Pixar’s upcoming animated film “Elio” is set to hit theaters on June 20, 2025. The movie follows the story of Elio, an 11-year-old boy who dreams of being abducted by aliens because he feels out of place on Earth. For many of the artists at Pixar, “Elio” is a deeply personal story.
Ernesto Nemesio, the lighting art director, shared that he can relate to Elio’s experiences as a first-generation American with Mexican parents. “There are things that I liked that neighborhood friends didn’t, and so I think I can relate to Elio in that sense,” Nemesio said. The Pixar team has created a unique universe for Elio to explore, filled with diverse characters and environments.
One notable character is Glordon, a worm-like alien who becomes Elio’s unlikely friend. “We made the aliens so diverse in a way so that, you know, the scary worm-like creature with all these teeth and no eyes becomes like Elio’s best friend,” said Claudia Chung Sanii, the visual effects supervisor. Oscar-winning production designer Harley Jessup drew inspiration from space adventure films of the 70s, 80s, and early 90s.
June 2025 release date announced
“There’s a whole tradition of family films set in space, and I hope we can join ‘E.T.,’ ‘Innerspace,’ and ‘Close Encounters’ as part of that tradition,” Jessup said. Industry analysts predict an impressive opening weekend for “Elio,” with box office estimates ranging between $35 million and $45 million.
This follows the successful resurgence of Pixar in the market with “Inside Out 2.”
Forecasting the box office performance of Pixar’s original films presents a unique challenge, as several recent titles premiered on Disney+ instead of in theaters. However, films like “The Good Dinosaur” and “Elemental” offer some context for “Elio”‘s potential performance. Positive word-of-mouth will be crucial for “Elio”‘s success, as it faces competition from other animated family movies like Paramount’s “SpongeBob SquarePants 3” and Universal’s “The Bad Guys 2.”
The official final trailer for “Elio” promises a big-screen comedic misadventure that will captivate audiences of all ages.
The story follows Elio as he is unexpectedly transported to the Communiverse, an interplanetary paradise, where he is mistaken for Earth’s leader. This sets the stage for Elio to form unlikely alliances and face a crisis of intergalactic proportions. The voice cast for “Elio” includes a stellar lineup, with Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldaña, Remy Edgerly, Brad Garrett, Jameela Jamil, and Shirley Henderson, among others.
The movie is directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, and Adrian Molina, with Mary Alice Drumm serving as the producer. “Elio” marks an exciting new addition to Pixar’s lineup of original films, exploring themes of adventure, comedy, and the infinite possibilities of the universe.
