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Animated drama

Elemental (2023): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Elemental (2023) movie poster

Elemental is a 2023 animated drama directed by Peter Sohn, starring Mamoudou Athie as Wade, Shila Ommi and Innocent Ekakitie. It runs 1 hour 43 minutes and earned $496.4 million worldwide on a $250,000 budget. It won 1 award from 6 nominations, one of them 1 Oscar nomination. Critics gave it 73% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10.

IMDb rating
6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes
73%
worldwide gross
$496.4M
award won
1
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Elemental (2023) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 43m (103 min)
Director
Peter Sohn
Genres
Adventure , Sci-Fi , Drama , Fantasy
Original language
English
Budget
$250K
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is Elemental About?

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

In Element City, where residents of fire, water, earth, and air live separately, a fiery young woman named Ember challenges her community’s beliefs when she unexpectedly connects with Wade, a laid-back water element. Their unlikely friendship blossoms into a journey of discovery, questioning the long-standing boundaries between the elements and ultimately redefining what it means to belong.

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Cast & crew

Elemental Cast & Characters

Mamoudou Athie leads the cast as Wade, with Shila Ommi as Cinder and Innocent Ekakitie as Marco and Polo Ripple. Directed by Peter Sohn; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Elemental

· 6 more
Ratings

Elemental Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Elemental 73% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 79/100, strongest in art & craft (90) and weakest in story & flow (60).

79 /100

Elemental Echo Score Breakdown

Elemental delivers strong visual appeal but uneven narrative depth. The animation and production design consistently draw praise for their vibrant colour palettes and fluid movement, while critics and viewers note that the underlying plot leans on familiar themes and occasionally falters in coherence. Emotional moments such as the cross-cultural romance and family dynamics resonate, yet the allegorical elements feel unevenly integrated. On balance, the film stands out for its artistry and heart but is hindered by a basic storyline that limits 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, the film excels with its vibrant colour palette and fluid animation. Critics and audiences alike highlight the production design’s intricate elemental motifs and seamless editing transitions. The direction lends a clear visual identity that remains consistent throughout the film. This aspect stands out as the project’s primary strength, delivering memorable and polished visual craftsmanship.

  • Character & Emotion 75

    In terms of character and emotion, the film offers a blend of heartfelt moments and relatable relationships. The central romance between the protagonists provides emotional warmth, while familial bonds add depth to the narrative. Some viewers find the emotional arcs understated compared to previous entries, yet the chemistry and expression of cross-cultural themes foster genuine empathy. Overall, character work contributes positively to the audience’s engagement.

  • Story & Flow 60

    When it comes to story and flow, the film presents a straightforward narrative that divides opinion on its originality. The pacing is generally measured, supporting clear progression of the elemental world, but the central allegory can feel overly familiar or simplistic. Critics note occasional lapses in cohesion and clumsy metaphorical transitions, while some audiences appreciate the multilayered themes on subsequent viewings. Ultimately, the plot offers an accessible but uneven engagement.

  • Sensory Experience 85

    In terms of sensory experience, the film delivers impressive audio-visual cohesion through its bold soundtrack and dynamic visual style. Viewers praise the stirring musical themes that underscore emotional peaks, while the layered sound design accentuates the elemental world’s textures. The consistent colour schemes and stylistic synergy between score and visuals create an immersive atmosphere. This synthesis of sight and sound stands as a compelling sensory achievement.

  • Rewatch Factor 70

    When considering rewatch value, the film offers several layers that invite repeat viewings. The nuanced world-building and thematic allegories reveal new insights on subsequent watches, especially in the exploration of cultural dynamics and family relationships. However, some narrative elements remain straightforward, which may limit the depth of rediscovery for certain viewers. On the whole, the film provides moderate replay appeal anchored by its exploratory motifs.

Plot

Elemental Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Elemental from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Fire elements Bernie and Cinder Lumen embark on a journey as they immigrate from Fire Land to Element City, only to confront the challenges of xenophobia from other elemental beings. Their story takes a turn with the birth of their daughter Ember, for whom they establish their own traditional outlet, the Fireplace, embodying their heritage with their signature Blue Flame. However, as time passes and Bernie expresses his desire to retire, he has one condition: Ember must learn to manage her fiery temperament before she can take over the store.

Full summary

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

Read the full summary
Box office

Elemental Box Office & Budget

Elemental grossed $496.4 million worldwide on a $250,000 budget. $154.4 million came from the US and Canada and $342 million (69%) from the rest of the world.

2023 box office

Worldwide gross

$496.4M

US & Canada
$154.4M
International
$342M
Budget
$250K
US & Canada 31% Rest of the world 69%
Awards

Elemental Awards & Nominations

Elemental won 1 award from 6 nominations, one of them 1 Oscar nomination. Its biggest night was the Golden Globes 2024, with 1 win from 1 nomination.

1 win6 nominations6 ceremonies

Show all 6 ceremonies
Videos

Elemental Trailers & Videos

12 videos: 2 trailers, 3 teasers and 7 clips.

All 12 videos
Teaser Trailer
  • Trailer Official Trailer
  • Teaser Tickets on Sale!
  • Teaser Iconic Pixar Moments
  • Teaser Disney+ Date Announce
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Elemental?

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 significant event does Carl Frederickson receive a call about?

Details

Elemental Also Known As

40 alternative titles, including “Disney and Pixar's Elemental” and “Elemental de Disney y Pixar”.

Also known as
  • Disney and Pixar's Elemental
  • Elemental de Disney y Pixar
  • مدينة العناصر لديزني وبيكسار
  • मौलिक
  • エレメンタル
  • Stichijos
  • Стихии
  • Elementy
  • Elementi
  • Xứ Sở Các Nguyên Tố từ Disney & Pixar
  • 疯狂元素城
  • 元素大都会
+28 more
  • 元素方城市
  • Էլեմենտար
  • Między nami żywiołami
  • Elementos
  • Elementāri
  • بنیادین
  • عناصر
  • آب و آتش
  • Elementaarne
  • Στο στοιχείο τους
  • אלמנטלי
  • Élémentaire
  • 엘리멘탈
  • Xứ Sở Các Nguyên Tố
  • Mezi živly
  • Стихії
  • เมืองอลวนธาตุอลเวง
  • マイ・エレメント
  • Elemi
  • Elemental: Doğanın Güçleri
  • 元素大都會
  • مدينة العناصر
  • Elementärt
  • Elementært
  • Элементарно
  • Елементал
  • Elementar
  • المنتال, ელემენტები

Seen Elemental?

FAQ

Elemental FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Elemental, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Elemental?

Elemental runs 1 hour 43 minutes (103 minutes).

When was Elemental released?

Elemental was released on June 16, 2023.

Who directed Elemental?

Elemental was directed by Peter Sohn.

More films by Peter Sohn

Who is in the cast of Elemental?

Elemental stars Mamoudou Athie as Wade, Shila Ommi as Cinder and Innocent Ekakitie as Marco and Polo Ripple, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Elemental make at the box office?

Elemental grossed $496.4 million worldwide ($154.4 million domestic, $342 million international) on a budget of $250,000.

How is Elemental rated?

Elemental has 6.7/10 on IMDb, 73% on Rotten Tomatoes, 76% on TMDB and 3.4/5 on Letterboxd.

What awards did Elemental win?

Elemental won 1 award from 6 nominations, including Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language at the Golden Globes 2024.

Does Elemental have a post-credit scene?

Yes. Elemental has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.

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