Elio: Pixar’s Underrated Sci-Fi Gem Gaining Recognition On Streaming

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Pixar is famous for its incredible films, and a sci-fi movie from 2025 that didn’t initially get much attention is finally being appreciated. Pixar remains a leader in animation, with many of its movies considered all-time greats. While most Pixar films have become classics, some of their more recent releases haven’t been as popular with audiences.

Pixar has faced challenges since the release of Onward, which didn’t perform well in theaters because of the pandemic. While they’ve made some good films since then, none have reached the same level of success as their earlier hits, with Inside Out 2 being the exception. Elio, Pixar’s sole release for 2025, is now gaining appreciation on streaming services after a disappointing run in cinemas.

Elio Is Pixar’s Most Underrated Sci-Fi Movie

Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, and Adrian Molina, Elio is a science fiction adventure film. The movie centers on Elio, an 11-year-old boy voiced by Yonas Kibread, who lives with his aunt Olga (Zoe Saldaña). Olga is an Air Force major who put her own aspirations of becoming an astronaut aside after the loss of Elio’s parents.

Elio is captivated by the thought of life beyond Earth and becomes fixated on the idea of being taken by aliens, hoping it will happen to him. One night, after sending a message out into space, his wish is granted – aliens mistake him for Earth’s representative. This marks the start of Elio’s exciting journey through space, where he unexpectedly finds a new friend.

Critics loved Elio, especially its unique story, lovable characters, and overall feel. While Pixar has ventured into space before with Lightyear, Elio feels much more inventive. Lightyear wasn’t a bad film, but it followed a fairly predictable path.

The movie Elio has everything you’d expect from a fantastic Pixar film – a touching family story, a lovable main character, sweet friendships, imaginative fantasy, and beautiful animation. Sadly, it didn’t find a large audience when it was released in theaters.

Why Elio Didn’t Succeed During Its Theatrical Run

Pixar hasn’t been performing well at the box office since the start of the pandemic. While the film Elio received positive reviews, it didn’t translate to ticket sales. In fact, Elio was a significant financial disappointment for Pixar, earning $154 million on a production budget of $150 to $200 million—a result largely due to issues within the studio itself.

The movie Elio didn’t perform well because its marketing failed to clearly explain what the film was about, and the trailers weren’t effective at attracting viewers. Adding to the challenge, Elio was released at the same time as the popular live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake, creating strong competition.

Will Elio Ever Get A Sequel?

Pixar has made many sequels, but it doesn’t look like Elio will be one of them. Currently, there are no plans for a follow-up movie, and with its poor performance in theaters, it’s unlikely we’ll see a sequel anytime soon.

Now that Pixar’s Elio is getting noticed on streaming platforms, the studio might think about building out its story world. If a full sequel doesn’t happen, they could explore that universe through shorts or other related content.

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2026-02-05 17:58