---
title: "Onward"
year: 2020
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/onward"
fi1m_id: "onward"
imdb_id: "tt7146812"
tmdb_id: 508439
wikidata_id: "Q59690895"
fi1m_score: 74
critics_score: 63
critics_reviews: 31
published: "2026-10-03T01:31:55.777232+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-03T01:31:56.177100+00:00"
region: "IT"
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."
---

# Onward (2020)

Directed by Dan Scanlon · 1h 42m · MiC T · Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy

## Identity

Onward

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/onward
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** onward
- **IMDb ID:** tt7146812
- **TMDB ID:** 508439
- **Wikidata ID:** Q59690895
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7146812/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/508439, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q59690895

**Fi1m score: 74** · Critics 63 from 31 reviews

*In a sentence:* Taking Dad on a road trip becomes considerably harder when he is only a pair of legs

> *Onward* is a warm, funny family adventure whose brothers deserve a less predictable quest. The fantasy setting supplies good jokes, but the awkward affection between them gives us a reason to stay.

## Synopsis

In a suburban fantasy world, Ian Lightfoot (Tom Holland) and his brother Barley Lightfoot (Chris Pratt) want to reunite with their father, Wilden Lightfoot (Kyle Bornheimer). They have brought back his legs, but the rest of him is missing. The brothers set off on a road trip to complete the reunion, taking their half-present father along. Ian must share the journey with Barley, whose enthusiasm does not make them any less mismatched as travelling companions. Magic shares space with modern life, and the brothers have a pair of walking legs to look after while they try to bring back the man attached to them.

## Review

Dan Scanlon’s *Onward* is a likeable family adventure, worth an evening despite a disappointingly familiar quest. Its suburban fantasy world gives the road trip plenty of comic possibilities, and the central predicament is strange enough to earn our attention. Two brothers are trying to reunite with their father, who is present only from the waist down. There is something usefully awkward about making them travel with a pair of legs when what they want is a parent they can talk to.

Tom Holland voices Ian Lightfoot, with Chris Pratt as his brother Barley Lightfoot, and their exchanges are the main reason to watch. Tom Holland makes Ian’s anxiety easy to recognise without letting it become his only characteristic, while Chris Pratt gives Barley’s enthusiasm enough warmth to survive its noisier moments. We believe these two can irritate each other and still need each other’s company. Their voices have distinct rhythms, and both performances allow the affection to emerge through the disagreements without underlining it at every opportunity.

The father’s legs are a good comic idea, and the film allows the oddness to last beyond the initial sight of them. We laughed at their physical comedy, then felt unexpectedly sad about how little of their father the brothers have to accompany them. Giving those legs a recognisable presence requires careful animation, because there is no face to do the explaining. Having to include this incomplete parent in a journey gives the family scenes an awkwardness that keeps the sentiment from becoming too comfortable.

Noah Klocek’s production design makes putting fantasy and suburbia in the same place an enjoyable joke in itself. The modern surroundings give the magical elements something ordinary to rub against, although the film could do more with the possibilities. Cinematographers Sharon Calahan and Adam Habib handle depth, light and shadow with care, making the spaces readable and giving the animated figures a convincing presence within them. Even when the story becomes predictable, there is pleasure in looking past the characters at the world they inhabit.

The screenplay, credited to Dan Scanlon, Jason Headley and Keith Bunin, keeps returning to an easily anticipated pattern of obstacles and lessons. Once the brothers have established their differences, we spend too long waiting for the adventure to catch up with what their performances have already told us. Catherine Apple’s editing gives individual comic passages a clean rhythm, but the first half still feels laboured. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, voicing Laurel Lightfoot, adds welcome warmth to a mother who could have been given more of the film’s attention.

Jeff Danna and Mychael Danna’s music supports the tenderness competently, although we could sometimes use less encouragement to find the family material moving. The brothers’ voices and the father’s incomplete body are already doing that work. A family fantasy needs enough invention to make its lessons feel like discoveries, and this one occasionally lets us get too far ahead. It recovers whenever it gives the brothers time to respond to one another, allowing embarrassment, worry and loyalty to complicate the next step of the adventure.

We would choose it for a family evening, provided a little sadness is welcome. The U certificate does not mean its worries about an absent parent will pass unnoticed by every child. Some will enjoy the legs chiefly as a joke; others may have questions that the adventure cannot settle for them. Leave room for a conversation afterwards.

