Elio
An imaginative space fanatic is swept into an intergalactic crisis where an alien friendship helps him find belonging and a clearer sense of self.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- uplifting
- whimsical
- sincere
- family movie night
- kids movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found Elio to be a charming, emotionally resonant family adventure with radiant animation and an entertaining alien buddy dynamic, though less inventive than Pixar's strongest work.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Elio is transported into a community of alien lifeforms and must form new bonds while discovering who he is meant to be.
The communiverse and its alien inhabitants are presented through radiant, eye-catching computer animation.
Elio's isolation and fascination with extraterrestrial life lead to his central bond with Glordon.
The adventure balances space-faring antics with emotional beats about love, friendship, and self-discovery.
Films like Elio, and why
Lilo & Stitch
family-friendly animated science fiction adventure centered on an imaginative outsider forming an unexpected friendship with an alien companion
Treasure Planet
emotionally warm animated coming-of-age story pairing cosmic-scale adventure with themes of belonging and chosen family
Planet 51
vivid animated space adventure featuring a young protagonist, inventive extraterrestrial worlds, and a heartfelt identity journey
Movie Details
- Directors
- Domee Shi, Madeline Sharafian, Adrian Molina
- Release Date
- 2025-06-18
- Runtime
- 98 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (1145)
Cast
- Yonas Kibreab
- Remy Edgerly
- Zoe Saldaña
- Brad Garrett
- Brandon Moon
- Jameela Jamil
- Young Dylan
- Jake T. Getman
- Matthias Schweighöfer
- Ana de la Reguera
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Disney Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Elio about?
- An imaginative space fanatic is swept into an intergalactic crisis where an alien friendship helps him find belonging and a clearer sense of self.
- What is Elio like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Elio as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Elio violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Elio as mild.
- What did critics think of Elio?
- Critics broadly found Elio to be a charming, emotionally resonant family adventure with radiant animation and an entertaining alien buddy dynamic, though less inventive than Pixar's strongest work.
- Which films are like Elio?
- Films with a similar feel include Lilo & Stitch, Treasure Planet, and Planet 51.
- How long is Elio?
- Elio runs 98 minutes.
- Where can I watch Elio?
- In United States, Elio streams on Disney Plus.
