Pixar’s long-awaited animated feature, “Elio,” has finally arrived, but it appears to stray significantly from the narrative promised in its 2023 trailer. While the premise—a lonely 11-year-old boy’s quest for extraterrestrial connection—holds great potential, the film ultimately struggles to deliver on its initial vision.
Set against the backdrop of an expansive universe, “Elio” introduces us to the titular character, played by Yonas Kibreab, who is adjusting to life after losing his parents. He lives with his Aunt Olga, portrayed by Zoe Saldaña, a military officer whose career as an astronaut has been sidelined by her responsibilities as a guardian. Elio’s fascination with space is reignited during a visit to a related exhibition, leading him to spend days with a sign that reads, “Aliens abduct me.”
Elio’s obsession with the cosmos starts to impact his life significantly—first leading him to a confrontation with older boys intrigued by a cryptic ham radio signal, and later resulting in a major power outage at Olga’s workplace when he attempts to respond. In an effort to curb his fixation, Olga enrolls him in a tedious summer camp, where he faces ridicule for his beliefs about aliens.
However, Elio’s life takes a dramatic turn when a UFO abducts him, and he finds himself in the Communiverse, a collective of diverse alien lifeforms. Mistaken for Earth’s leader, Elio must navigate the challenges posed by a competing warlord named Grigon, voiced by Brad Garrett. When Grigon reacts violently to being rejected for membership, Elio offers to mediate a peace agreement—a plot twist reminiscent of classic space adventure tropes.
As Elio tries to fulfill his mission, his friendship with Grigon’s gentle son, Glordon (Remi Edgerly), unfolds, diverting attention from the film’s central storyline. A lengthy bonding sequence detracts from the plot, suggesting a disjointed narrative that struggles to maintain focus.
Visually, “Elio” is striking, though it may not convey a sense of innovation. The spacecraft and certain characters share similarities with previous Pixar creations, such as the command module from “Inside Out” and the imposing design of Emperor Zurg. The film’s character names also lack memorability, further detracting from the viewer’s engagement.
Most troubling is the film’s conclusion, which feels unfulfilling and inconsistent with Elio’s journey, leaving audiences unsatisfied and questioning whether this was the film Pixar originally intended to create.
“Elio” is set for release on June 20, 2025, under Disney’s banner. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, and Adrian Molina, with a screenplay from Julia Cho, Mark Hammer, and Mike Jones, the film is rated PG and has a running time of 1 hour and 39 minutes. It features a notable cast, including Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldaña, Brad Garrett, Jameela Jamil, Remi Edgerly, and Shirley Henderson.