Inside Out 2 also received good reviews, and is considered a favorite for coveted awards such as the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.

The last few years have looked different for Pixar, however, as the studio has undergone some changes. These include altering the release format of some of its movies, with films such as Luca and Soul going directly to Disney+ rather than getting a wide-release theatrical run. Pixar has also been altering the types of stories they tell, opting for more personal, character-driven works such as Turning Red and Elemental rather than their classic Pixar format. While these changes have been met with mixed reception, it looks like the studio is about to shake things up again with their next film.

Pixar's 2025 Movie Elio Will Push Genre & Ratings Boundaries

Elio Will Include "Sci-Fi Horror References"

A phone rings while sitting against a photograph featuring Elio's face in Pixar's Elio

The director of Pixar's Elio's leading voice cast includes Yonas Kibraeb, Zoe Saldaña, Brad Garrett, and Jameela Jamil.

Toy Story 5, Elio and Incredibles 3 - Pixar
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In an interview with Empire, Sharafian makes unique promises about Elio's genre and intensity. The directory noted that the Pixar movie will include "some sci-fi horror references." Elio will pay homage to Alien, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and The Thing. She also noted that Elio will "ride that line of the PG movie" by being "weirder and a little creepier" than films with that rating typically would be. Check out the full quote from Sharafian below:

[Elio has] some sci-fi horror references. It's one of our best surprises, so I don't want to give away too much. I'm always trying to push it to be weirder and a little creepier, to ride that line of the PG movie.

Our Take On This Elio Update

This Is An Interesting Director For Pixar

In a time wherein Pixar's future has often seemed a bit jumbled, this Elio update is one of the more exciting changes the studio could make. While Pixar films do not shy away from intense emotions (think the Up opening sequence or the existential environmentalist themes of WALL-E), it is rare that their moments of peril conjure any sense of typical genre horror. Sharafian does not claim this homage will be inherently terrifying, but if it pushes the boundaries of what is PG, Elio has the potential to be unlike anything Pixar has seen before.

Source: Empire

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Elio
PG
Family
Comedy
Adventure
Animation
Science Fiction
Release Date
June 12, 2025
Runtime
90 minutes
Director
Adrian Molina, Domee Shi
Writers
Adrian Molina
Producers
Lindsey Collins, Pete Docter

Cast

See All
  • Headshot Of Zoe Saldana In The 2024 KERING Women In Motion Awards
    Zoe Saldana
    Aunt Olga (voice)
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Yonas Kibreab
    Elio Solis (voice)
  • Headshot Of Jameela Jamil In The Los Angeles premiere for the Peacock original series
    Jameela Jamil
    Ambassador Questa (voice)
  • Headshot Of Brad Garrett
    Brad Garrett
    Lord Grigon (voice)

Elio is a 2025 animated film centered around a young space enthusiast who, during an unexpected cosmic journey, interacts with diverse alien species. Facing a significant intergalactic challenge, Elio embarks on a path of self-discovery while forging unique connections with extraterrestrial beings.

Main Genre
Animation