Onward
Onward

Onward

2020Movie102 minEnglish

In a suburban fantasy world, two teenage elf brothers embark on an extraordinary quest to discover if there is still a little magic left out there.

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Insights

IMDb6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes88%
Metacritic61/100
Google Users95%
Director: Dan ScanlonGenres: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Plot Summary

In a suburban fantasy world, two teenage elf brothers, Ian and Barley Lightfoot, embark on an extraordinary quest to discover if there is still magic left in the world. When they unexpectedly get the chance to spend one day with their father figure, they must forge him back to life with a magical staff and phoenix gem. But when the gem is mistakenly destroyed and the spell malfunctions, they must embark on a journey to find what is left of the gem and bring their father back before it's too late.

Critical Reception

Onward received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its heartwarming story, voice acting, and emotional depth, though some found its narrative a bit formulaic. Audiences connected with the brotherly bond and the exploration of grief and growing up.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its strong emotional core and the endearing relationship between the two brothers.
  • Appreciated for its creative world-building and the seamless integration of fantasy elements into a relatable suburban setting.
  • Some critics noted that while charming, the plot followed a somewhat predictable adventure formula.

Google audience: Audiences overwhelmingly loved 'Onward,' highlighting its touching story about brotherhood, family, and loss. Many found the animation beautiful and the emotional moments very impactful, making it a highly recommended family film.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Fun Fact

Director Dan Scanlon was inspired to make 'Onward' by his own relationship with his brother and the loss of his father at a young age.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

7 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

This is my kind of action animation. Two elves go on the hunt for the teeny weeniest bit of magic that might just enable them to catch up with their late father who passed away before they really got much chance to know him. What they didn'...
r96sk

r96sk

Solid. I enjoyed <em>'Onward'</em>. It sets up a cool world filled with intrigue, whilst also having a heartwarming story and good lead voice actors. It doesn't, at least for me, hit every hearty note it attempts but you definitely end u...
Gimly

Gimly

Chock full of contrivances and just straight up contradictions, both which annoyed me to a pretty severe degree, but there was enough cutesy stuff in my lane to keep me from actively disliking it. Not a fan of the naming convention though. ...
Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

Louisa Moore - S...

Unicorns, pixies, elves, and wizards have lost the magic of the past in “Onward,” a formulaic animated adventure from Pixar. Set in a suburban world of fantasy, the film tells the story of two teenage brothers who embark on a quest to find ...
Brandon

Brandon

Onward is a family quest that delights (Boom Bastia!) and pulls at your heartstrings along the unpredictable Path of Peril. There is a delicate balance between tear-jerking moments and comic relief that Pixar and Disney have been known to m...
SWITCH.

SWITCH.

Animation has such an important job. The messages I was talking about earlier are not just intended to teach kids things - we learn from them too. I think that's what made 'Onward' a little disappointing: I didn't come out having learned so...
Manuel São Bento

Manuel São Bento

If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @ https://www.msbreviews.com I always struggle to find reasons to dislike a Pixar film. One of the most annoying preconceived notions about genres is the one about anim...