Onward

"Their quest beginneth."

2020 1h 42m EN

🙌

7.6

BANGER

★7.6TMDB · 6,722

AdventureAnimationComedyFamilyFantasy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In a suburban fantasy world, two teenage elf brothers embark on an extraordinary quest to discover if there is still a little magic left out there.

“Their quest beginneth.”

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Cast

Tom Holland
Ian Lightfoot (voice)
Chris Pratt
Barley Lightfoot (voice)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Laurel Lightfoot (voice)
Octavia Spencer
The Manticore (voice)
Mel Rodriguez
Officer Colt Bronco (voice)
Kyle Bornheimer
Wilden Lightfoot (voice)
Lena Waithe
Officer Spector (voice)
Ali Wong
Officer Gore (voice)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Dan Scanlon
Writers: Kelsey Mann, Rosana Sullivan, Dan Scanlon
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

Budget of $200M — blockbuster tier. Only ~1% of films ever made reach this.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 71% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 6 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Dan Scanlon, shot by Sharon Calahan. 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 Jeff Danna. 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 Catherine Apple 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

Tom Holland and Chris Pratt and Julia Louis-Dreyfus carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Their quest beginneth.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Dan Scanlon directs. Sharon Calahan behind the camera. Jeff Danna scores. Catherine Apple cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Budget of $200M — blockbuster tier. Only ~1% of films ever made reach this.
2Earned back only 71% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
3Released 6 years ago.
4Directed by Dan Scanlon, shot by Sharon Calahan. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Jeff Danna. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Catherine Apple shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Tom Holland and Chris Pratt and Julia Louis-Dreyfus carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "Their quest beginneth.".
9IMDB entry: tt7146812 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 12 themes, including "elves", "magic", "dead father", "dead parent".
11Released under 11 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Sharon Calahan
Original score: Jeff Danna
Editing: Catherine Apple
Production design: Noah Klocek
Sound: Shannon Mills
Runtime: 102 min · 1h 42m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $200,000,000
Box office: $141,888,276
Return: 71% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG
IMDB: Onward (2020)

Also by

Dan Scanlon

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Manuel São Bento2020-03-02
★ 8/10
If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @ https://www.msbreviews.com I always struggle to find reasons to dislike a Pixar film. One of the most annoying preconceived notions about genres is the one about animated movies. "They're for children, how can you enjoy stuff like that, you're so childish", people say. Little do they know that animated flicks have as much or more emotionally compelling narratives and characters than live-action films. The score is usually more important in the former genre, and the visuals always look stunning. The partnership Disney-Pixar is probably the best thing that could have happened to Hollywood. Dan Scanlon delivered a surprisingly good sequel to Monsters Inc. back in 2013 with Monsters University. Making an efficient sequel twelve years after its original is a challenging task, and Scanlon succeed, so I had good expectations going in. Onward might not be one of Pixar's best movies, and I doubt that a lot of people will place it as one of their favorites when comparing with the studio's films of the same type. However, it still carries the trademark emotional narrative with relatable characters that Pixar always delivers. I grew up with a father, mother, and two older brothers. Just with this information, I know that I'm luckier than a whole bunch of people all around the world. Onward focuses on the relationship between two siblings (Chris Pratt and Tom Holland), and I love their adventure together. It made me recall my childhood and the awesome moments I shared with my brothers. If you're a fan of Dungeons & Dragons or other quest-based games, the main plot's structure will definitely please you as it did me, but it's connected to my biggest gripe... The concept is pretty neat, but its execution lacks a little bit of more... magic, as ironic as it might be. For example, Frozen II isn't about a "world full of magic", but Elsa (Idina Menzel) alone has more magical scenes than Onward in its entirety. In the former, the actual magic feels the screen with stunning animation and chill-inducing music. Onward feels like a diminished version of its true potential. While it's true that the world where the main characters live in has lost its overwhelming magic from the past, their adventure is filled with obstacles which they deal with... you guessed it, magic. I don't want to sound like that guy who only wants "action for the sake of action". I hate when people dislike a movie simply because they didn't see enough stuff exploding or something. It's a bit about expectations and about what I know Pixar can do. Obviously, I'm expecting more from them now more than ever. It's not that the story isn't interesting or captivating because there's definitely an entertaining vibe throughout the whole runtime. It's well-paced, there's always something going on, and the humor is pitch-perfect. It's GOOD. Simple as that. The voice acting is fantastic. Tom Holland and especially Chris Pratt really incorporate their characters' spirit, and it's almost palpable that the actors had tons of fun behind-the-scenes. Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Octavia Spencer are also quite good, but their characters' respective arcs aren't near as compelling as the primary narrative. Every moment I spent with them is every moment I wanted to go back to the brothers. However, the fun and entertainment never go away. The story never fails to be exciting, it just goes increases and decreases its level ever so slightly. I saved the best for last. Even though the second act feels a tad repetitive, the ending is incredibly satisfying. Predictable? Yes. Will it be underwhelming/disappointing for some people? Surely. But it delivers the most beautiful of messages in the most emotional way possible, as Pixar always manages to do. A lot of nice, small morals are learned throughout the story, but the final one is absolutely perfect, and it left some tears in my eyes. The ending is heartfelt and genuine for everyone, but it will have a tremendous impact on families that lost a member way too soon. All in all, the Disney-Pixar's partnership continues to provide the world with the best animated films of each year. Onward is the most recent success, even though it lacks a bit of magic and creativity when compared to the studio's movies of the same genre. Boasting a talented voice cast, the two brothers go on a fun, quest-based adventure that concludes with a wonderful, heartfelt message to every family out there. Some people might find the ending too predictable and underwhelming, but the climax is emotionally powerful, and it will unquestionably cause an impact on everyone (tissues, anyone?). Its second act feels a bit repetitive, but the entertainment never fades away. Hilarious and clever humor, compelling main characters, not-that-interesting secondary characters, and gorgeous animation as always. The end credits song is pretty cool too. Can't wait for Soul... Rating: B+
SWITCH.2020-03-04
★ 7/10
Animation has such an important job. The messages I was talking about earlier are not just intended to teach kids things - we learn from them too. I think that's what made 'Onward' a little disappointing: I didn't come out having learned something new in the context of my adult life. Nonetheless, it's still a lovely allegorical tale that promotes brotherhood, adventure and generosity. Animation's got a big duty of shaping up future generations from a young age, and they can't always deliver the goods for all. With that, I sign off - eagerly awaiting Pixar's next drop where, fingers crossed, I get to discover something new too... don't forget the big kids, Pixar. - Lily Meek Read Lily's full article... https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-onward-not-the-fairytale-pixar-film-we-wanted
Brandon2020-03-13
★ 8/10
Onward is a family quest that delights (Boom Bastia!) and pulls at your heartstrings along the unpredictable Path of Peril. There is a delicate balance between tear-jerking moments and comic relief that Pixar and Disney have been known to master throughout many of their films. If you can look past the Pixar and Disney blueprint of the missing family member tragedy you’ll find many successful attempts to modernize the film to relate to many ages and families. Read the full review at FeaturedAnimation.com.