Emma Gladstone is an entertainment journalist dedicated to offering a fresh perspective in today’s media landscape. As a content writer for The Hollywood Insider, her goal is to serve as a break from negativity by focusing on positive, human-centered angles that uplift and inspire. Writing reviews and feature stories for The Hollywood Insider, Emma celebrates the transformative and authentic power of reporting, to promote meaningful change and substance in media. Her passion for global entertainment fuels her writing, creating stories that educate, empower, and resonate deeply with readers. Emma is truly thrilled to be writing for The Hollywood Insider, as their values align closely with hers.
Jun 29, 2025
Table of Contents
The Hollywood Insider – ‘Elio’ Movie Review
In a remake-heavy era, ‘Elio’, Pixar’s latest film may be one of its boldest—and most overlooked.
The Power of Disney’s Pixar Movies
If you grew up with Pixar like I did, you probably know this pattern by now.
The question that continues to be asked throughout the film. “Are we alone?” The short answer is no. But it sure can feel like that sometimes.
Elio, voiced by Yonas Kibreab, is a kid who doesn’t feel like he belongs.
He’s grieving the loss of his parents, not getting along with his aunt Olga (Zoe Saldaña), and painfully unsure of his place in the world.
He finds himself isolated, misunderstood, and bullied.
He dreams of being abducted. Because maybe, just maybe, another planet might want him.
It says so much about the loneliness kids (and even adults) often feel. It takes a literal alien abduction to show Elio that maybe he’s not as alone as he thought.
And isn’t that what we all want to hear sometimes?
The film picks up its Disney Pixar pace once Elio meets Glordon—a blue alien that’s nothing but loveable.
Their friendship becomes the heart of the movie, reminding us that sometimes, the people who get us the most are the ones we least expect.
That bond, that emotional anchor, is where Elio finally feels like he’s enough.
And although Elio was right—this planet was the one thing he had been waiting for—in the end, he still chose to return home to his aunt.
He returned back down to Earth, wishing the aliens nothing but love and happiness, and thanking them for the way they helped shape him into the young man (well, young 11-year-old) he was becoming.
Another message from Pixar: sometimes goodbyes are the new hellos you never knew you needed—even when they were once everything and more than you could’ve asked for.
Elio running away in search of meaning? We’ve seen that before—in ‘Toy Story’, ‘Inside Out’, even ‘Coco’.
It’s that familiar Pixar thread of a young character searching for identity in a world that doesn’t quite get them.
The relationship between Elio and Olga, also brings to mind the sister dynamic in Disney’s ‘Lilo & Stitch’. Like Lilo and Nani, Elio and Olga butt heads, but it all stems from love, loss, and the pressure of navigating life without a full family.
You feel that weight—and that bond—underneath their arguments.
And speaking of ‘Lilo & Stitch’, the alien parallels are impossible to ignore.
Lilo found comfort and connection in Stitch, an out-of-this-world creature who understood her when no one else did.
That same feeling exists between Elio and Glordon—an alien who, against all odds, becomes Elio’s friend, confidant, and maybe the first being who truly sees him.
It’s tough to say. But maybe it has something to do with our obsession with IP.
Look at the box office lately. We’re flooded with sequels, remakes, and live-action versions of already-beloved titles.
When something original comes along, it doesn’t get the same attention—no matter how good it is.
Maybe audiences didn’t know what to expect from ‘Elio.’ Maybe they weren’t drawn in by the marketing. Maybe, just maybe, people have gotten used to being handed what they already know instead of taking a chance on something new.
But that’s what makes this so frustrating.
Ironically, the same audiences shouting, “Enough with the remakes!” are the ones not showing up when Pixar tries something new.
Look at the most recent remakes and live-action adaptations. Aside from ‘Lilo & Stitch’ (2025) and ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ (2025), many—like ‘Snow White’ (2025) and ‘The Little Mermaid’ (2023)—haven’t exactly won over audiences.
So what are studios supposed to do? It’s basically a lose-lose… unless we start showing up for the originals, too.
‘Elio’ may not be Pixar’s next ‘Wall-E’, but it still carries that emotional Pixar magic.
And if this is what a new wave of storytelling looks like for them, maybe we should be leaning in—not looking away.
Because that’s how we end up with the next ‘Big Hero 6’ or ‘Finding Nemo’.
But we’ll never get there if we don’t give originals a real chance.
