---
title: "Elemental"
year: 2023
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/elemental"
fi1m_id: "elemental"
imdb_id: "tt15789038"
tmdb_id: 976573
wikidata_id: "Q112801489"
fi1m_score: 64
critics_score: 58
critics_reviews: 18
published: "2026-09-10"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:06.518465+00:00"
region: "US"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Elemental (2023)

Directed by Peter Sohn · 1h 42m · MPA PG · Animation, Comedy, Family, Romance

## Identity

Elemental

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/elemental
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** elemental
- **IMDb ID:** tt15789038
- **TMDB ID:** 976573
- **Wikidata ID:** Q112801489
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15789038/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/976573, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q112801489

**Fi1m score: 64** · Critics 58 from 18 reviews

*In a sentence:* A boy made of water cries at everything, a girl made of fire cannot touch him, and the city inspection paperwork will not stop

> Peter Sohn’s fire-and-water romance is one of the handsomest things Pixar has made in years and one of the most cluttered. When it leaves Ember and Wade alone together it is lovely; the rest of the time it is filing paperwork.

## Synopsis

In Element City, where fire, water, earth and air live as neighbours and mostly keep to their own districts, Ember (Leah Lewis) is the quick-tempered daughter of Bernie (Ronnie del Carmen) and Cinder (Shila Ommi), fire people who arrived with nothing and built a shop in Firetown. Bernie intends to retire and hand it to her. When a burst pipe floods the basement, out of the water comes Wade (Mamoudou Athie), a city inspector who cries easily and is obliged to report what he has found. Ember has days to save the shop from closure and needs Wade’s help to trace the leak, which means spending time with someone she cannot touch. Peter Sohn directs, from a screenplay by Brenda Hsueh, Kat Likkel and John Hoberg.

## Review

Peter Sohn’s second film for Pixar imagines a city where the four elements live side by side and mostly do not mix. Fire people keep to Firetown, a district of stacked shopfronts and coloured lanterns where Bernie (Ronnie del Carmen) and Cinder (Shila Ommi) run a shop they expect their daughter Ember (Leah Lewis) to inherit. A burst pipe floods the basement, and out of the water climbs Wade (Mamoudou Athie), a city inspector who cries at almost everything and now has to report the leak. *Elemental* is a decent, good-hearted film with a romance worth your evening and a script that keeps pulling the lovers apart to attend to plumbing. It runs 102 minutes, and about forty of them are the film it should have been.

The look is the reason to go. Don Shank designs Element City as a place built by and for water: canals where roads should be, fountains on every corner, trains whose carriages slosh, so that a fire person crossing town is taking a risk with every step. David Juan Bianchi and Jean-Claude Kalache light Ember as a flame with a face, and the face stays readable however hard she burns; when she loses her temper she goes blue-white and the air around her heats up with her. Wade is translucent, the city visible through his chest, and the animators never let him quite settle, so he always looks about to spill.

Athie gives Wade a soft, unhurried sincerity that would be unbearable in a live actor and is charming here; he weeps at a sunset, at a kind word, at his own sentences. Lewis plays Ember with the clipped impatience of someone who has heard “one day this will all be yours” since she was small and has never once been asked whether she wants it. Catherine O’Hara turns up as Wade’s mother Brook, and a dinner at her flat, where the family compete to make one another cry, made us laugh harder than anything before it had prepared us for. Del Carmen’s Bernie is tired, proud and coughing, and the film is at its most honest whenever he is in the shop.

The trouble is everything else. The screenplay, by Brenda Hsueh, Kat Likkel and John Hoberg, gives Ember a leak to fix, an inspection to pass, a flood to explain, a talent for glass she has not noticed, a rare flower she wants to see and a father who wants to retire, and it rotates through them at speed. Every time she and Wade are alone and the film slows down to watch them, a plot point knocks on the door. The immigrant story is set out in the opening minutes, a family off the boat with a suitcase and a blue flame, and then restated rather than developed; a water woman on the train tuts at “fire people” and the film moves on. The rules about who can touch whom bend when the script needs them to.

