Read Time: 4 Minutes
| Movie Details | |
|---|---|
| Release Date | 13 June 2025 |
| Directors | Adrian Molina, Domee Shi, Madeline Sharafian |
| Distributed By | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures |
| Writers | Julia Cho, Mark Hammer, Mike Jones |
| Cast | Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldaña, Remy Edgerly, Brad Garrett |
| Runtime | 1h 39m |
| Age Rating | U (Universal) |
| Genre | Adventure, Sci-Fi, Animation |
| Budget | $150 million |
Review: An Intergalactic Adventure with a Whole Lot of Heart
What happens when your biggest dream turns into a cosmic misunderstanding? Elio—Pixar's 2025 animated offering—asks this question with warmth, humor, and a visually striking journey across the stars. Directed by the creative trio Adrian Molina, Domee Shi, and Madeline Sharafian, and backed by a stellar voice cast, Elio delivers a story that’s more than just an interstellar escapade—it’s a tender meditation on identity, grief, and belonging.
We meet Elio, an imaginative young boy (voiced charmingly by Yonas Kibreab), who copes with loss by gazing beyond the sky. When a galactic mix-up mistakenly casts him as Earth’s ambassador to the universe, Elio is thrust into the Communiverse—a dazzlingly diverse council of alien species. It’s a premise ripe for laughs and light-speed spectacle, but what Elio excels at is infusing the cosmic chaos with a deeply personal core.
Pixar has a long-standing tradition of blending heartfelt themes with fantastical plots, and Elio fits right into that lineage. Whether it's the emotional tension between Elio and his guardian Olga (Zoe Saldaña), or his unlikely friendship with Glordon (Remy Edgerly)—the peace-loving son of a galactic warlord—every relationship here serves as a mirror to Elio’s inner struggle. He’s not just searching for aliens; he’s searching for himself.
Visually, the film bursts with color and creativity. Each alien is distinctly designed, each planet beautifully surreal. But beneath the sci-fi spectacle lies a grounded story about coping with grief and the desire to feel seen. It's in these quiet emotional beats—enhanced by a gentle score and subtle humor—that Elio truly soars.
While the narrative structure may feel familiar at times, the emotional payoffs are sincere and well-earned. It’s not about reinventing the genre—it’s about using its infinite possibilities to remind us of something deeply human: that connection, in all its forms, is what makes life in any galaxy meaningful.
"I don't know which one of these is me... but I think that one is you." — Elio
Watch it. For the stars, and for the heart.
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