*Fi1m score 74, published 3 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics lean towards a qualified welcome for Onward, with praise clustering around the brothers’ relationship and the voice performances of Tom Holland and Chris Pratt. The family drama gives the fantasy adventure much of its warmth, and many reviews find the emotional payoff persuasive despite familiar storytelling. The father’s half-present physical form also draws praise for its comic possibilities. For its supporters, the film’s sincerity makes up for its limited surprises.

The spread is wide, however, and even favourable reviews often place it below Pixar’s stronger work. Reservations centre on a predictable quest, thin characterisation and sentiment that sometimes feels forced. Critics also disagree about the visuals, finding either inventive suburban fantasy or a shortage of imagination. Vulture admires the designs and Pratt’s performance but finds the film tiresome and emotionally hollow; The New Yorker goes further in treating its pursuit of tears as cynical.

## Straight answers

**Is Onward worth watching?**

*Onward* is worth watching for a warm, funny family adventure, and we score it 74 out of 100. The quest is predictable and the first half labours, but the brothers’ awkward affection makes it worth staying with. We recommend it for a family evening, with room afterwards for questions about absent parents.

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

*Onward* runs 1h 42m and is rated T by the MiC in Italy. It is an adventure and animation film.

**Where can I watch Onward in Italy?**

*Onward* is streaming on Disney+ in Italy, 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 Onward compare to Song of the Sea?**

*Onward* is the more comedy-led family choice beside [*Song of the Sea*](https://film.one/film/song-of-the-sea), though both give sibling adventures room for grief. We favour *Song of the Sea* for adults drawn to Irish folklore and watercolour imagery, despite its sagging middle and loose magical rules. *Onward* offers a predictable quest, but its brothers’ bickering affection and the physical comedy of their father’s legs work well.

**What should I watch after Onward?**

After *Onward*, try [*Song of the Sea*](https://film.one/film/song-of-the-sea) (2014, Fi1m 82): Another sibling journey that gives family grief room without forgetting the adventure. Then [*My Neighbour Totoro*](https://film.one/film/my-neighbor-totoro) (1988, Fi1m 89): For the everyday family worries that remain present amid the woodland magic; and [*The Iron Giant*](https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant) (1999, Fi1m 88): A funny animated friendship with enough feeling to make the peril matter.

