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Ian and Barley, two elven brothers, set out on a magical quest to spend one last day with their deceased father. Guided by a mystical map, they face numerous challenges and uncover surprising truths along the way. Their mother, noticing their disappearance, teams up with a powerful manticore to rescue them and bring them safely back home in this heartwarming story about family, love, and adventure.

Ian and Barley, two elven brothers, set out on a magical quest to spend one last day with their deceased father. Guided by a mystical map, they face numerous challenges and uncover surprising truths along the way. Their mother, noticing their disappearance, teams up with a powerful manticore to rescue them and bring them safely back home in this heartwarming story about family, love, and adventure.

Does Onward have end credit scenes?

No!

Onward does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of Onward

Explore the complete cast of Onward, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


Ratings and Reviews for Onward

See how Onward is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where Onward stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Echo Score

The Movie Echo Score

70

Onward delivers a moderately engaging visual adventure with emotional undercurrents rooted in sibling bonds. Critics praise the film’s imaginative worldbuilding and poignant climax, while noting its derivative elements and sporadic pacing issues. User sentiment echoes appreciation for the colorful animation and character chemistry, tempered by observations of a familiar narrative structure. Across its technical execution and emotional core, the film maintains a solid level of entertainment but lacks the distinctive magic expected from its studio. Overall, Onward leaves a pleasant yet unremarkable impression.

The Movie Echo Score Breakdown for Onward

75
Echo Score

Art & Craft

In terms of visual craftsmanship, Onward exhibits strong production design and vibrant animation. Reviewers commend the imaginative settings and colorful style, especially in the film’s climactic sequences. While some critics find the visual approach reminiscent of previous studio works, the film’s bold lighting choices and coherent design language sustain a polished aesthetic. The imagery consistently engages viewers.

80
Echo Score

Character & Emotion

When it comes to character dynamics, Onward achieves meaningful emotional resonance through its brotherly leads. Critics highlight the sincere bond and moments of sorrow, and users note nuanced performances from the protagonists. Although some find secondary roles underdeveloped, the central duo’s chemistry and emotional stakes carry the narrative. The film’s heartfelt interactions drive its core appeal.

60
Echo Score

Story & Flow

In terms of narrative structure, Onward weaves a clear quest framework with periodic emotional payoffs. Reviews indicate that the plot delivers heartfelt themes of loss and family connection but suffers from uneven pacing and familiar story beats. Viewers appreciate the poignant coda yet note predictability in much of the journey. The storyline remains coherent but rarely surprises.

70
Echo Score

Sensory Experience

When assessing the sensory experience, Onward benefits from a polished soundscape and cohesive visual style. Critics and users mention a fitting musical score and clean sound design aligned with the vibrant animation. Some compare its audio-visual blend to earlier studio titles without finding a standout innovation. The overall sensory execution offers consistent immersion.

50
Echo Score

Rewatch Factor

Regarding rewatch value, Onward offers moments of emotional warmth and visual flair that encourage repeat viewings. While its core themes resonate on subsequent watches, users and critics remark on its lack of distinctive depth compared to genre classics. The film’s memorable climactic sequence supports lasting appeal, though the overall familiarity of its narrative may limit strong replay enthusiasm.

Metacritic

61

Metascore

7.3

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

88%

TOMATOMETER

review

95%

User Score

IMDb

7.4 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

77

%

User Score

Letterboxd

3.4

From 624 fan ratings

Movie Insider

3.90/5

From 20 fan ratings

Take the Ultimate Onward Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of Onward with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


Onward Quiz Challenge: Test your knowledge about the magical adventure of Ian and Barley in 'Onward'.

Who takes Maggie to the park at the beginning of the movie?

Awards & Nominations for Onward

Explore awards

Discover all the awards and nominations received by Onward, from Oscars to film festival honors. Learn how Onward and its cast and crew have been recognized by critics and the industry alike.


93rd Academy Awards 2021

Nomination

Animated Feature Film

74th British Academy Film Awards 2021

Dan Scanlon
Nomination

Best Animated Film

Dan Scanlon

48th Annie Awards 2021

Nomination

Best Animated Feature

36th Artios Awards 2021

Nomination

Animation

78th Golden Globe Awards 2021

Nomination

Best Animated Feature Film

46th Saturn Awards 2021

Win

Best Animated Film Release

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for Onward

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Read the complete plot summary of Onward, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


In a vibrant realm populated by mythical beings, magic was once a prevalent force millennia ago, though mastering it proved challenging. With the rise of technology over countless years, magic faded into obscurity, becoming a forgotten relic of the past.

