In a summer movie season dominated by the record-shattering success of Inside Out 2, Pixar faced a familiar, daunting challenge: to follow up a billion-dollar behemoth with something entirely new. Enter Elio, a vibrant, imaginative, and deeply heartfelt science-fiction adventure that arrives in theaters as the bold, original counterpart to its well-established predecessor. While sequels offer the comfort of familiarity, original films demand a leap of faith from audiences. I’m here to tell you that Elio is not just a leap worth taking; it’s a soaring flight into the kind of cinematic wonder that reminds us why we fell in love with Pixar in the first place.
This is a film that had a long and reportedly difficult journey to the screen, but the final product shows no signs of turbulence. It’s a stunning piece of animation, a thrilling adventure for all ages, and a poignant story about finding your place in a universe far bigger than you ever imagined. In a fair world, Elio would be celebrated with the same fervor as Pixar’s biggest hits. It is, without a doubt, one of their best films in the last decade and my personal favorite since 2017’s Coco.
The Story of Elio: A Universe of Trouble and Wonder
Elio centers on its titular character, a clever and slightly nerdy young boy voiced with immense charm by Yonas Kibreab. Elio is an outsider, a kid whose head is perpetually tilted towards the stars. He’s obsessed with aliens and the possibility of extraterrestrial life, a passion that makes him feel a little isolated on Earth but prepares him for the adventure of a lifetime. His greatest wish is to make contact, to prove that we are not alone.
As the old adage goes, be careful what you wish for.
When Elio’s wish comes true in the most spectacular fashion, he is accidentally beamed aboard a mothership and transported across the galaxy. He finds himself in the “Communiverse,” a breathtaking interplanetary United Nations bustling with ambassadors from countless alien civilizations. Due to a cosmic misunderstanding, the inhabitants of the Communiverse believe Elio is the official leader of Earth. Thrust into the role of Ambassador, the wide-eyed boy is initially thrilled. But the excitement of intergalactic diplomacy is quickly overshadowed by a looming threat: a possible interstellar war instigated by the imposing and intimidating Lord Grigon (voiced with gravelly menace by the great Brad Garrett).
Suddenly, Elio isn’t just trying to make friends; he’s trying to prevent galactic annihilation. Aided by a quirky and endearing new alien friend, Gordon, Elio must navigate a complex web of alien politics, ancient prophecies, and his own insecurities to keep the peace. Meanwhile, back on Earth, his loving and fiercely protective Aunt Olga (brought to life by the ever-excellent Zoe Saldaña) notices her nephew is missing and begins to piece together the extraordinary truth, grounding the cosmic story with a powerful, human anchor.
A Troubled Voyage to the Screen, A Triumphant Arrival
It’s important to acknowledge that Elio has had a complicated production history. The film was originally slated for release over a year ago, but was delayed by the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. Beyond that, there were reports of significant creative changes. If you dig up the very first teaser trailer for Elio, you’ll see a film that bears only a passing resemblance to the final cut. The original director, Adrian Molina (Coco co-director), was eventually replaced by a new team: Turning Red director Domee Shi and Pixar creative veteran Madeline Sharafian.
Often, such drastic overhauls during production can be a red flag, signaling a film in turmoil. I cannot speak to what that first version of Elio looked like, but I can unequivocally say that the version we have now is a triumph. Whatever changes were made, they were the right ones. The film feels cohesive, confident, and emotionally resonant, transforming from what could have been a simple kids’ movie into something truly special.
From Standard Pixar to Sci-Fi Greatness
The film’s first act adheres to a comfortable, if familiar, Pixar formula. We meet our young protagonist, establish his relatable struggles with fitting in, and are introduced to his parental-figure issues (in this case, his aunt stepping in for his deceased parents—a trademark Disney and Pixar trope). It’s charming, beautifully animated, and sets the stage effectively.
But it’s in the second half that Elio truly ignites its thrusters. The film blossoms from a solid animated movie into a legitimately great science-fiction epic. As a lifelong sci-fi fan, I was floored by the depth and intelligence of its world-building. This isn’t just a fantasy story with aliens; it’s thoughtful sci-fi for kids and adults alike, rooted in concepts that will spark curiosity and wonder. The story cleverly incorporates the real-world Voyager Golden Record, the message sent into deep space aboard the Voyager probe in 1977, as a key plot point. This grounding in actual space exploration gives the fantastical world of the Communiverse a fascinating sense of plausibility.
A Love Letter to 80s Sci-Fi and Real-World Exploration
The Spielberg and Goldsmith Effect
Tonally, Elio feels like a direct descendant of the classic 80s Amblin adventures. It evokes the spirit of films like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Flight of the Navigator, where ordinary kids are thrust into extraordinary circumstances. There’s a palpable sense of awe and discovery, a feeling that anything is possible just beyond our atmosphere. Director Domee Shi and her team lean into this aesthetic beautifully. In fact, whether it was an intentional filter or just the projection in my theater, the film seemed to have a subtle grain, giving it the warm, textured look of a movie projected on 35mm film—a wonderful nod to the era it so clearly reveres.
Like those 80s classics, Elio doesn’t shy away from peril. There is a great deal of action, and some moments featuring Lord Grigon are genuinely frightening. This isn’t a film that patronizes its audience; it understands that a great adventure requires real stakes and a touch of darkness to make the light shine brighter. For this reason, it may not be suitable for the very youngest of viewers, but it should be a perfect, thrilling ride for everyone else, including the adults who grew up on the movies it pays homage to.
