Ratatouille · reception & legacy

2007 · Brad Bird

How Ratatouille has been received, argued over, and remembered.

The arc

A hit and instant critical darling in 2007 (it won the Best Animated Feature Oscar), it has only climbed since — what once sat comfortably among 'great Pixars' is now routinely argued to be THE great Pixar.

What's debated

The evergreen fight: is this actually Pixar's best film — better than the more-canonised WALL-E and Toy Story entries — and does 'anyone can cook' mean everyone can, or that greatness can come from anywhere?

Its footprint

Anton Ego's closing monologue on criticism is quoted anywhere critics are discussed, 'anyone can cook' became shorthand for democratised talent, and the pandemic-era fan-made 'Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical' turned collective affection into an actual streamed benefit show in 2021.

Where it stands

A Letterboxd darling and a serious contender in every 'best Pixar' ranking — the animated film cinephiles reach for to prove animation is cinema.

★ Did you know? Thomas Keller, the chef behind The French Laundry, consulted on the film — his refined take on ratatouille (the 'confit byaldi') is the version served in the climactic scene, and he voices a brief cameo as a restaurant patron.