
Onward
Their quest beginneth.
2020 • 102 min • Adventure · Animation · Comedy · Family · Fantasy
Synopsis
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.
Our family guide
Best from age 7- 71 Reviewers · 7 · 72%
- 76 Audience · 6649 · 28%
Two teenage elf brothers living in a suburban fantasy world go on a magical quest to spend one last day with their late father. Their journey tests their bond and reveals the true magic within their family.
- Violence & peril
- 2/10
- Language
- 1/10
- Drinking, drugs & smoking
- 0/10
- Romance & sensuality
- 0/10
- Scary moments
- 3/10
Heads up
- Characters in peril and chase scenes
- Emotional moments related to loss
- Mild fantasy creature scares
What it models well
- Family bonds and brotherhood
- Self-discovery and courage
- Appreciating what you have
- Grief and remembrance
Talk about it after
- Coping with loss and grief
- The meaning of true magic
- Defining courage and sacrifice
- The value of sibling relationships
Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Onward. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.
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Top billed cast
Director: Dan Scanlon • Crew: Jason Headley, Dan Scanlon, Keith Bunin

Tom Holland
Ian Lightfoot (voice)

Chris Pratt
Barley Lightfoot (voice)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Laurel Lightfoot (voice)

Octavia Spencer
The Manticore (voice)

Mel Rodriguez
Officer Colt Bronco (voice)

Kyle Bornheimer
Wilden Lightfoot (voice)

Lena Waithe
Officer Spector (voice)

Ali Wong
Officer Gore (voice)

Grey DeLisle
Dewdrop (voice)

Tracey Ullman
Grecklin (voice)
Trailers & clips
The Strength of Family
Barley and Dad Reunite from Onward | Pixar Side by Side
Meet Catherine Apple, Lead Editor (Onward) | Women's History Month
Dragon High | Pixar Scenes Explained
Scene at The Academy
An Inside Look at the Quests of Yore Board Game with Dan Scanlon
Ian and Barley Bring Their Dad Back To Life...Kind Of | Pixar Side-By-Side
Ian and Barley Cross the Trust Bridge from Onward | Pixar Side-By-Side
Reviewer notes
RecommendedThis 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't do before they set off on their quest, though, was tell mum ("Laurel"). She's narked - and worried - so elicits the help of the powerful "Manticore" and sets off in hot pursui...
RecommendedSolid. 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 up caring for the main two characters. Tom Holland (Ian) and Chris Pratt (Barley) are a smart pairing, they work together nicely. I don't love those around the Lightfoot broth...
Not recommendedChock 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. _Final rating:★★½ - Had a lot that appealed to me, didn’t quite work as a whole._
Not recommendedUnicorns, 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 a magic gem that could hold the key to a little familial enchantment. Ian (Tom Holland) and his older brother Barley (Chris Pratt) are still mourning the death of their fathe...
RecommendedTrusted family reviewersOnward 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 master throughout many of their films. If you can look past the Pixar and Disney blueprint of the missing family member tragedy you’ll find many successful attempts to modernize ...
RecommendedAnimation 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 something new in the context of my adult life. Nonetheless, it's still a lovely allegorical tale that promotes brotherhood, adventure and generosity. Animation's got a big duty of...
RecommendedTrusted family reviewersIf 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 animated movies. "They're for children, how can you enjoy stuff like that, you're so childish", people say. Little do they know that animated flicks have as much or more emotionally...
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Gallery
Details
- TMDB audience
- 7.6/10 (6,649)
- Age rating
- PG
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $200,000,000
- Box office
- $141,888,276
- IMDb
- tt7146812
- Official site
- movies.disney.com
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