the Tuner Gang
* E.J. Holowicki as DJ, a blue tuner car and member of the Tuner Gang
* Adrian Ochoa as Wingo, a green and purple tuner car and member of the Tuner Gang.
* Lou Romano as Snot Rod, an orange tuner car and member of the Tuner Gang who sneezes often
* Jess Harnell (uncredited) as Sven the Governator, a light yellow Humvee caricature whose voice resembles that of Arnold Schwarzenegger
* Mike "No Name" Nelson as Not Chuck, a red forklift of Lightning McQueen's former racing team

Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Dave Foley and John Ratzenberger reprise their vocal roles from previous Pixar films during an end-credits sequence featuring automobile spoofs of *Toy Story*, *Monsters, Inc.*, and *A Bug's Life*. *Cars* was the final Pixar film worked on by Joe Ranft who died in a crash a year before the film's release, aged 45. The film was the second to be dedicated to his memory, after *Corpse Bride*. The memorial showed the roles he had done in the other films directed by John Lasseter during the credits. This is also the last (non-documentary) movie for Paul Newman before his retirement in 2007 and his death in 2008. It turned out to be the highest-grossing film of his career.