### Reviews we read (31)

- **Empire**, Ben Travis (85/100, inferred): The critic finds Onward a joyous, heartfelt and highly entertaining Pixar adventure, even if it breaks little new ground. They particularly praise its tightly balanced storytelling, which brings adventure, comedy and emotional arcs together. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/onward/)
- **Evening Standard**, Charlotte O'Sullivan (4/5): O'Sullivan finds the film warm and moving despite its implausible storytelling. She praises its affectionate portrayal of atypical families, especially the brothers’ search for their father. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/onward-review-pixars-rainbow-portrait-is-the-picture-of-progress-a4379836.html)
- **Little White Lies**, Hannah Strong (3/4/3): Strong finds Onward underwhelming, with weak characters and little of Pixar’s usual emotional resonance. She particularly faults its lack of visual invention and says the Pixar magic is missing. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/onward)
- **Radio Times**, Trevor Johnston (4/5): The review calls the film a sprightly animated adventure. It praises Tom Holland’s voice performance and the contrast between the mismatched brothers. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-uf7ts6/onward/)
- **The Guardian**, Steve Rose (80/100, inferred): Rose finds Onward a sincere, quietly moving return to Pixar’s old magic. He particularly praises the brothers’ emotional growth and the delicate resolution of their reunion with their father. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/feb/21/onward-review-pixar-tom-holland-chris-pratt)
- **Total Film**, Jamie Graham (4/5): Graham finds Onward a lively, funny adventure that grows more enchanting as it goes, though it falls short of Pixar’s very best. He praises its spellbinding animation and especially the physical comedy of the brothers’ half-present father. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/onward-review-pixar/)
- **IndieWire**, Eric Kohn (B): Kohn calls the film a solid, big-hearted Pixar entry that falls short of the studio’s best. He praises its brotherly dynamic and says its emotional payoff turns familiar fantasy material into something affecting. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/onward-review-pixar-berlin-1202212560/)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Brian Tallerico (3/4): The review finds the film charming but less emotionally forceful than Pixar’s best. It praises the sibling relationship and the imaginative fantasy world. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/onward-movie-review-2020)
- **Sight and Sound**, Lou Thomas (75/100, inferred): Thomas finds the film an emotionally engaging, vividly compelling adventure, even if it is not among Pixar’s most revelatory works. He especially praises the brotherly relationship, supported by poignant writing and expressive performances from Tom Holland and Chris Pratt. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/onward-review-pixars-fantasy-quest-uncovers-brotherly-love)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Justin Chang (70/100, inferred): Chang finds Onward a touching, lovingly crafted oddity, though not among Pixar’s best. He praises its sly wit, dazzling invention and delicacy of feeling, while noting that some familiar conflicts and sentiment weaken it. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-02-21/onward-review-chris-pratt-tom-holland-pixar)
- **The AV Club**, A.A. Dowd (B-): Dowd finds Onward ordinary and lacking Pixar’s usual magic, though its ending delivers genuine emotional catharsis. He especially praises the finale’s unexpected perspective on the film’s emotional payoff. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/pixar-loses-a-little-of-the-magic-with-onward-1841834499)
- **Time Out**, Phil de Semlyen (3/5): The critic finds the fantasy adventure enjoyable but uninspired, with Pixar’s usual magic somewhat diminished. The review singles out its central conceit as a sign of that lost spark. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/onward)
- **Variety**, Owen Gleiberman (55/100, inferred): The critic finds the film sweet and entertaining but overly derivative, placing it among the weaker Pixar films. He praises its playful visual world and the touching resolution of Ian’s relationship with his brother. [Read](https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/onward-review-tom-holland-chris-pratt-1203506275/)
- **Slant Magazine**, Mark Jenkins (2/4): Jenkins finds the adventure lively but largely unsurprising and uninspired. He praises Pixar’s handling of depth, light, and shadow, while criticizing the familiar story and sentimental moral. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review-with-onward-pixar-forsakes-imagination-for-familiarity/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, David Rooney (35/100, inferred): Rooney finds the film a letdown by Pixar standards, though not a total misfire. He praises the affecting final stretch, while faulting the predictable, unfunny quest and pedestrian visuals. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/onward-1280227/)
- **Screen Daily**, Tim Grierson (30/100, inferred): The critic finds that this Pixar road trip does not advance the company’s artistic fortunes. The accessible text singles out that failure to move Pixar forward as its central criticism. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/onward-berlin-review/5147280.article)
- **The New Yorker**, Rumaan Alam (30/100, inferred): Alam finds the film unsuccessful, though it strikes a nerve amid the emotional strain of quarantine. He criticizes its cynical, tear-seeking climax and its sidelining of the mother and characters of color. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/onward-the-silly-cynical-pixar-movie-that-strikes-a-nerve-during-quarantine)
- **Vulture**, Bilge Ebiri (25/100, inferred): Ebiri finds the film tiresome and emotionally hollow, with characters too thin to carry its story. He praises its witty, captivating designs and Chris Pratt’s lively performance as Barley. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2020/02/pixars-onward-is-boring-and-empty-but-chris-pratt-is-good.html)
- **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (A-): Goldberg finds the film sweet, funny, and emotionally affecting, despite its familiar Pixar framework. He especially praises the imaginative fantasy-meets-modern setting and the central bond between the brothers. [Read](https://collider.com/onward-review-pixar/)
- **Film Stories**, Mark Harrison (80/100, inferred): The critic finds Onward familiar in places but ultimately distinctive and emotionally earned. They praise the oddball animation of the father’s disembodied legs and the film’s special final act. [Read](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/onward-review-pixar-does-dungeons-dragons/)
- **HeyUGuys** (78/100, inferred): The critic finds Onward a warm-hearted and emotionally effective Pixar adventure, though not quite among the studio’s finest. They especially praise the performances of Tom Holland and Chris Pratt as the brothers, alongside the film’s heartfelt family drama. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/onward-review-pixar-disney-tom-holland/)
- **Digital Spy**, Ian Sandwell (75/100, inferred): The critic finds Onward emotionally affecting and entertaining, with some lack of nuance and a superfluous subplot. They praise the chemistry between Tom Holland and Chris Pratt as the heart of the film. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a31033547/onward-review-tom-holland-chris-pratt/)
- **Den of Geek**, David Crow (3.5/5): Crow finds Onward a clever, heartfelt family film despite its limitations, and says its third-act emotional payoff makes it irresistible. He praises the sensitivity with which the brothers’ anxieties and disappointments are presented. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/onward-review-pixar-movie/)
- **Paste**, Will Leitch (B-): Leitch finds the film uneven, with a plodding first half, but says it ultimately earns an emotional payoff. He praises its final twist and emotional resonance, as well as Chris Pratt’s performance. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/onward/onward-movie-review)
- **The Ringer**, Rob Harvilla (65/100, inferred): Harvilla finds Onward a modest, tender Pixar film that delivers its emotional impact without being as devastating as the studio’s most tearful work. He praises the sweetness of the brothers’ quest and the unexpectedly moving scenes with their half-resurrected father. [Read](https://www.theringer.com/2020/03/06/movies/onward-review-pixar)
- **The Playlist** (64/100, inferred): The page could not be accessed, so the critic’s verdict is unavailable. No praise or complaint can be verified from the provided text. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/onward-review-pixar-20200304/)
- **The Skinny**, Jamie Dunn (★★★): Dunn finds Onward an original but overly familiar Pixar adventure that falls short of the studio’s best. He praises its bizarre premise and comic situations, while noting that its generic plot limits its magic. [Read](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/onward-berlin-2020)
- **/Film**, Josh Spiegel (5/10): The critic finds the film decent but disappointing by Pixar’s standards, calling it merely okay. He singles out Chris Pratt’s vocal performance as a highlight, while faulting the familiar story and surface-level character development. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/572462/onward-review/)
- **The Wrap** (45/100, inferred): The critic finds the film uneven but says its emotional ending helps it win over audiences. They praise the sibling chemistry between Tom Holland and Chris Pratt, while faulting the story’s logic and the film’s visual design. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/onward-film-review-pixar-chris-pratt-tom-holland/)
- **Eye for Film**, Amber Wilkinson (35/100, inferred): Wilkinson finds the film an uneven, overcomplicated adventure that falls short of Pixar’s usual magic. She praises its clever ideas about magic becoming corporatised and the unexpectedly sweet resolution, but says the action crowds out more interesting material. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/onward-2020-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson)
- **Consequence**, Blake Goble (25/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a disappointing Pixar misfire, unmoved by its sentimental focus on the brothers’ father. They praise the imaginative suburban fantasy setting and production design, but say its creativity is sidelined by thin characters and a predictable story. [Read](https://consequence.net/2020/03/film-review-onward/)

