Elio

Production Budget Analysis

What was the production budget for Elio?

Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina, with Yonas Kibreab, Remy Edgerly, Zoe Saldaña leading the cast, Elio was produced by Pixar with a confirmed budget of $150,000,000, placing it in the big-budget category for animation films.

A budget of $150,000,000 represents a significant studio commitment. Including estimated P&A of $50–100 million, the total investment likely approached $255,000,000–$300,000,000, requiring approximately $375,000,000 in worldwide grosses to break even.

Budget Comparison — Similar Productions

• 6 Underground (2019): Budget $150,000,000 | Gross N/A • Angels & Demons (2009): Budget $150,000,000 | Gross $485,930,816 → ROI: 224% • Batman Begins (2005): Budget $150,000,000 | Gross $374,218,673 → ROI: 149% • Bee Movie (2007): Budget $150,000,000 | Gross $287,594,577 → ROI: 92% • Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024): Budget $150,000,000 | Gross N/A

Key Budget Allocation Categories

▸ Animation Production Pipeline The bulk of an animated film's budget funds the multi-year production pipeline: storyboarding, character modeling, rigging, animation, lighting, rendering, and compositing. Major studio animated features employ 300–600 artists over 3–5 years.

▸ Voice Talent Celebrity voice casting has become standard for studio animation, with A-list actors earning $5–15 million for voice roles.

▸ Music, Songs & Sound Design Original songs and orchestral scores are central to animated storytelling. Sound design for animated worlds must be created entirely from scratch.

Key Production Personnel

CAST: Yonas Kibreab, Remy Edgerly, Zoe Saldaña, Brad Garrett, Brandon Moon Key roles: Yonas Kibreab as Elio / Other Elio (voice); Remy Edgerly as Glordon (voice); Zoe Saldaña as Olga Solís (voice); Brad Garrett as Lord Grigon (voice)

DIRECTOR: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina CINEMATOGRAPHY: Matt Aspbury, Danielle Feinberg MUSIC: Rob Simonsen EDITING: Anna Wolitzky, Steve Bloom PRODUCTION: Pixar FILMED IN: United States of America

Box Office Performance

Elio earned $72,987,454 domestically and $81,303,728 internationally, for a worldwide total of $154,291,182. Revenue was split 47% domestic / 53% international.

Break-Even Analysis

Using the industry-standard 2.5x multiplier (P&A + exhibitor shares of 40–50% + distribution fees), Elio needed approximately $375,000,000 to break even. The film fell $220,708,818 short in theatrical revenue. Ancillary streams (home media, streaming, TV) may have bridged the gap.

Return on Investment (ROI)

Revenue: $154,291,182 Budget: $150,000,000 Net: $4,291,182 ROI: 2.9%

Profitability Assessment

VERDICT: Modestly Profitable

Elio earned $154,291,182 against a $150,000,000 budget (3% ROI). Full profitability was likely achieved through ancillary revenue streams.

INDUSTRY IMPACT

PRODUCTION NOTES

▸ Casting

In September 2022, during the D23 Expo, America Ferrera and Yonas Kibreab were announced to have been cast in the leading voice roles of Olga Solis and her son Elio, respectively. While recording his lines, Kibreab stated that "it was Elio who really helped me. I just had to think of Elio's story. There were so many deep things for me." and added that he relates to the character's loneliness. In November 2024, with the release of the second teaser trailer and poster, Remy Edgerly and Shirley Henderson joined the film's voice cast as Glordon and Ooooo, respectively.

▸ Music & Score

In November 2024, Rob Simonsen was announced to compose the score for Elio. This marks the composer's first animated film. Simonsen was brought in to work on Elio about two and half years before the film's release. Pixar shared with him the story of the film, and Simonsen strongly resonated with it.

