Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Animated comedy

Cars 3 (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Cars 3 (2017) movie poster

Cars 3 is a 2017 animated comedy directed by Brian Fee, starring Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt and Nathan Fillion. It runs 1 hour 42 minutes and earned $383.9 million worldwide on a $175 million budget. It earned 2 award nominations, including Animation at the Artios Awards 2018. Critics gave it 69% on Rotten Tomatoes and 59 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10.

IMDb rating
6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes
69%
worldwide gross
$383.9M
award nominations
2
Loading streaming availability…
Cars 3 (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 42m (102 min)
Director
Brian Fee
Original language
English
Budget
$175M
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is Cars 3 About?

The premise of Cars 3 without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Facing an uncertain future in the world of racing, Lightning McQueen seeks to regain his competitive edge with the help of a promising young mechanic, Cruz Ramirez. Their journey involves discovering the legacies of racing icons, both past and present, and confronting the challenges of a rapidly changing sport. McQueen learns valuable lessons about mentorship, perseverance, and the importance of embracing new generations in the pursuit of racing glory.

Cars 3 Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • tow truck
  • young versus old
  • year 2017
  • year 2016
  • year 2015
  • talking car
  • named car
  • photograph
  • road
  • singing
  • memory
  • forklift
+38 more
  • numbered sequel
  • car crash
  • car
  • no opening credits
  • scene after end credits
  • surprise after end credits
  • vehicle in title
  • arrogance
  • male protagonist
  • victory
  • post credits scene
  • bar
  • two word title
  • anthropomorphism
  • computer animation
  • shared universe
  • pixar
  • slimehouse
  • shrekcore
  • stand alone sequel
  • pixar's cars
  • cg animation
  • photography
  • 3d
  • 3 dimensional
  • lightning mcqueen character
  • a113
  • car action
  • motorsports sport
  • racing
  • racetrack
  • race car
  • high tech
  • test
  • travel
  • show
  • flashback
  • mentor
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

Cars 3 Cast

Owen Wilson leads the cast, with Bonnie Hunt and Nathan Fillion. Directed by Brian Fee; 10 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Cars 3 Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Cars 3 69% on Rotten Tomatoes and 59 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 60/100, strongest in sensory experience (75) and weakest in rewatch factor (45).

60 /100

Cars 3 Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Cars 3 delivers a visually polished but narratively familiar entry that leans more on nostalgia than innovation. While its return to the franchise’s core themes brings some warmth, the pacing and emotional stakes never fully resonate beyond a surface level. The film’s technical quality and heartfelt intention shine through, even as the plot feels predictable at times. This yields a moderately enjoyable experience that satisfies fans of the series without reaching Pixar’s highest standards.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 70

    In terms of Art & Craft, Cars 3 benefits from a refined visual presentation and solid production design. The varied backdrops and detailed racing sequences demonstrate high technical standards, although occasional character models appear flat by comparison. Editing maintains clear race progression but seldom surprises. Overall, the film’s craft feels competent and appealing without breaking new ground in Pixar’s aesthetic legacy.

  • Character & Emotion 60

    When it comes to Character & Emotion, the film attempts to recapture heartfelt dynamics through McQueen’s mentorship arc. Moments of genuine warmth emerge as veteran and rookie interactions underscore themes of legacy. However, many emotional beats lack sufficient depth and the chemistry between leads never quite achieves the poignancy found in earlier entries. Ultimately, the character work remains serviceable yet restrained.

  • Story & Flow 50

    In terms of Story & Flow, Cars 3 presents a coherent underdog narrative with straightforward pacing. The plot follows an anticipated trajectory as McQueen faces obsolescence and mentorship challenges, but its structure relies heavily on familiar sports-movie conventions. Occasional lulls disrupt engagement, and originality is limited by predictable obstacles. Consequently, the storyline feels adequately formed yet offers few surprises.

  • Sensory Experience 75

    With respect to Sensory Experience, the film’s soundtrack employs an Americana-tinged score that supports the racing atmosphere without demanding attention. Sound design captures the roar of engines and race-day ambiance effectively. Visually, rich textures and dynamic race sequences showcase Pixar’s animating prowess, despite some design flatness. Overall, the sensory elements harmonize to create an engaging but not groundbreaking audio-visual presence.

  • Rewatch Factor 45

    Regarding Rewatch Factor, Cars 3 retains appeal for franchise enthusiasts through its nostalgic callbacks and polished presentation. Yet the predictability of its narrative and limited emotional resonance reduce incentive for multiple viewings. While its technical strengths remain enjoyable, the film lacks the lasting novelty that often drives repeat engagements. As a result, replay value is modest.

