Scene from “Elio.”
Disney-Pixar
Elio — Disney and Pixar Animation’s summer box office flop — will try to find a new audience when the film arrives on digital streaming this week.
Rated PG, Elio opened in theaters on June 20. The official summary for the movie reads, “The latest chapter in Disney and Pixar’s storytelling legacy will fulfill your sense of wonder about outer space when alien-obsessed Elio Solís suddenly has a close encounter of the intergalactic kind.
“After trying everything to contact extraterrestrials, Elio is thrilled when they not only respond, but beam him up to their cosmic ‘Communiverse.’ Imagine his surprise when other planetary powers-that-be assume he is the leader of Earth! Elio’s experience in the Communiverse not only expands his horizons but teaches him how important it is to build connections with loved ones back on Earth.”
Directed by Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi, Elio stars the voices of Yonas Kibreab, Jameela Jamil, Brad Garrett, Zoe Saldaña, Remy Edgerly and Shirley Henderson.
According to Walt Disney Home Entertainment, Elio will arrive on digital streaming via premium video on demand on Tuesday, Aug. 19.
Elio will be available on such digital platforms as Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Prime Video and YouTube for purchase for $29.99. Since digital rentals are typically $5 less than purchase prices, viewers can expect to rent Elio for $24.99 for a 48-hour period.
How Did Audiences And Critics Receive ‘Elio’?
Elio earned $72.8 million domestically and nearly $74.8 million internationally for a worldwide box office tally of $147.6 million against a $150 million budget before prints and advertising costs, according to The Numbers.
Elio was well-received by Rotten Tomatoes critics, who collectively gave the film an 83% “fresh” rating based on 219 reviews. The RT Critics Consensus for the film reads, “Catapulted by its theme of building self-esteem, Pixar’s latest cosmic wonder Elio boasts a fanciful world of original creations to dazzling effect.”
The film also earned a 90% “fresh” score on RT’s Popcornmeter based on 2,500-plus verified user ratings. The RT audience summary for the movie reads, “With a fool-proof storytelling blueprint, Pixar delivers an out-of-this-world family favorite with Elio — a visually stunning and emotionally captivating adventure through space for all ages.”
Elio, which is still playing in theaters, arrives on PVOD on Tuesday.