Cars 2

Cars 2 is a 2011 American animated comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. It is the sequel to Cars (2006) and the second film in the Cars franchise. The film was directed by John Lasseter, and written by Ben Queen, Lasseter, Brad Lewis, and Dan Fogelman. Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Tony Shalhoub, Guido Quaroni, Bonnie Hunt, and John Ratzenberger reprise their roles from the first film, with Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, John Turturro and Eddie Izzard joining the voice cast. In the film, Mater (Cable Guy) unintentionally gets caught up in a risky espionage mission that threatens both his and Lightning McQueen's (Wilson) lives during the World Grand Prix, an international racing event showcasing a new alternative fuel called Allinol.

A sequel to Cars was first announced in April 2008 with a tentative summer 2012 release date, which was later moved up to the summer of 2011. Lasseter was confirmed to be returning as director, while Lewis was designated as co-director in June 2010. The film's story was conceived by Lasseter while he was traveling around the world promoting the first film. Michael Giacchino composed the film's score, with artists such as Weezer, Robbie Williams, Brad Paisley and Bénabar contributing tracks for the film. This was the final Pixar film animated using its old software system, Marionette, before being officially replaced with Presto in 2012. With an estimated budget of $200 million, Cars 2 is one of the most expensive films ever made.

Cars 2 premiered at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on June 18, 2011, and was released in the United States on June 24, in Disney Digital 3D and IMAX 3D as well as traditional two-dimensional and IMAX formats. It received mixed reviews from critics, and grossed over $559 million worldwide, becoming the tenth-highest-grossing film of 2011 and the highest-grossing film of the Cars franchise. The film was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film at the 69th Golden Globe Awards, but lost to The Adventures of Tintin. A sequel, Cars 3, was released on June 16, 2017.