Elio is the story of a lonely boy befriending a lonely alien, and while it leans into well-worn sci-fi tropes – and frequently cribs from classics of the genre – that central story plays out a way that’s both heartwarming and tearjerking.
Which is Pixar‘s genius. The studio crafts animated movies that appeal to children and adults alike, and manage to make you both happy and sad in a way that strains the brain but soothes the heart.
One of the ways that’s achieved is by killing a kid’s parents, though the so-called “fridging” of mom and dad has a long and storied tradition, most notably in the animated movies of Pixar’s corporate overlord Disney.
Elio features a pretty gratuitous example of that motif, with the protagonist’s dead parents discussed in the movie’s opening scene, and fuelling the sadness that plagues the young boy throughout. But that fridging feels earned in this instance, as loneliness is at the heart of Elio’s plight.
What is Elio about?
The title character lives on an Air Base with his Aunty Olga, and neither of them are happy. She is an Orbital Analyst who tracks space debris, but dreams of being an astronaut. While his issues are closer to home, and rooted in missing his folks.
Feeling lonely on Planet Earth, Elio decides life will be better in space, so does everything in his power to encourage an alien abduction, via a sequence that makes great use of ‘Once in a Lifetime’ by Talking Heads.
Through a wild chain of events, Elio manages to send a message into space, makes first contact, and a response returns – “Bring us your leader” – followed by an adorably polite “please.”
Before you know it, Elio is being sucked into the cosmos, and embarking on the adventure of a lifetime where alien beings help the youngster empathise with his aunt, and find value in what he has back at home.
The central conflict in Elio
That adventure kicks off with a Kubrickian space flight that nods to 2001: A Space Odyssey, and shuttles Elio to The Communiverse, an interplanetary NATO that features representatives from galaxies far and wide. All of whom mistake this 11-year-old boy for Earth’s leader.
Trouble quickly rears its head via tense talks with Lord Grigon, a fierce alien resplendent in terrifying armour, who calls himself the ‘Blood Emperor.’ A title that doesn’t bode well.
That trouble comes to pass when the Communiverse refuses to make him a member, and Grigon decides to take the organization by force. At which point, Elio volunteers to do a spot of conflict negotiation, both to save his new alien acquaintances and secure his spot within the Communiverse.
The elephant/alien in the room
Disney/PixarElio’s efforts to calm Lord Grigon initially backfire, and bring him into contact with Glordon, an alien kid with problems that mirror Elio’s own.
Though Glordon is also the elephant – or rather eyeless alien – in the room. As Elio the movie is a lot like ET the movie, only in reverse. While the friendship that forms between Elio and Glordon is a lot like Elliott and ET’s brotherhood, as their touching bond blossoms throughout the movie, and builds to a similarly emotional conclusion.
That can be forgiven, as if you’re going to pay homage to a similarly themed movie, you may as well poach from the best. But Elio is also filled with material from other sci-fi movies. Some are fun Easter eggs, like the thump up from Terminator 2, or a moment where laughter is mistaken for suffering like the trash compactor sequence in Star Wars.
But others are more pronounced, such as a clone subplot that plays out like similar scenes in The Last Starfighter, or a space battle where geeks on the ground help heroes in space, much like they did in Galaxy Quest.
All of which means that as good as Elio is, some of the movie’s best scenes were done even better elsewhere.
Big ideas and beautiful animation
Disney/PixarThat said, the animation in Elio is some of the best that Pixar has produced in years, most memorably when Elio first arrives in space, and the Communiverse is brought to life via a kaleidoscope of light and color.
This location is filled with bizarre aliens, so much so that you’ll find your eyes darting to all four corners of the screen. While the Communiverse also features interesting ideas and technology, from the liquid super-computer that aids Elio during his arrival, to a Universal User’s Manual that knows the meaning of life.
Trouble is, while those intriguing concepts are setup, that aren’t given proper time to payoff, as the film’s inventive early scenes give way to a more straightforward action-adventure in the home straight. One that gives Aunty Olga a proper arc, and settles the aforementioned conflict with a message of peace and pacifism, but doesn’t quite rival Pixar’s most ingenious and inventive third acts.
Is Elio good?
Disney/PixarElio is a fun sci-fi flick that’s filled with stunning spectacle and big laughs, but there’s a sad story at the movie’s heart, about two lonely souls searching for connection.
That’s the theme kids will latch onto, while for parents, the most affecting scenes are those in which the bond between father (or aunt) and child proves more powerful than any force in the universe.
It’s lovely stuff, and while the film’s finale doesn’t quite measure up to what’s come before, Elio nevertheless builds to an emotionally charged resolution that will have audiences reaching for the tissues.
Elio score: 4/5
Elio doesn’t have the emotional weight of the best of Pixar, but it’s nevertheless a touching tale about family, friendship, and finding where you belong.
Elio is released on June 20, 2025, while you can keep tabs on the rest of the year’s major releases with our 2025 movie calendar.
For more information on how we score TV shows and movies, check out our scoring guidelines here.
