Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies

John Lasseter says Cars 2 wasn't about merchandising

News
By Matt Chapman published 19 October 2011

“It’s a very, very special film to me”

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

It's not the norm for a Pixar film to get a lot of flack from the press, or for it to rank so lowly when it comes to reviews (38 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes). But Cars 2 director John Lasseter says the sequel wasn't just about selling a bunch of new toys.

"I reached deep into myself and saw what this film was about and I think it’s clear that audiences have responded. It’s a very, very special film to me,” he told The Hollywood Reporter .

Some have claimed that Pixar was forced to produce the sequel by its owners at Disney to create new merchandising for the franchise.

Latest Videos From
Watch full video here:

"It’s not true. It’s people who don’t know the facts, rushing to judge,” Lasseter said.

“I recognise my place in the Walt Disney Company, but my job, my focus, my deepest desire is to entertain people by making great movies, and we did that with Cars 2 .”

You may like
  • Bowser Jr. in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Miyamoto felt negative Super Mario Movie reviews were "understandable" but doesn't agree with the Galaxy sequel backlash
  • best Pixar movies The best Pixar movies, ranked! From Toy Story to Hoppers
  • Lewis Tan as Cole Young in Mortal Kombat 2 Mortal Kombat producer admits fans were "very vocal" about what they didn't like in the original

The box office take backs up his comments, with Cars 2 making $551m worldwide - 20 per cent more than the first film.

“I make movies for that little boy who loves the characters so much that he wants to pack his clothes in a Lightning McQueen suitcase,” Lasseter added.

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Your not helping that argument about merchandising there, John.

Matt Chapman
Read more
Bowser Jr. in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Animated Movies Miyamoto felt negative Super Mario Movie reviews were "understandable" but doesn't agree with the Galaxy sequel backlash
 
 
best Pixar movies
Animated Movies The best Pixar movies, ranked! From Toy Story to Hoppers
 
 
Lewis Tan as Cole Young in Mortal Kombat 2
Action Movies Mortal Kombat producer admits fans were "very vocal" about what they didn't like in the original
 
 
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Animated Movies Illumination CEO says the "secret" to success of the Super Mario movies is working directly with Miyamoto and Nintendo
 
 
A still from Kiki's Delivery Service featuring Kiki and her feline familiar Jiji flying on a broom with some seagulls, with a Big Screen Spotlight logo ini the corner
Anime Movies Kiki's Delivery Service's return to theaters proves we need hand-drawn animation now more than ever
 
 
Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man in Masters of the Universe
Sci-Fi Movies Amazon MGM calls Masters of the Universe opening "exactly the kind of critical first moment" the studio is looking for
 
 
Latest in Movies
Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor and Colman Domingo in Disclosure Day
Sci-Fi Movies Disclosure Day review: "Spielberg's best blockbuster since Minority Report"
 
 
Embo in The Mandalorian and Grogu
Star Wars Movies The Mandalorian and Grogu director commentary reveals why Edgar Wright got a special thanks in the credits
 
 
Fujino and Kyomoto huddling together in a Lawson convenience store in Look Back
Live Action Movies Modern anime classic Look Back gets its first live-action trailer – and I'm ready to have my heart broken all over again
 
 
Hereditary
Horror Movies A prequel to one of the best horror movies of all time has been written, but it doesn't seem like it will ever be made
 
 
Luke Skywalker in The Book of Boba Fett
Star Wars Movies A Luke Skywalker reference involving Baby Yoda in The Mandalorian and Grogu was added on the day, Jon Favreau says
 
 
Emily Blunt in Disclosure Day
Sci-Fi Movies Steven Spielberg proves he's a relatable king, admitting he wrote the Disclosure Day story on the Notes app on his iPad
 
 
Latest in News
Shulk wielding the Monado in Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition.
Xenoblade Chronicles Xenoblade Chronicles JRPG trilogy gets Nintendo Switch 2 editions this year, and the first one is out today
 
 
Spyro: A Realm Beyond
Platforming Games Spyro: A Realm Beyond devs say "the world needs more radically joyful, colorful games"
 
 
Kingdom Hearts 4 screenshot shows Sora facing off against a huge monster.
Kingdom Hearts Kingdom Hearts 4 resurfaces in a Nintendo Direct, with our best look at the new RPG in 4 years
 
 
Deltarune Chapter 5
RPGs Deltarune Chapter 5 is coming out this month, just over 1 year after Chapters 3 and 4
 
 
Link in Ocarina of Time remake
The Legend of Zelda The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake confirmed, coming to Nintendo Switch 2 this year
 
 
Final Fantasy Resonance
Final Fantasy Final Fantasy Resonance announced, "the first Final Fantasy game in HD-2D" from Square Enix
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Shulk wielding the Monado in Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition.
    1
    Xenoblade Chronicles JRPG trilogy gets Nintendo Switch 2 editions this year, and the first one is out today
  2. 2
    Fortnite Sprites explained and how to master them
  3. 3
    Spyro: A Realm Beyond devs say "the world needs more radically joyful, colorful games" after unveiling what might just be the most vibrant title of 2026
  4. 4
    Horrified: Dungeons & Dragons - Ravenloft is now my most anticipated board game of the summer
  5. 5
    Disclosure Day review: "Spielberg's best blockbuster since Minority Report"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...