Pixar’s latest animated film, Elio, has screened early for select audiences, and first reactions highlight strong enthusiasm ahead of its theatrical release on June 20, 2025. The sci-fi adventure follows Elio, a young, imaginative protagonist obsessed with aliens who accidentally gets mistaken for Earth’s leader after being beamed into space.
Critics praised the film’s emotional depth, originality, and stunning visuals. Henry Raviolli noted:
“Elio is such a beautiful story about finding yourself—and finding your people. Pixar did it again. A heartfelt, imaginative, and deeply human story about identity and belonging. Visually stunning and emotionally rich.”
Justin Lawrence of Geekcentric called it:
“A cosmic coming-of-age story packed with heart, color, and imagination… Warm, weird, and wonderfully original—a truly out-of-this-world Pixar adventure!”
Joaquin Teodoro emphasized the importance of its original storytelling:
“What stands out most about Elio is its remarkable world-building and the protagonist’s motivation, as he searches for his purpose and place of belonging. An original idea that, in an era of sequels, feels necessary.”
Jonathan Sim highlighted the film’s appeal to both adults and children:
“Elio is a hilarious, charming adventure through space. An emotional Pixar triumph that captures genuine heart inside a beautiful tale. Riveting, awe-inspiring storytelling.”
Remy Edgerly, the voice actor behind Glordon, a charming alien character, has also received particular acclaim. Carla Renata noted:
“With glistening, dazzling animation, Pixar creates a fine-tuned plot centered around turning loneliness into being uniquely you… Remy Edgerly as Glordon adorably steals the film.”
Elio opens in theaters on June 20.