Thomas Newman’s score is warm strings with a shimmer over the top, and the song “Steal the Show” arrives on cue for the falling-in-love montage. Stephen Schaffer cuts to keep all those threads in the air, so the film hardly sits still, and the scenes that land are the few he lets breathe.

One did. Late on there is a scene between Ember and her father in the shop, no more than a couple of minutes, that we will not describe, and it got past our guard completely. We had spent an hour mildly irritated by the paperwork and were not expecting to be moved by a gesture as small as a bow. That the film can do this and does it so rarely is the real disappointment.

Sohn’s *The Good Dinosaur* (2015) had too little story; this has too much. [*Inside Out*](https://film.one/film/inside-out) (2015) made its metaphor the plot. Here the metaphor and the plot sit next to each other on the sofa and do not speak.

Take a child, or someone you are fond of, and do not expect to talk about it much afterwards. It carries a PG and is gentle for one; the flooding is loud but nobody is in danger for long. Wade would cry at that sentence. We did not, but we came closer than we expected.

*Fi1m score 64, published 10 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics find Elemental a middling Pixar film: pleasant to look at, easy to sit through and lighter than the studio’s best. The praise gathers almost entirely around the animation, with the fire and water characters and the crowded, segregated Element City singled out repeatedly for their design. The central romance is generally liked too, as are the voice performances, and several reviews pick out a father-daughter thread as the film’s warmest material.

The reservations cluster on the story. Reviewers call it formulaic, overstuffed with subplots and too close to earlier Pixar films, and they split on the immigration metaphor: Paste finds it handled with empathy, while Vulture and Deadline find it reductive and moralising. The spread is fairly wide, from a warm notice at Little White Lies to a run of dismissals, and The Guardian dissents on the one point most agree on, finding the romance short of chemistry.

## Straight answers

**Is Elemental worth watching?**

*Elemental* is worth watching for families and for anyone who wants a gentle animated romance, and we scored it 64. It is one of the handsomest things Pixar has made in years, and Wade and Ember are lovely when the film leaves them alone, but the script keeps interrupting them with leaks, inspections and paperwork. Take a child and do not expect to talk about it much afterwards.

**How long is Elemental, and what is it rated?**

*Elemental* runs 1h 42m and is rated PG by the MPA in the US. It is an animation and comedy film.

**Where can I watch Elemental in the US?**

*Elemental* is streaming on Disney+ in the US, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video from $3.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How does Elemental compare to Minari?**

*Elemental* and [*Minari*](https://film.one/film/minari) are both about an immigrant family and a small business, but *Minari* tells its story plainly and *Elemental* wraps it in a fire-and-water metaphor that never quite joins up with the plot. *Minari* is the better film: patient, exact and kind to everyone in it. *Elemental* is the one to choose if you are watching with children or want something lighter.

**What should I watch after Elemental?**

After *Elemental*, try [*Minari*](https://film.one/film/minari) (2020, Fi1m 84): An immigrant family and a small business, told without the metaphor getting in the way. Then [*Wolfwalkers*](https://film.one/film/wolfwalkers) (2020, Fi1m 84): Hand-drawn Irish animation about a girl who does not fit the town she lives in; and [*Ratatouille*](https://film.one/film/ratatouille) (2007, Fi1m 91): Pixar with one idea, a kitchen, and the confidence to let a scene run.

