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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

Cars

Cars is a 2006 American computer-animated sports comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Cars is a 2006 animated sports comedy from Pixar. It follows race car Lightning McQueen as he learns about friendship in the town of Radiator Springs.

What it is

Set in a world of anthropomorphic vehicles, the film centres on rookie racer Lightning McQueen as he chases the Piston Cup. A detour on Route 66 strands him in the forgotten town of Radiator Springs, where he must repair the road he damaged and, in the process, discovers what truly matters.

Why it matters

Cars grossed about $462 million worldwide against a $120 million budget and marked the final theatrical voice role of Paul Newman. Its success launched a multimedia franchise including two Pixar sequels and spin-off films, making it a lasting part of family entertainment in Canada and beyond.

Key details

Directed by John Lasseter and released on June 9, 2006, the film runs 116 minutes. The voice cast includes Owen Wilson as Lightning McQueen, Paul Newman as Doc Hudson, Bonnie Hunt as Sally, and Larry the Cable Guy as Mater. It was distributed in Canada by Walt Disney Pictures.

In short

  • Animated sports comedy set in a world of talking vehicles.
  • Lightning McQueen learns humility and friendship in Radiator Springs.
  • Grossed $462 million worldwide; launched a franchise.
  • Features Paul Newman's final theatrical voice role.
Canadian angle

Cars was distributed in Canada by Disney/Pixar through Walt Disney Pictures and became part of the broader North American family-film market familiar to Canadian audiences.

Quick questions

What is Cars about?
It follows Lightning McQueen, a race car who gets stranded in Radiator Springs and learns friendship, humility, and perspective while repairing the town’s road.
When was Cars released?
It was released in U.S. theatres on June 9, 2006.
Who voiced Lightning McQueen?
Lightning McQueen is voiced by Owen Wilson.

Sources

  1. Wikiwand — https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Cars_(film)
    Supports: Core film identification, plot, release date, director, cast, box office, franchise notes
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cars
    Supports: Synopsis, release date, runtime, director, producer, screenwriters, distributor, rating, genre
  3. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/cars
    Supports: Release date, runtime, rating, directors, cast, studio, themes
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317219/
    Supports: Cast, plot, setting, basic film identification
  5. Mental Floss — https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/disney/10-fast-facts-about-cars
    Supports: Paul Newman's final film role and production trivia