Onward (2020)
94%RT Audience Score: 95%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
4 wins & 65 nominations total
It may suffer in comparison to Pixar’s classics, but Onward makes effective use of the studio’s formula — and stands on its own merits as a funny, heartwarming, dazzlingly animated adventure.
Onward is a magical adventure that will have you laughing, crying, and wishing you had a pet dragon. The animation is stunning, the characters are lovable, and the world-building is top-notch. It’s a heartwarming story about brotherhood, loss, and the power of love that will leave you feeling inspired and uplifted. Plus, who doesn’t love a good quest to find a magical gem? Overall, Onward is a must-see for anyone who loves a good Pixar movie or just wants to escape into a fantastical world for a couple of hours.
Production Company(ies)
Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios,
Distributor
Walt Disney
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Disney+), Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for action/peril and some mild thematic elements
Year of Release
2020
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Atmos
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:1h 43m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 6, 2020 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 6, 2020
Genre(s)
Comedy/Adventure
Keyword(s)
starring Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Octavia Spencer, Ali Wong, John Ratzenberger, directed by Dan Scanlon, written by Dan Scanlon, Jason Headley, Keith Bunin, comedy, adventure, fantasy, PG rating, box office gross $60.4M, reviewed by Wenlei Ma, tt stern-enzi, Mark Kermode, Roxana Hadadi, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Wendy Ide, Daniel Howat, Jeffrey Harris, Cory Woodroof, Brian Eggert, David Gonzalez, Mat Brunet, teenage elf brothers, magical quest, late father, cryptic maps, impossible obstacles, unimaginable discoveries, dear Mom, legendary manticore, spend one more day, heartwarming, Pixar, bright animation, character design, world building, creativity, tension, heartfelt moments, tearjerkers, family values, great animation, world building, derivative, Meh
Worldwide gross: $141,940,042
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $161,977,067
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 807
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 17,663,802
US/Canada gross: $61,555,145
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $70,244,603
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 917
US/Canada opening weekend: $39,119,861
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $44,642,233
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 269
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $175,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $199,703,948
Production budget ranking: 119
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $107,540,576
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$145,267,457
ROI to date (est.): -47%
ROI ranking: 1,669
Chris Pratt – Barley Lightfoot – Voice
Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Laurel Lightfoot – Voice
Octavia Spencer – Manticore – Voice
Ali Wong – Officer Gore – Voice
John Ratzenberger – Construction Worker Felix – Voice
Director(s)
Dan Scanlon
Writer(s)
Dan Scanlon, Jason Headley, Keith Bunin
Producer(s)
Kori Rae
Film Festivals
Berlin
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
4 wins & 65 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (343) | Top Critics (62) | Fresh (303) | Rotten (40)
There’s a lot to like in Onward, the least of which is its bright, appealing animation, character design and world building, but you wouldn’t expect anything less from an outfit as accomplished as Pixar.
April 6, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/5
Wenlei Ma
News.com.au
TOP CRITIC
A very sweet story, good but not great…kids will love it.
April 3, 2020
tt stern-enzi
WXIX-TV (Cincinnati, OH)
TOP CRITIC
The second half pulled it together. By the end of it, I was like, “well done.”
March 30, 2020
Mark Kermode
Kermode & Mayo’s Film Review
TOP CRITIC
Onward feels a bit more subdued than a typical Pixar affair, and while the movie wears its heart on its sleeve, it might not be quite as engaging for younger viewers.
March 25, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Roxana Hadadi
Chesapeake Family Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Do families need fathers? Scanlon delivers a love song to atypical clans, which couldn’t end on a sweeter, or clearer, note.
March 10, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Charlotte O’Sullivan
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
The fractious bond between the brothers and their aching anger at the loss of a parent are evoked with exquisite sorrow and clarity.
March 8, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Wendy Ide
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Onward tackles grief, loss, and emptiness head-on. This is a film that will truly entertain your young ones, but I have no doubt it will move you as well. Bring the tissues.
May 20, 2022 | Rating: 8/10
Daniel Howat
Next Best Picture
Onward has its issues and pacing problems, but once it gets out of the first act, this journey about the bond of brotherhood is on par with some of Pixar’s best.
April 4, 2022 | Rating: 8.5/10
Jeffrey Harris
411mania
Scanlon has a wicked sense of humor, and his version of happily ever after is part of the draw here.
March 11, 2022
Cory Woodroof
Williamson Home Page
As ever, Pixar employs ironies and reference material that has a way of playing better with adults.
February 21, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
This film is full of heart, magic, and whimsy that Ian and Barley would love the audience to embody in their everyday lives.
February 18, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
David Gonzalez
Reel Talk Inc.
Onward is a decently enjoyable feature that does make the most out of its uninterestingly boring concept.
February 16, 2022 | Rating: 7/10
Mat Brunet
AniMat’s Review (YouTube)…
Plot
In a suburban fantasy world, two teenage elf brothers, Ian and Barley Lightfoot, go on a journey to discover if there is still a little magic left out there in order to spend one last day with their father, who died when they were too young to remember him. Like any good quest, their journey is filled with magic spells, cryptic maps, impossible obstacles and unimaginable discoveries. When the boys’ fearless mom, Laurel, realizes that her sons are missing, she teams up with the legendary winged-lion-scorpion former warrior
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Tom Holland voices the character of Ian Lightfoot in Onward.
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