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Animated fantasy film

Arco (2025): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

Arco (2025) movie poster

Arco is a 2025 animated fantasy film directed by Ugo Bienvenu, starring Oscar Tresanini as Arco, Margot Ringard Oldra and Swann Arlaud. It runs 1 hour 22 minutes and earned $5.2 million worldwide on a $10 million budget. It won 2 awards from 10 nominations, one of them 1 Oscar nomination. Critics gave it 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and 72 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.2/10. Stream it on Hulu and Kanopy, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating
7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes
93%
worldwide gross
$5.2M
awards won
2
Arco (2025) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 22m (82 min)
Director
Ugo Bienvenu
Genres
Animation , Fantasy , Sci-Fi
Original language
French
Budget
$10M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Arco About?

The premise of Arco without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

A magical, beautifully animated journey through time follows a 10‑year‑old boy from a tranquil, distant future who inadvertently leaps back to 2075, a world teetering on the brink of disaster. There he meets Iris, a spirited young girl, and their touching friendship quickly becomes a partnership. Together, they rally allies and confront the looming crisis, blending wonder, courage, and hope in a dazzling adventure.

Arco Themes & Keywords

· 17 tags
  • the future
  • dome
  • one word title
  • forest
  • forest fire
  • young boy
  • rainbow
  • friendship
  • diamond
  • climate change
  • time travel
  • robot
+5 more
  • character name as title
  • 10 year old girl
  • year 2075
  • hand drawn animation
  • character name in title
Where to watch

Where to Watch Arco

Stream it on Hulu and Kanopy, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Arco Cast & Characters

Oscar Tresanini leads the cast as Arco, with Margot Ringard Oldra as Iris and Swann Arlaud as Le père d'Iris, Mikki. Directed by Ugo Bienvenu; 20 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Arco

· 16 more
Ratings

Arco Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Arco 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and 72 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 83/100, strongest in art & craft (90) and weakest in story & flow (75).

83 /100

Arco Echo Score Breakdown

Arco delivers a visually striking animated adventure that blends solarpunk optimism with nuanced futurism. Critics praise its gorgeous animation, fluid motion blur, and a score that underscores the film’s hopeful tone. The narrative follows a time‑traveling child, offering emotional moments that resonate despite occasional pacing unevenness. Combined, these elements create an engaging experience that rewards repeated viewings, though the story’s occasional bumps temper its overall impact.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 90

    In terms of art and craft, Arco excels through its meticulously rendered animation and inventive visual design. Critics highlight the film’s gorgeous color palette, fluid motion‑blur techniques, and detailed world‑building that evoke both Miyazaki and high‑concept sci‑fi aesthetics. The consistent visual quality supports the narrative’s futuristic settings, resulting in a strong artistic achievement.

  • Character & Emotion 80

    When evaluating character and emotion, the film presents a modestly developed protagonist whose innocence drives the story’s emotional core. Reviewers note the heartfelt performances that convey optimism and a stirring ending that elicits a strong affective response. While the supporting characters remain relatively simple, the overall emotional resonance is effective for its target audience.

  • Story & Flow 75

    Regarding story and flow, Arco offers an imaginative premise that merges time‑travel with a solarpunk future, delivering originality praised by critics. The pacing, however, shows occasional unevenness, and some reviewers cite narrative bumps that momentarily disrupt coherence. Nonetheless, the plot maintains engagement through its hopeful message and a satisfying, if predictable, conclusion.

  • Sensory Experience 88

    In terms of sensory experience, Arco’s soundtrack by Arnaud Toulon receives commendation for underscoring emotional beats without overwhelming the visuals. Sound design complements the lush animation, while the film’s visual style—marked by soft lighting and dynamic motion blur—creates an immersive atmosphere. The cohesive sensory palette enhances the overall viewing experience.

  • Rewatch Factor 80

    Assessing rewatch factor, Arco’s blend of hopeful speculative world‑building and emotive storytelling lends itself to repeat viewings, particularly for younger audiences drawn to its vibrant visuals. The enduring optimism and distinctive aesthetic encourage lingering interest, though the narrative’s occasional pacing issues may limit appeal for some viewers on subsequent watches.

Plot

Arco Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Arco from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Arco Dorell, [Oscar Tresanini], is a ten-year-old boy living in a bright, cloud-filled future in the year 2932, where people travel through time using rainbow-colored flight suits. He feels left out because his parents and older sister can time travel, while he must wait until he turns twelve. One night, he steals his sister’s time-travel cape and gemstone and secretly aims to slip back into the distant past to witness dinosaurs firsthand.

Full summary

The whole story of Arco, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Arco Box Office & Budget

Arco grossed $5.2 million worldwide on a $10 million budget, 52% of what it cost. $1 million came from the US and Canada and $4.2 million (80%) from the rest of the world.

2025 box office

Worldwide gross

$5.2M

52% of its budget back

US & Canada
$1M
International
$4.2M
Budget
$10M
US & Canada 20% Rest of the world 80%
Awards

Arco Awards & Nominations

Arco won 2 awards from 10 nominations, one of them 1 Oscar nomination. Its biggest night was the Annie Awards 2026, with 1 win from 5 nominations.

2 wins10 nominations6 ceremonies

  • Annie Awards logo
    Annie Awards 2026 1 win · 5 nominations
    • Won Best Feature — Independent
    • Nominated Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated Feature Production
    • Nominated Outstanding Achievement for Editorial in an Animated Feature Production
    • Nominated Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Feature Production
    • Nominated Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production
  • César Awards logo
    César Awards 2026 1 win · 1 nomination
    • Won Best Animated Feature Film
    • Nominated Best Animated Feature
  • British Academy Film Awards logo
    BAFTA 2026 1 nomination
    • Nominated Best Children's & Family Film
Show all 6 ceremonies
Videos

Arco Trailers & Videos

9 videos: 1 trailer, 1 teaser, 2 clips, 4 featurettes and 1 behind-the-scenes video.

All 9 videos
Official Trailer
  • Teaser Official Teaser Trailer
  • Clip Clip - A Chase Through Time
  • Clip Clip - Wishes
  • Featurette ARCO Exclusive Featurette - The Making of ARCO with Ugo Bienvenu & Natalie Portman (2025)
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Arco?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What color are the time-travel flight suits used in the future?

Seen Arco?

FAQ

Arco FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and awards of Arco, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Arco?

Arco runs 1 hour 22 minutes (82 minutes).

When was Arco released?

Arco was released on November 14, 2025.

Who directed Arco?

Arco was directed by Ugo Bienvenu.

More films by Ugo Bienvenu

Who is in the cast of Arco?

Arco stars Oscar Tresanini as Arco, Margot Ringard Oldra as Iris and Swann Arlaud as Le père d'Iris, Mikki, among 20 credited actors.

Where can I watch Arco?

In the US, Arco is streaming on Hulu and Kanopy and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How much did Arco make at the box office?

Arco grossed $5.2 million worldwide ($1 million domestic, $4.2 million international) on a budget of $10 million.

How is Arco rated?

Arco has 7.2/10 on IMDb, 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, 72 on Metacritic and 75% on TMDB.

What awards did Arco win?

Arco won 2 awards from 10 nominations, including Best Feature — Independent at the Annie Awards 2026.

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