Pixar’s New Sci-Fi Tearjerker Has Critics Cheering — and the Scores to Prove It

Pixar’s new animated film Elio arrives in U.S. theaters on June 20, 2025, earning largely favorable early reviews, though some critics feel it falls short of the studio’s emotional peaks.

The movie tells the story of a young boy, Elio, who is mistakenly whisked away by aliens and declared Earth’s ambassador. Thrust into the vibrant Communiverse, he must navigate a colorful alien society and find his place among its oddball inhabitants.

Critics highlight the film’s heartfelt themes. Joey Magidson of Awards Radar praised its warmth, calling it “a genuinely sweet and heartwarming film” that shows Pixar’s enduring strength.

Hannah Rose from CBR noted its emotional resonance, saying it’s “full of relatable themes, including processing grief, the need to belong and found family.” Reviewers also commend the film’s fresh sci-fi world, blending humor, emotion, and striking visuals for a lively family-friendly adventure.

However, not all feedback is glowing. M.N. Miller gave it a C, praising the visuals but criticizing its lack of depth, calling it “exhaustingly hollow.” Despite the mixed takes, the consensus leans toward Elio being a charming, if not groundbreaking, addition to Pixar’s lineup.

Elio doesn’t follow Pixar’s usual narrative, failing to forge a coherent connection to the studio’s defining theme of exploring the human condition. Instead, the story leaps into a visually dazzling, kinetic sci-fi fantasy that feels exhaustingly hollow.

M.N. Miller InSession Film

It’s a delightful movie, and another reminder of Pixar’s creativity when they inch away from the financial lure of sequels.

Brian Orndorf Blu-ray.com

Full of relatable themes, including processing grief, the need to belong and found family, Elio pulls on the heartstrings in more ways than one.

Britany Murphy Muses of Media

Although the storytelling is solid, sweet and sensitive, Elio doesn’t quite live up to its full potential.

Hannah Rose CBR

A genuinely sweet and heartwarming film that shows how much Pixar can still score some winners in an age of Hollywood uncertainty.

Jack Martin Film Feeder

There is a whiff of desperation chasing the Pixar emotional highs of the past, which is unsuccessful considering the story and characters here are too simplistic and half-baked to elicit that reaction when the time comes

Robert Kojder Flickering Myth

It’s all about radical acceptance but can only talk about the real-world application of its message in general metaphors, so people who don’t actually accept ‘weird,’ ‘different’ kids won’t have to think about how wrong they are.

William Bibbiani TheWrap

For a movie about someone learning, in both literal and emotional ways, that he’s not alone in the universe, Elio has real trouble getting out of its own head.

Alison Willmore New York Magazine/Vulture

The film’s journey to the screen had its twists. Director Adrian Molina, inspired by his own childhood feelings of being an outsider on a military base and in art school, originally shaped Elio as a personal story.

He left in 2024 to focus on Coco 2, with Domee Shi and Rosana Sharafian stepping in to complete the project. Pixar employed new technology to craft the vivid alien world, with music by Rob Simonsen. Yonas Kibreab voices Elio, joined by Zoe Saldaña as his aunt Olga, and a diverse alien cast voiced by Brad Garrett, Jameela Jamil, Shirley Henderson, and others.

Elio sounds like a fun, heartfelt ride with a unique sci-fi spin, perfect for families seeking something fresh. While it may not match Pixar’s emotional heavyweights like Inside Out, its themes of belonging and grief could still resonate.

The mixed reviews make me curious about whether it’ll feel as deep as promised. What do you think about Elio? Are you excited to see Pixar’s latest, or do you worry it won’t live up to their best? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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