## Details

- **Director:** Dan Scanlon
- **Director:** Dan Scanlon
- **Screenplay:** Jason Headley, Dan Scanlon, Keith Bunin
- **Cinematography:** Sharon Calahan, Adam Habib
- **Editor:** Catherine Apple
- **Music:** Jeff Danna, Mychael Danna
- **Production design:** Noah Klocek
- **Producer:** Kori Rae
- **Cast:** Tom Holland as Ian Lightfoot (voice); Chris Pratt as Barley Lightfoot (voice); Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Laurel Lightfoot (voice); Octavia Spencer as The Manticore (voice); Mel Rodriguez as Officer Colt Bronco (voice); Kyle Bornheimer as Wilden Lightfoot (voice); Lena Waithe as Officer Spector (voice); Ali Wong as Officer Gore (voice)
- **Runtime:** 1h 42m
- **Certificate (MiC):** T
- **Release (Italy):** 16 April 2020
- **Genres:** Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
- **Budget:** $200 million
- **Box office:** $142 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxKXiQvyG_o

## Where to watch in Italy

- Disney+: streaming, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: rent €3.99, uhd
- Apple TV: buy €11.99, sd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy €11.99, sd

*Checked 2026-10-03.*

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

## Awards

- Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie 2021: Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie (nominated)
- Academy Awards 2020: Best Animated Feature (nominated)
- Annie Award for Best Animated Feature 2020: Annie Award for Best Animated Feature (nominated)
- Critics' Choice Awards 2020: Best Animated Feature (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *Song of the Sea* (2014), Fi1m 82: Another sibling journey that gives family grief room without forgetting the adventure. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/song-of-the-sea.md)
- *My Neighbour Totoro* (1988), Fi1m 89: For the everyday family worries that remain present amid the woodland magic. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/my-neighbor-totoro.md)
- *The Iron Giant* (1999), Fi1m 88: A funny animated friendship with enough feeling to make the peril matter. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant.md)
- *The Princess Bride* (1987), Fi1m 86: For affectionate fantasy comedy that keeps its quest moving and its jokes dry. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-princess-bride.md)
- *A Monster Calls* (2016): A darker fantasy about parental loss, better reserved for older children.

---
© 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/onward