▸ Marketing & Release

Following the project announcement, the first look concept art of the film was released on September 9, 2022. The first teaser trailer was released on June 13, 2023, featuring "Good Feeling" by Austin French. Ethan Anderton of /Film said "Adding some charm to this story is the fact that Elio isn't exactly the most confident kid. Though he's artistic and creative, he's also more of an indoor kid who doesn't fit in with his peers. But perhaps being among a group of aliens who aren't human will allow him an opportunity to make a connection without any societal pressure. This just might be the opportunity Elio needs to come out of his shell." Pauli Poisuo of Looper says while it "obviously doesn't give too much of the story away, it certainly looks gorgeous and intriguing."

The second teaser trailer, revealing new changes such as a new logo, was released on November 21, 2024, featuring "Such Great Heights" by the Postal Service. Julie and T.J. of Pixar Post said the film "drew visual comparisons to past Pixar films like Coco, WALL-E, and Finding Nemo with colorful characters, movement, and lighting." A longer trailer was released on March 19, 2025.

On June 16, 2025, a cross-promotional short was made in which the titular characters of Phineas and Ferb contact with Elio and Glordon and Candace attempts to bust them as they get abducted.

On June 30, 2025, Pixar released an online series of in-universe bloopers for the film. The studio had previously created bloopers for the end credits of A Bug's Life (1998), Toy Story 2 (1999), and Monsters, Inc. (2001).

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Summary: Nominated for 1 Oscar. 43 nominations total

Additional Recognition: ! scope="col" | Award ! scope="col" | Date of ceremony ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" | Recipient ! scope="col" | Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable" |

! scope="row" | Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association

! scope="rowgroup" | St. Louis Film Critics Association

! scope="rowgroup" | New York Film Critics Online

! scope="row" | San Diego Film Critics Society

! scope="rowgroup"| Austin Film Critics Association

! scope="row" | Georgia Film Critics Association

! scope="row" | Critics' Choice Awards

! scope="row" |Golden Globes Awards

! scope="rowgroup" | London Film Critics Circle Awards

! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="10" | Annie Awards

! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="5" |Visual Effects Society Awards

! scope="row" | Art Directors Guild Awards

! scope="row" | Producers Guild Awards

! scope="rowgroup" | Motion Picture Sound Editors

! scope="rowgroup" | Saturn Awards

! scope="rowgroup" | Academy Awards

! scope="rowgroup" | Satellite Awards

CRITICAL RECEPTION

Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of A on an A+ to F scale, while those surveyed by PostTrak gave it an 83% overall positive score, with 59% saying they would definitely recommend the film. Peter Debruge of Variety wrote: "Elio is right at home in the Pixar catalog, but lacks those undeniable signs of intelligent life (wit, surprise, and the capacity to expand the medium) that set the studio's best work apart." Nevertheless, he felt the film was at its "most fun once it becomes a buddy movie" and praised the emotional beats. Carlos Aguilar of IGN summarized, "With incisive humor, radiant, eye-catching animation, and peculiar alien characters, there's enough entertainment value in Elio to satisfy viewers who are the protagonist's age or younger [...] even if it leaves you wishing some of its imaginative concepts and creations would have received more screen time." Kyle Smith of The Wall Street Journal explained that "Elio isn't a first-rate Pixar offering, but thanks to sumptuous animation and a warm spirit, it's a cute Wizard of Oz–style journey to the beyond and back. Outer space is cool, but there's no place like home." Laura Venning of Empire described the film as "Robert Zemeckis' Contact for kids. A slow start gives way to a charming, visually inventive adventure that might just inspire a new generation of astronomers to look to the skies."

Manohla Dargis of The New York Times called the film "a lackluster science-fiction adventure", writing "there's not much more to Elio once the kids become friends and this world's novelty wears off, giving way to banality. Feelings are shared, if largely for the viewers; minor family issues are raised (and resolved); clichés and contrivances pile up." Angie Han for The Hollywood Reporter similarly noted: "Elio is a perfectly nice kiddie sci-fi adventure that does everything a movie with that description is supposed to do.