There’s Always a Message Behind Each Disney Pixar Film
‘Elio’ might not be the most iconic Pixar movie ever made. But it still has that message and inspiration behind it.
It tells a story of belonging, of finding your people, of realizing that sometimes you’re never truly alone. Sometimes it just takes the right moment—or in Elio’s case, the right galaxy—to realize it.
It’s a message a lot of us need. Especially now.
And if a movie can do that, even if it doesn’t “break box office records”, then it’s done something right.
The key to appreciating these Pixar films is to remember what it felt like to be the kid who wanted to be seen, who just wanted to know they mattered.
Because if you really watch ‘Elio’, you’ll find yourself relating to him a lot more than you’d think for just a “kids movie.”
Cast and Crew of ‘Elio’:
Directed by: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina Written by: Julia Cho, Mark Hammer, Mike Jones Cinematography: Derek Williams & Jordan Rempel Edited by: Anna Wolitzky & Steve Bloom
Cast: Yonas Kibreab as Elio Solís,Zoe Saldaña as Olga Solís, Remy Edgerly as Glordon
By Emma Gladstone
Click here to read The Hollywood Insider’s CEO Pritan Ambroase’s love letter to Cinema, TV and Media. An excerpt from the love letter: The Hollywood Insider’s CEO/editor-in-chief Pritan Ambroase affirms, “We have the space and time for all your stories, no matter who/what/where you are. Media/Cinema/TV have a responsibility to better the world and The Hollywood Insider will continue to do so. Talent, diversity and authenticity matter in Cinema/TV, media and storytelling. In fact, I reckon that we should announce “talent-diversity-authenticity-storytelling-Cinema-Oscars-Academy-Awards” as synonyms of each other. We show respect to talent and stories regardless of their skin color, race, gender, sexuality, religion, nationality, etc., thus allowing authenticity into this system just by something as simple as accepting and showing respect to the human species’ factual diversity. We become greater just by respecting and appreciating talent in all its shapes, sizes, and forms. Award winners, which includes nominees, must be chosen on the greatness of their talent ALONE.
I am sure I am speaking for a multitude of Cinema lovers all over the world when I speak of the following sentiments that this medium of art has blessed me with. Cinema taught me about our world, at times in English and at times through the beautiful one-inch bar of subtitles. I learned from the stories in the global movies that we are all alike across all borders. Remember that one of the best symbols of many great civilizations and their prosperity has been the art they have left behind. This art can be in the form of paintings, sculptures, architecture, writings, inventions, etc. For our modern society, Cinema happens to be one of them. Cinema is more than just a form of entertainment, it is an integral part of society. I love the world uniting, be it for Cinema, TV, media, art, fashion, sport, etc. Please keep this going full speed.”
Emma Gladstone is an entertainment journalist dedicated to offering a fresh perspective in today’s media landscape. As a content writer for The Hollywood Insider, her goal is to serve as a break from negativity by focusing on positive, human-centered angles that uplift and inspire. Writing reviews and feature stories for The Hollywood Insider, Emma celebrates the transformative and authentic power of reporting, to promote meaningful change and substance in media. Her passion for global entertainment fuels her writing, creating stories that educate, empower, and resonate deeply with readers. Emma is truly thrilled to be writing for The Hollywood Insider, as their values align closely with hers.
Emma Gladstone is an entertainment journalist dedicated to offering a fresh perspective in today’s media landscape. As a content writer for The Hollywood Insider, her goal is to serve as a break from negativity by focusing on positive, human-centered angles that uplift and inspire. Writing reviews and feature stories for The Hollywood Insider, Emma celebrates the transformative and authentic power of reporting, to promote meaningful change and substance in media. Her passion for global entertainment fuels her writing, creating stories that educate, empower, and resonate deeply with readers. Emma is truly thrilled to be writing for The Hollywood Insider, as their values align closely with hers.
Emma Gladstone is an entertainment journalist dedicated to offering a fresh perspective in today’s media landscape. As a content writer for The Hollywood Insider, her goal is to serve as a break from negativity by focusing on positive, human-centered angles that uplift and inspire. Writing reviews and feature stories for The Hollywood Insider, Emma celebrates the transformative and authentic power of reporting, to promote meaningful change and substance in media. Her passion for global entertainment fuels her writing, creating stories that educate, empower, and resonate deeply with readers. Emma is truly thrilled to be writing for The Hollywood Insider, as their values align closely with hers.
