The 2006 animated film returns to theaters on September 4 alongside several national and international anniversary events.
Disney and Pixar are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the 2006 animated movie Cars by rereleasing the film in theaters in its original format starting Sept. 4. The theatrical run coincides with Cars Lightning McQueen Day on Sept. 5, held in honor of the main character’s race car number, 95. Directed by John Lasseter, the film features the voices of Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Larry the Cable Guy, and Bonnie Hunt, and follows a hotshot rookie race car who learns about life after being detoured in the sleepy Route 66 town of Radiator Springs.
Several additional collaborations and events are planned to mark the milestone. Screenings of the movie will take place at the historic Tee-Pee Drive-In in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, and the Tulsa Circle Cinema in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as part of Route 66’s centennial anniversary. Furthermore, a Cars-wrapped Mercedes Safety Car and a life-size Lightning McQueen will appear at the Formula 1 Gran Premio D’Italia 2026, while a Porsche “Sally Special” vehicle will tour the U.S. with stops in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, Monterey, California, and Costa Mesa, California.
