It feels like forever ago. But honestly, if you’re trying to remember when did Cars 3 come out, the answer is June 16, 2017. That Friday changed the trajectory of the Cars franchise forever. It wasn't just another sequel; it was Pixar’s attempt to fix the weird detour they took with the second movie.
Lightning McQueen was getting old. Fans were getting older. The world of animation was shifting beneath our feet.
The Summer of 2017: A Specific Vibe
The mid-2010s were a strange time for movies. Pixar was in a bit of a sequel phase, following up Finding Dory with this third installment of the Piston Cup saga. When the first teaser trailer dropped in late 2016, people actually freaked out. Remember that? It was dark. It showed McQueen flipping through the air in slow motion, carbon fiber shattering everywhere. It looked like a gritty reboot.
When the actual release hit theaters in the United States on June 16, it wasn't quite a "dark" movie, but it was definitely more mature. It grossed about $383 million worldwide, which sounds like a ton of money—and it is—but for a Pixar powerhouse, it was actually a bit of a soft landing compared to the billion-dollar heights of Toy Story 3.
Brian Fee stepped into the director's chair for this one. He had been a storyboard artist on the previous films, so he knew the DNA of Radiator Springs better than almost anyone. He wanted to get back to the heart of the original 2006 film. That meant less international spy drama (looking at you, Cars 2) and more dirt-track racing.
Global Rollout and the Waiting Game
Not everyone got to see it in June, though. That’s the thing about big Disney releases; they stagger them like a slow-motion wave. While Americans were eating popcorn in June, audiences in the UK had to wait until July 14, 2017. Some markets, like Germany and Italy, didn't see the film until late September.
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It’s kind of wild to think about how much the box office landscape has changed since then. Back in 2017, you still had a solid three-to-four-month "theatrical window" before you could even think about buying it on Blu-ray. Digital wasn't the instant-gratification beast it is now.
Why the Timing Was Everything
The 2017 release was tactical. Pixar usually owns that mid-June slot because it kicks off the summer break for kids. But they were also competing with Despicable Me 3 that same summer. It was a battle of the giants.
Cars 3 was designed to bridge a gap. The kids who watched the first movie in 2006 were now in their early twenties. Pixar knew they couldn't just make a "baby movie." They had to address the concept of aging and passing the torch. That’s where Cruz Ramirez comes in. Voiced by Cristela Alonzo, she wasn't just a sidekick; she was the future.
Looking Back at the Production Timeline
Movies like this don't just happen. Development actually started way back in 2011, right after the second film wrapped up. It took six years to get it onto screens. Animation is a slow burn. You’ve got thousands of renders, voice acting sessions with Owen Wilson, and a score by Randy Newman that had to feel nostalgic but fresh.
If you look at the technical specs, the lighting in the 2017 film was lightyears ahead of the 2006 original. They used a system called "RIS" (RenderMan Integration System), which allowed for much more realistic reflections on the cars' paint. If you watch them side-by-side, the 2006 version looks almost like a cartoon, whereas the 2017 version looks like a high-end car commercial.
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When Did Cars 3 Come Out on Video and Streaming?
After the theatrical run cooled down, the home release became the next big milestone. For the collectors, the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray versions hit shelves on November 7, 2017. This was a big deal because it was one of the first Pixar films to really take advantage of HDR (High Dynamic Range) for home viewing. The red of McQueen’s paint popped in a way that regular HD couldn't handle.
Then came Disney+.
When the service launched in November 2019, Cars 3 was one of the Day 1 titles. Now, we don't even think about release dates the same way. We just assume everything is "on there." But for those two years between 2017 and 2019, you either had to own the disc or rent it on Vudu or iTunes.
The Impact on the Franchise
People often ask if there’s going to be a Cars 4. Since 2017, the franchise has mostly lived on through Cars on the Road, the series of shorts that hit Disney+ in 2022. The third movie felt like a definitive end to Lightning McQueen’s racing career, turning him from a competitor into a mentor—much like Doc Hudson was to him.
The 2017 release also saw a massive push in merchandising. If you walked into a Target that year, it was a sea of red plastic. Even though the movie was "just okay" for some critics (sitting at a respectable 69% on Rotten Tomatoes), the toy sales were astronomical. That’s the secret of the Cars universe: the movies are just the commercials for the toys.
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Surprising Facts About the 2017 Release
- Paul Newman's "Return": Even though Paul Newman passed away in 2008, he appeared in the 2017 film. How? Pixar used old recordings and outtakes from the first movie to create "new" dialogue for Doc Hudson.
- Real Racers: NASCAR fans might have noticed voices like Chase Elliott, Bubba Wallace, and Ryan Blaney. They were all part of the 2017 rollout to give the movie "street cred."
- The Title: In some countries, the movie wasn't just Cars 3. In parts of Europe, it was marketed with subtitles to emphasize the "next generation" aspect.
What to Do Now
If you’re feeling nostalgic for 2017, the best way to experience the film today isn't on a standard TV.
Go for the 4K HDR version. The way the sunlight hits the sand at Fireball Beach is a technical marvel that was groundbreaking for its time. If you have a Disney+ subscription, make sure you have the "Ultra HD" settings enabled.
Check out the "Lou" short.
Remember that every Pixar theatrical release comes with a short film. When Cars 3 came out, it was preceded by Lou, a story about a lost-and-found monster. It’s arguably one of the best shorts Pixar has ever made, and it’s often overlooked when people just jump straight into the main feature.
Explore the "Miss Fritter’s Racing Skoool" short.
On the Blu-ray and digital extras from the 2017 release, there's a mini-movie featuring the school bus from the demolition derby. It’s chaotic, loud, and actually pretty funny. It gives some much-needed backstory to one of the movie's best new characters.
Revisit the original 2006 film first.
To really appreciate the growth in Cars 3, you have to see where it started. The jump in animation quality over those 11 years is staggering. It makes the 2017 release feel like a true "next-gen" experience.
The legacy of June 16, 2017, isn't just a date on a calendar. It was the moment Pixar proved they could grow up with their audience. They took a flashy, commercial franchise and gave it a soulful, quiet ending that respected the characters. Whether we ever get a fourth film or not, the 2017 release stands as a solid finish line for Number 95.