### Reviews we read (24)

- **Little White Lies**, Hannah Strong (3/4/3): Opposites attract in this Pixar rom-com but the film plays it safe and never quite ignites. The director's ambition to bring new ideas is admirable and the voice cast has pleasant chemistry, yet the clichéd storyline and artificial animation leave it feeling scattered and limited. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/elemental)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Katie Walsh (75/100, inferred): The critic finds the story basic but praises the visually dazzling animation and the charming romance between fire and water elements, highlighting the tender voice performance of the water character. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-06-14/review-elemenal-pixar-fire-water-animation)
- **The Telegraph** (70/100, inferred): Fire and water fall for each other in a romantic racial harmony parable that develops into a genuinely sweet and moving courtship despite bending its own rules. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/elemental-disney-pixar-review/)
- **Empire**, Sophie Butcher (65/100, inferred): The critic praises the central romance and voice performances but notes the film is overstuffed with plot strands and simplistic dialogue. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/elemental/)
- **The AV Club**, Manuel Betancourt (C+): The film is a beautiful-looking but paper-thin rom-com that struggles with emotional complexity and world-building overshadowing the story, with praise for the central duo and visual inventiveness. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/a-review-of-the-new-pixar-film-elemental-1850526746)
- **Radio Times** (3/5): Not top-tier Pixar but plenty heartfelt, with lovely moments in the city exploration and a cute love story boosted by a funny voice performance. Narratively it feels basic and short-changed, with immigration themes only cursorily examined. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/elemental-pixar-review-film-cannes-festival/)
- **Screen Daily** (60/100, inferred): A heartfelt tale of second-generation immigrant struggles that is visually outstanding, though emotions get bogged down by a familiar and cluttered story. Thoughtful ideas on inequality and xenophobia are present but not always subtle. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/elemental-cannes-review/5182636.article)
- **Time Out**, Phil de Semlyen (3/5): The film ambitiously tackles segregation and ghettoisation through its element world but lacks storytelling muscle for the metaphor to land fully. Some fun action and strong voice work stand out, especially the meet-the-parents scene, but overall it feels slight to middling. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/elemental-2023)
- **Total Film**, James Mottram (55/100, inferred): The critic appreciates the sweet nature and visuals but criticizes the lack of depth in exploring themes. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/elemental-review-pixar/)
- **The Guardian** (40/100, inferred): The film has visual energy in its segregated city setting but the central romance lacks persuasive chemistry. It draws parallels with other Pixar films but falls short in inventive storytelling and laughs. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jul/09/elemental-review-pixar-fire-and-water-romance-struggles-to-ignite)
- **The i Paper**, Christina Newland (40/100, inferred): The critic finds it a cute but stale retread of Pixar tropes that fails to justify its existence compared to better entries. [Read](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/elemental-review-golden-age-pixar-over-2457244)
- **Variety**, Peter Debruge (40/100, inferred): The critic finds the film overcomplicated and a misfire despite the high-concept ideas, praising the emotional father-daughter scene but criticizing the excessive world-building and multitasking plot. [Read](https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/elemental-review-pixar-1235626948/)
- **Vulture**, Alison Willmore (40/100, inferred): The critic sees it as a messy metaphor for interracial romance and immigrant stories that falls into stereotypes and clichés, praising the visuals and design but criticizing the undercooked concept and reductiveness. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/elemental-review-pixars-metaphor-for-interracial-romance.html)
- **Financial Times**, Danny Leigh (★★★☆☆): High on concept but low on fun, the immigrant story told through elements is fine but feels like an overearnest entertainer that fails to engage fully. [Read](https://www.ft.com/content/a0b26686-e081-4a9c-bb20-7a82defd7334)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Jordan Mintzer: The critic finds the film underwhelming and predictable despite its timely immigrant metaphor and visual appeal, praising the character of Bernie but noting it feels like a generic Pixar entry. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/elemental-review-pixar-1235502286/)
- **The Times**, Ed Potton (★★★☆☆): A flawed but big-hearted tale of forbidden love in Element City that is beautiful but drippy overall. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/elemental-film-review-pixar-0ctbqdq0k)
- **/Film**, Josh Spiegel (7/10): Elemental is a charming but formulaic original Pixar film that excels in animation and offers a tentative romance with some immigrant story elements, though it leans too heavily on familiar mismatched-buddy tropes. It is better than recent sequels but signals a need for the studio to innovate. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/1311022/elemental-review/)
- **Film Stories**, Lauren Miles (65/100, inferred): The film offers a sweet father-daughter story and a cute romance between fire and water elements that feels natural. It boasts flawless visuals and personal themes but lacks the creative spark of earlier Pixar films. [Read](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/elemental-review-a-sweet-story-from-pixar/)
- **Collider**, Therese Lacson (C+): The critic finds the film formulaic and overly similar to Zootopia, with a clumsy handling of the immigrant story that lacks nuance. They praise the beautiful animation and heartwarming elements but note the story fails to stand out. [Read](https://collider.com/elemental-review/)
- **The Playlist**, Nick Allen (C): Pixar's animation craft is impressive, but the dull, safe story fails to deliver emotional ambition or wit in its heavy-handed metaphor about immigration and tolerance. The romantic comedy template and expected turns make it suitable only for completists. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/elemental-review-pixars-fire-water-metaphor-for-tolerance-differences-is-sadly-dull-safe-20230613/)
- **Eye for Film**, Andrew Robertson (35/100, inferred): The film competently executes familiar Pixar tropes and an immigrant romance metaphor but piles on too many elements, resulting in a fizzling story that fails to carry its weightier themes. It draws from earlier animated features without enough originality or cohesion. [Read](http://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/elemental-2023-film-review-by-andrew-robertson)
- **Deadline**, Stephanie Bunbury: The critic finds the film visually splendid with a clever concept and inventive world-building but criticizes it as dull-witted, syrupy and overly sentimental in its romance and messaging about immigrants. They argue the protracted will-they-won't-they plot and moralizing undermine the Pixar-level invention. [Read](https://deadline.com/2023/05/elemental-review-disney-pixar-cannes-film-festival-1235381852/)
- **Paste**, Jason Gorber (7.0): The critic highlights the effective cross-cultural love story and immigrant themes handled with empathy, along with strong character chemistry and sublime animation. They note the plot feels a bit pat in places but overall find it satisfying and moving. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/pixar/elemental-review)
- **The Wrap**: The critic praises the film's visual craftsmanship, inventive character designs and trailblazing animation techniques as a vibrant showcase for studio animation. They note it falls somewhat short of previous Pixar highs in storytelling, with an episodic narrative and simple metaphors that live up to the title. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/elemental-review-cannes/)

