Arco (2025): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch
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.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 22m (82 min)
- Director
- Ugo Bienvenu
- Original language
-
French
- Studio
- Remembers
- Budget
- $10M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
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 Show fewer
- character name as title
- 10 year old girl
- year 2075
- hand drawn animation
- character name in title
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.
Stream 2
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.
- Director Ugo Bienvenu
- Oscar Tresanini as Arco
- Margot Ringard Oldra as Iris
-
Swann Arlaud as Le père d'Iris, Mikki -
Alma Jodorowsky as La mère d'Iris, Mikki
Also Starring in Arco
· 16 more- Félix de Givry Le père de Clifford
- Nathanaël Perrot Clifford
- Vincent Macaigne Dougie
- Louis Garrel Stewie
- William Lebghil Frankie
- Oxmo Puccino Le père d'Arco
- Johnny Rasse Chanteur d'oiseau
- Frédérique Cantrel La mère d'Arco - séquence finale
- Sophie Mas La mère d'Arco
- Joséphine Mancini Ada
- Jean Boucault Chanteur d'oiseau
- Audrey Tondre Voix supermarché
- Robinson Fyot Journaliste
- Anaëlle Saba Journaliste
- Benoit Galland Journaliste
- Pierre Picq Gardien de l'école
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).
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.
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IMDb 7.2 /10
9377 votes
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 93% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 89%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 72 Metascore
User score 7.4
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 75% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.9 /5
141438 ratings
See on Letterboxd
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
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.
Worldwide gross
$5.2M
52% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $1M
- International
- $4.2M
- Budget
- $10M
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
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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
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César Awards 2026 1 win · 1 nomination- Won Best Animated Feature Film
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Critics' Choice 2026 1 nomination- Nominated Best Animated Feature
-
BAFTA 2026 1 nomination- Nominated Best Children's & Family Film
Show all 6 ceremonies Show fewer ceremonies
-
Golden Globes 2026 1 nomination- Nominated Best Motion Picture - Animated
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Oscars 2026 1 nomination- Nominated Best Animated Feature Film
Arco Trailers & Videos
9 videos: 1 trailer, 1 teaser, 2 clips, 4 featurettes and 1 behind-the-scenes video.
- 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)
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What color are the time-travel flight suits used in the future?
Seen Arco?
Movies Like Arco
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Arc, Ark and A.R.O.G.
Articles About Arco
Our article about Arco: “Arco (2025) Review & Critics Opinions – Reception, Fan Reactions, Storytelling & Franchise Impact”.
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Opinions
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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