Elio Review: Pixar’s New Space Film Tells An Orphan’s Cosmic Journey To Find Himself

Last Updated:June 22, 2025, 17:19 IST

Pixar’s Elio blends intergalactic adventure with deeply human emotions, reminding us that no distance is far enough to outrun ourselves.

Pixar’s latest Elio is a lot of things, but essentially it is about how one cannot run from himself, even if he goes all the way to a distant place in space. Elio (Yonas Kibreab) is one of us, a kid who grows up wanting to be understood — he even has a language of his own.

An orphan, he grows up with his aunt Olga Solis (Zoe Saldaña), who has given up her desire to be an astronaut and settles for being an Air Force Major to bring up her nephew. This creates friction between the two. However, Elio grows up to inherit his aunt’s fascination with space exploration. His loneliness and constant bullying at the hands of two brats propel him to become obsessed with aliens and to desire to be abducted by them. With the help of conspiracy theorist Melmac’s device, Elio sends a message to the assumed aliens out there, and his wish comes true.

Elio is presumed to be the supreme leader of Earth by his abductors — a huge sect of peace-loving intellectuals who have formed an information-sharing centre called the Communiverse, a prestigious body full of vibrant, zany creatures with extraordinary abilities. Elio is overjoyed to be at the brink of finding his own place in the universe, but things take a dire turn as the Communiverse gets threatened by Lord Grigon (Brad Garrett), an alien warlord. His penchant for violence gets him shunned by the Communiverse, and thus he prepares for a full-blown war.

Elio, in desperation, volunteers to be an ambassador to hold peace talks with Lord Grigon, which turn sour. However, he becomes friends with Grigon’s fun-loving son Glordon, who, unlike his father, is kind at heart. With this new bond, Elio tries to stop Lord Grigon, which takes him on a journey that resolves both his inner turmoil and the universe’s.

It is amusing how a 90-minute-long film unpacks so much — exploring topics of loneliness, toxic masculinity, and camaraderie — and also manages to be a laugh riot, with humour that is both slapstick and sophisticated. Both Elio and Glordon undergo a similar arc. Both kids struggle to live up to the expectations set by the adults. Glordon struggles hard not to become a disappointment to his father, which clashes with his unwillingness to become a war machine. On the other hand, Elio’s grief creates a similar rift between him and his aunt.

The ingenious mockery of hyper masculinity is the cornerstone of the film’s humour. Grigon and his tribes are in reality a worm-like creature with cuddly traits. Yet, they wear sophisticated armour, turning them into a killing machine. The film has a riot taking dig at the presumed valour of the clan. However, it also humanises Grigon, revealing him to be a doting father, who is ready to put his son before honour.

Invariably, all parties involved mean well, and the film creates such complex, heartwarming moments — a reason why even grown-ups are fond of Pixar films.

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