Plot

Cars 3 Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Cars 3 from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Lightning McQueen, portrayed by Owen Wilson, finds himself racing alongside his old friends, Bobby Swift and Cal Weathers. The trio shares a deep bond, often playfully swapping victory through the races they attend. However, during one key event, a rival racer, Jackson Storm, zooms past them, leaving Lightning astonished as he watches the replay on the Jumbotron. The loud and brash announcer, Chick Hicks—who was once Lightning’s adversary—teams up with Natalie Certain, a brilliant statistician, to cover the rise of this new generation of racers. They point out Jackson’s outstanding skills, which seemingly rely on advanced technology that allows him to outperform seasoned champions.

Full summary

The whole story of Cars 3, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Cars 3 Box Office & Budget

Cars 3 grossed $383.9 million worldwide on a $175 million budget, 2.2 times what it cost. $152.9 million came from the US and Canada and $231 million (60%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$383.9M

2.2× its budget

US & Canada
$152.9M
International
$231M
Budget
$175M
US & Canada 40% Rest of the world 60%
Awards

Cars 3 Awards & Nominations

Cars 3 earned 2 award nominations, including Animation at the Artios Awards 2018. The 2 nominations come from 2 ceremonies.

2 nominations2 ceremonies

Videos

Cars 3 Trailers & Videos

3 videos: 2 trailers and 1 clip.

Cars 3 - Official US Trailer
  • Trailer Cars 3 "Rivalry" Official Trailer
  • Clip
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Cars 3?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who provides comic relief and support to Lightning McQueen throughout the movie?

Cars

Cars in Cars 3

57 cars on screen, including the unknown and the NASCAR.

All 57 cars
  • unknown in Cars 3 unknown Featured role
  • NASCAR in Cars 3 NASCAR Featured role
  • 1960 Fiat 500 in Cars 3 1960 Fiat 500 Main role
  • 1946 Hudson Pickup in Cars 3 1946 Hudson Pickup Main role
Details

Cars 3 Also Known As

39 alternative titles, including “Cars 3 สี่ล้อซิ่ง ชิงบัลลังก์แชมป์” and “카3: 새로운 도전”.

Also known as
  • Cars 3 สี่ล้อซิ่ง ชิงบัลลังก์แชมป์
  • 카3: 새로운 도전
  • Cars 3 - Evolution
  • Tachki 3
  • 反斗車王3
  • Autot 3
  • Көліктер 3
  • Avtomobili 3
  • Maşınlar 3
  • Cars: 3
  • Auti 3
  • カーズ3
+27 more
  • 赛车总动员3
  • Mașini 3
  • Αυτοκίνητα 3
  • Carros 3
  • Verdák 3.
  • Тачки 3
  • מכוניות 3
  • Arabalar 3
  • Колите 3
  • Auta 3
  • Biler 3
  • Аутомобили 3
  • 汽車總動員3: 閃電再起
  • Les bagnoles 3
  • Autá 3
  • Bilar 3
  • สี่ล้อซิ่ง ชิงบัลลังก์แชมป์
  • 카 3: 새로운 도전
  • ماشین‌ها ۳
  • Vāģi 3
  • カーズ/クロスロード
  • Ratai 3
  • Vương Quốc Xe Hơi 3
  • Mashinalar 3
  • 反斗車王 3
  • Autod 3
  • سيارات 3, მანქანები 3

Seen Cars 3?

FAQ

Cars 3 FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Cars 3, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Cars 3?

Cars 3 runs 1 hour 42 minutes (102 minutes).

When was Cars 3 released?

Cars 3 was released on June 16, 2017.

Who directed Cars 3?

Cars 3 was directed by Brian Fee.

More films by Brian Fee

Who is in the cast of Cars 3?

Cars 3 stars Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt and Nathan Fillion, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Cars 3 make at the box office?

Cars 3 grossed $383.9 million worldwide ($152.9 million domestic, $231 million international) on a budget of $175 million.

How is Cars 3 rated?

Cars 3 has 6.7/10 on IMDb, 69% on Rotten Tomatoes, 59 on Metacritic and 69% on TMDB.

Was Cars 3 nominated for any awards?

Cars 3 received 2 nominations across 2 ceremonies.

Does Cars 3 have a post-credit scene?

Yes. Cars 3 has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app