Elio

"They asked for our leader. They got... him."

2025 1h 38m EN

👍

6.9

SOLID

🍅

83%

FRESH

👌

METACRITIC

⭐

6.6

IMDB

★6.9TMDB · 1,150🍅83%Rotten Tomatoes●66Metacritic★6.6IMDB · 48,262

AnimationAdventureScience FictionFamilyComedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Elio, a space fanatic with an active imagination, finds himself on a cosmic misadventure where he must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms, navigate a crisis of intergalactic proportions and somehow discover who he is truly meant to be.

“They asked for our leader. They got... him.”

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Cast

Yonas Kibreab
Elio / Other Elio (voice)
Remy Edgerly
Glordon (voice)
Zoe Saldaña
Olga Solís (voice)
Brad Garrett
Lord Grigon (voice)
Brandon Moon
Ambassador Helix (voice)
Jameela Jamil
Ambassador Questa (voice)
Young Dylan
Bryce (voice)
Jake T. Getman
Caleb (voice)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Domee Shi
Writers: James S. Baker, Brian Larsen, Julia Cho
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

$150M budget — tentpole studio territory.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released last year.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

CAST

Did you know

208+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Domee Shi, shot by Matt Aspbury. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Rob Simonsen. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Anna Wolitzky shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Yonas Kibreab and Remy Edgerly and Zoe Saldaña carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "They asked for our leader. They got... him.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Domee Shi directs. Matt Aspbury behind the camera. Rob Simonsen scores. Anna Wolitzky cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Profitable at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1$150M budget — tentpole studio territory.
2Released last year.
3208+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.
4Directed by Domee Shi, shot by Matt Aspbury. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Rob Simonsen. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Anna Wolitzky shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Yonas Kibreab and Remy Edgerly and Zoe Saldaña carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "They asked for our leader. They got... him.".
9IMDB entry: tt4900148 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 23 themes, including "villain", "alien", "coming of age", "computer animation".
11Released under 10 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Matt Aspbury
Original score: Rob Simonsen
Editing: Anna Wolitzky
Production design: Harley Jessup
VFX supervisor: Claudia Chung Sanii
Sound: Jeremy Bowker
Runtime: 98 min · 1h 38m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $150,000,000
Box office: $154,291,182
Return: 103% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG
IMDB: Elio (2025)
Rotten Tomatoes: 83% 🍅 Fresh
Metacritic: 66/100
IMDB rating: 6.6/10 · 48,262 votes
MPAA: PG

Awards

Nominated for 1 Oscar. 1 win & 48 nominations total

Also by

Domee Shi

Stills · wallpapers

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

broadwaylottoentries2025-06-21
Sickeningly incredible. Pixar never misses.
CinemaSerf2025-06-25
★ 7/10
The geeky young “Elio” has been orphaned into the care of his military aunt “Olga” who works for Uncle Sam helping folks to navigate the debris that’s floating around in outer space. He likes to speak his own language “Elioese” and is fascinated, obsessed even, with making contact with alien life. He’s convinced that there is intelligent life out there, so imagine his surprise when he hears of a possible response from the Voyager mission sent decades ago. Next thing, well he is transported to the kaleidoscopic “communiverse” where everyone share peace, knowledge and friendship. Well, nearly everyone. The nasty “Grigon” wants to join but when they politely decline he threatens them with obliteration - and a verifiable obliteration at that. Clever these folks may be, but fighters they are not so it falls to “Elio” to prove his worth by trying to negotiate some sort of truce! Off to the big warship he goes, and that’s where he meets “Glordon” and learns a great deal more about his potential foe, and about friendship and loyalty as they embark on some lively escapades. Now there’s not a great deal here that could ever be called original. It’s got plenty of themes and tech rehashed from films gone by, but it’s still an enjoyable and fun tale with a message that resonates engagingly. It challenges stereotypes on just about everything from machismo bullying to parenting and cuddling and though the visuals are up to their usual high standard, fluid, imaginative and colourful, they don’t overwhelm the simplicity of the thrust which is a story about trust friendship. Will you recall it this time next year? Well no - probably not, but it keeps clear enough of too much sentiment, has some tea-time menace, mischief, laser cannons and it also reminded me of when I had a radio ham call sign too.
Manuel São Bento2025-06-25
★ 7/10
Elio is a heartwarming, intergalactic adventure that once again proves Pixar's mastery in crafting family-friendly stories layered with deeper emotional undercurrents. The voice cast is impeccable, with every performance radiating charm and sincerity, making it easy for viewers of all ages to connect with these vibrant characters. The score, as is typical for the studio, plays a pivotal role in guiding the emotional journey, gently elevating moments of wonder, sadness, and joy without ever feeling overbearing. There's an infectious sense of fun throughout, with plenty of space-faring antics to keep kids engaged, while older audiences will find value in the themes of loneliness, grief, and the universal desire for belonging. However, Elio doesn't reach the emotional or narrative heights of Pixar's most iconic offerings. Its message, while undoubtedly impactful and accessible, feels too broadly framed to leave a lasting personal mark. The themes are universally relatable, but the movie's refusal to dig deeper into its more profound ideas keeps it from resonating on a soul-piercing level. It's touching, yes, but in a way that feels like a gentle nod rather than a heartfelt embrace. Still, Elio remains a commendable addition to Pixar's filmography - emotionally rich, charmingly performed, and filled with enough heartfelt moments to justify the trip across the stars. Rating: B