## Details

- **Director:** Peter Sohn
- **Director:** Peter Sohn
- **Screenplay:** John Hoberg, Kat Likkel, Brenda Hsueh
- **Story:** John Hoberg, Kat Likkel, Brenda Hsueh, Peter Sohn
- **Cinematography:** David Juan Bianchi, Jean-Claude Kalache
- **Editor:** Stephen Schaffer
- **Music:** Thomas Newman
- **Production design:** Don Shank
- **Producer:** Denise Ream
- **Cast:** Leah Lewis as Ember (voice); Mamoudou Athie as Wade (voice); Ronnie del Carmen as Bernie (voice); Shila Ommi as Cinder (voice); Wendi McLendon-Covey as Gale (voice); Catherine O'Hara as Brook (voice); Mason Wertheimer as Clod (voice); Ronobir Lahiri as Harold (voice)
- **Runtime:** 1h 42m
- **Certificate (MPA):** PG
- **Release (the US):** 16 June 2023
- **Genres:** Animation, Comedy, Family, Romance
- **Budget:** $200 million
- **Box office:** $496 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXzcyx9V0xw

## Where to watch in the US

- Disney+: streaming, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy $19.99, hd

*Checked 2026-09-10.*

Also available in: AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TR, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie 2024: Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie (nominated)
- Academy Awards 2023: Best Animated Feature (nominated)
- Critics' Choice Awards 2023: Best Animated Feature (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *Minari* (2020), Fi1m 84: An immigrant family and a small business, told without the metaphor getting in the way. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/minari.md)
- *The Big Sick* (2017): A cross-cultural romance where meeting the parents is the whole film, and funnier.
- *Wolfwalkers* (2020), Fi1m 84: Hand-drawn Irish animation about a girl who does not fit the town she lives in. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/wolfwalkers.md)
- *Ratatouille* (2007), Fi1m 91: Pixar with one idea, a kitchen, and the confidence to let a scene run. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/ratatouille.md)
- *Bend It Like Beckham* (2002), Fi1m 76: A second-generation daughter, a family shop’s worth of expectations, and no plumbing. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/bend-it-like-beckham.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/elemental