In the present day, two elf siblings, Ian Lightfoot and Barley Lightfoot, reside in the bustling city of New Mushroomton. Ian, the younger of the two, grapples with his self-esteem as a high school student, while Barley, the older brother, is an enthusiastic and impulsive aficionado of history and role-playing games. Their father, Wilden Lightfoot, passed away from a serious illness shortly before Ian’s birth, leaving a void in their lives. Their mother, Laurel, has since moved on and is dating Colt Bronco, a centaur police officer, who is not favored by either boy.

On Ian’s sixteenth birthday, Laurel presents her sons with a treasured gift from Wilden: a magical staff, a rare Phoenix gem, and a letter detailing a “visitation spell” intended to resurrect their father for one day. In a surprising turn of events, Ian manages to cast the spell; however, only the lower half of Wilden’s body materializes before the gem shatters. Determined to complete the spell, Ian and Barley set off on an adventurous quest to find another gem, commandeering Barley’s cherished van, “Guinevere.” Noticing her sons are missing, Laurel decides to track them down.

Their first destination is the Manticore’s Tavern, where a monster with a map to the gem resides. However, the tavern has morphed into a family restaurant run by the Manticore, affectionately known as Corey. During a heated discussion with Ian about the map, Corey realizes how mundane her life has become, leading her to create chaos by scaring off customers and accidentally igniting the restaurant, along with the map. The boys’ only remaining clue to the gem is an illustration on a children’s menu that hints at “Raven’s Point,” a nearby mountain. Laurel soon arrives and, after befriending Corey, learns that their journey might awaken an ancient curse that can only be vanquished with Corey’s sword, which she and Laurel stealthily acquire from a pawn shop.

As they trek to the mountains, Ian and Barley narrowly escape confrontations with the police and a motorcycle gang of pixies, relying on Ian’s burgeoning spell-casting skills and Barley’s expertise in RPGs. “Raven’s Point” leads the brothers along a trail marked by an array of raven statues, but they are pursued by Colt, who calls for backup. When they reach a dead end, Barley makes a selfless choice to sacrifice Guinevere to create a landslide that obstructs their pursuers. Following the raven statues, they navigate through a cave filled with traps and perilous creatures, during which Barley reveals his emotional struggle with saying goodbye to Wilden during his final moments.

Their journey culminates back at Ian’s high school, where tensions boil over. Angered by Barley’s decisions, Ian rebukes him for what he perceives as leading them astray and walks away with a piece of Wilden. However, upon revisiting his list of things he wished to do with Wilden, Ian realizes that Barley has fulfilled a fatherly role throughout his life and heads back to reconcile. Barley discovers the needed gem within a historic fountain across from their school, but this act inadvertently triggers the curse Corey had warned them about, summoning a dragon-shaped golem from surrounding debris, intent on claiming the gem. During a fierce battle, Ian’s staff falls into the ocean, but he impressively recreates it using a splinter lodged in his hand, continuing to fight against the creature. At just the right moment, Corey arrives with Laurel, who plunges the magical sword into the golem’s heart, allowing Ian the opportunity to finish casting the visitation spell, thus fully restoring Wilden’s body.

With a heavy heart, Ian sends Barley to give Wilden a proper farewell while he holds off the golem long enough for Laurel to destroy it. After Wilden vanishes, Barley shares a poignant moment with Ian, affirming that their father is proud of them before they share an emotional embrace.

Time passes, and Ian’s self-assurance and magical abilities flourish. He surprises Barley with a newly painted van, aptly named “Guinevere The Second.” Corey revitalizes her tavern to reflect its original spirit, drawing in patrons with captivating tales of past exploits. She and Laurel strike up a friendship, and Ian and Barley forge a better bond with Colt, who has been inspired to embrace his identity more fully. As they explore their newfound acceptance of magic, the brothers embark on yet another exciting quest, ready to rediscover the wonders of their richly storied heritage.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for Onward

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from Onward. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


Onward | Official Trailer

ONWARD | NEW Trailer November 2019 - Chris Pratt & Tom Holland | Official Disney Pixar UK

Onward | Official Trailer 2

Introducing Onward Featurette

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


brother brother relationshipmagicsinging in a carfather son bondingbrother brother bondingmanticoremother son relationshipbirthdaylesbianlgbtelfurban fantasycomputer animationsuburbcoming of agealternate universeclosing narrationsurrealismminotaurcgi animationpsychotronic filmfantasy worldone word titlecreaturemythologydancing in a carswordunicorncentaurmustachevancgi filmfaunsatyrstaffcyclopsmythical creaturespellloss of fatherpolice officerdragonrace against timewidowflyingsuburbiateenagersingle motherquestpixiebiker gang

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