I can’t forgive you guys for letting Elio bomb at the box office—seriously, y’all chose another remake instead of Pixar’s latest original gem? Justice for originality!
Elio tells the story of a moody, misunderstood kid who suddenly finds himself in the middle of a cosmic misunderstanding. One moment he’s struggling to fit in on Earth, the next he’s mistaken for the Ambassador of our planet. And so begins a journey across the stars where he has to prove not just who he is to the galaxy—but to himself.
Yonas Kibreab is an absolute star as Elio. He nails that “reluctant hero” energy—brooding one second, funny the next, and then pulling on your heartstrings before you can even refill your popcorn. Zoe Saldana? She can do no wrong. As Olga, the auntie trying (and often failing) to connect with her nephew, she gives the film its emotional backbone. And Remy Edgerly as Glordon? Brilliant. This boy keeps stacking performances like Infinity Stones on his CV, and this one might just be his most colorful yet.
Pixar once again proves why they’re still the kings of animation. The colors are lush, the space designs are jaw-dropping, and every frame feels like it could hang in a gallery. The soundtrack floats between heartfelt swells and playful space-age beats, carrying the emotional weight of Elio’s journey while keeping kids and parents alike hooked. And yes—there are moments of horror-style tension (jump scares in a Pixar film, who knew?), which had my kids covering their eyes… then peeking right back through their fingers.
This film has everything we love about Pixar’s originals: big feelings, bigger imagination, and characters treated like actual humans with depth. It blends humor, action, and emotion seamlessly, all while tackling themes of belonging and identity. And let’s not ignore the darker undertones: both of Elio’s parents are dead from the start, and Pixar doesn’t shy away from showing how grief shapes him. I watched it with my kids, and even they felt the emotional punch of those moments. But that’s what makes the story resonate—it doesn’t talk down to its audience.
The ending? Powerful. Satisfying. One of those rare moments that makes you pause when the credits roll.
So again, I ask—how did this flop? Originality should be celebrated, not punished. We can’t live off endless sequels and reboots; films like Elio are what keep cinema alive. Maybe the marketing failed, maybe audiences are just scared of new ideas, but this film was done dirty. Thankfully, it’s streaming on Disney+ now, so you have no excuse. Lock in, watch it, and tell me what you think.