A Personal Connection
As a self-professed nerdy kid who grew up on Star Trek and often found it difficult to make friends, this movie struck a deep, personal chord. Elio would have meant the world to my younger self. Like so many of Pixar’s best, it acknowledges the pain and confusion of growing up, of feeling like you don’t quite belong. But crucially, it doesn’t wallow in that melancholy. Instead, it offers a powerful and uplifting message of hope—a promise that with courage and an open heart, you can find your place in the universe, no matter how different you may feel.
The Technical Marvels of the Communiverse
Cinematography That Paints with Starlight
We often overlook cinematography when discussing animated films, defaulting to simply talking about “the animation.” But the craft of cinematography—shot composition, lighting, camera movement—is just as crucial in an animated feature as it is in live-action. The work by first-time feature Directors of Photography Jordan Rempel and Derek Williams is simply breathtaking. They carry on Pixar’s tradition of creating visually stunning worlds, ensuring that every frame is a work of art. The way light glints off alien architecture, the dynamic “camera” moves during high-speed chases, and the quiet, intimate framing of emotional moments all contribute to a rich and immersive viewing experience.
A Score to Rival the Greats
One of the most standout elements of Elio is its phenomenal musical score by composer Rob Simonsen. While Simonsen is a veteran with a long list of credits, his work here is a revelation. I can’t recall ever being so immediately struck by one of his scores before. It’s a magnificent, sweeping orchestral piece that feels like a glorious fusion of a Jerry Goldsmith (Star Trek: The Motion Picture) and a James Horner (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan) space opera score. It’s filled with soaring, heroic themes, mysterious and awe-inspiring cues, and emotionally resonant melodies. It’s the kind of score that makes you sit up in your chair and think, “Who wrote that?” It’s easily my favorite work of his, and I sincerely hope he gets to play in this epic, sci-fi sandbox again.
How Does Elio Stack Up Against Recent Pixar?
In the landscape of recent Pixar releases, Elio stands tall. I found it to be a far more engaging and satisfying film than both Elemental and Lightyear. I also preferred it to Turning Red, a film I thought was solid and enjoyable.
But here is the boldest claim: I enjoyed Elio even more than last summer’s colossal hit, Inside Out 2—a film I gave a positive “See It Now” rating to. While Inside Out 2 was a clever, funny, and emotional follow-up, it was treading on familiar ground. Elio offers the thrill of the unknown. It builds a new world from the ground up and tells a story that feels both classic and refreshingly original. Its embrace of pure, unadulterated sci-fi adventure scratched an itch for me that few family films even attempt to reach.
The Elephant in the Room: The Box Office and the Power of Your Ticket
This brings me to a conversation that is separate from the film’s quality but inextricably linked to its future: the box office. It seems we are getting further and further from the era when Pixar’s invulnerability at the box office was a given. That armor was dented by the pandemic and the strategy of sending films like Soul, Luca, and Turning Red straight to Disney+, conditioning audiences to wait.
I find myself wishing Elio could have been released in those “before times,” as I believe it would have had a much stronger chance of finding a massive audience right out of the gate. Projections for its opening weekend are disappointingly modest, which is deeply frustrating. We live in a world where cynical, low-effort animated films that treat children and their parents like they’re stupid consistently make a fortune, while an ambitious, intelligent, and beautifully crafted film like Elio struggles for attention. I sincerely hope it follows the path of Elemental, which had a soft opening but found its audience over many weeks through stellar word-of-mouth.
Studios, including Pixar, often receive warranted criticism for their increasing reliance on sequels and established IP. But that is only one side of the coin. The other side is that studios produce what audiences pay to see. If an original film like Elio underperforms while a sequel like Inside Out 2 breaks records, the message sent to Disney is crystal clear: don’t take risks.
So, if you are on the fence about Elio, hesitant to spend your hard-earned money on an unknown quantity, I hope this review encourages you to take that chance. When I give a film a “See It Now” rating, I do so with the awareness that I am recommending you spend your time and money. I believe Elio is profoundly worth both. Buying a ticket to this film is more than just a purchase for two hours of entertainment; it’s a vote. It’s a message to Disney and Pixar that yes, we will show up for original stories. That finger of blame for “sequel-itis” often gets pointed at the studio, but it must also be pointed back at us, the audience. We have the power to shape the cinematic landscape.
Final Verdict: A Resounding “See It Now”
Elio is a spectacular achievement. It’s a movie that blends the wide-eyed wonder of classic 80s adventure with the intellectual curiosity of great science fiction, all wrapped in Pixar’s signature emotional warmth and visual splendor. It’s a film about being an outsider that ultimately becomes a celebration of universal connection. I have very few complaints.
Given that I recommended Inside Out 2 last summer, I have to rate Elio even higher. It is a truly solid film, period—animated or not—and one of the very best to come from the studio in years. Support original filmmaking. Support wonder. Support adventure. Go see Elio.
Elio FAQ
- What is Elio about?
- Elio is a sci-fi adventure about a young boy who is accidentally transported across the galaxy and mistaken for the leader of Earth by a council of alien ambassadors. He must prevent an interstellar war while trying to find his way home.
- Who is in the voice cast of Elio?
- The main voice cast includes Yonas Kibreab as Elio, Zoe Saldaña as his Aunt Olga, and Brad Garrett as the antagonist, Lord Grigon.
- Is Elio a sequel?
- No, Elio is a completely original story and is not connected to any other Pixar movie.
- Is Elio scary for young kids?
- The film contains action sequences and some frightening moments with its villain that might be intense for very young or sensitive children. It is likely best for ages 7 and up.
- Is Elio better than Inside Out 2?
- While quality is subjective, this review argues that Elio is a more rewarding and impressive film due to its originality, world-building, and classic sci-fi adventure spirit.