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Animated drama

Onward (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

Onward (2020) movie poster

Onward is a 2020 animated drama directed by Dan Scanlon, starring Tom Holland as Ian Lightfoot, Chris Pratt and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. It runs 1 hour 42 minutes and earned $141.9 million worldwide on a $175 million budget. It won 1 award from 6 nominations, one of them 1 Oscar nomination. Critics gave it 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and 61 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.4/10. Stream it on Disney Plus and fuboTV, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating
7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes
88%
worldwide gross
$141.9M
award won
1
Onward (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 42m (102 min)
Director
Dan Scanlon
Genres
Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Comedy
Original language
English
Budget
$175M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Onward About?

The premise of Onward without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

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.

Onward Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • brother brother relationship
  • magic
  • singing in a car
  • father son bonding
  • brother brother bonding
  • manticore
  • mother son relationship
  • birthday
  • lesbian
  • lgbt
  • elf
  • urban fantasy
+38 more
  • computer animation
  • suburb
  • coming of age
  • alternate universe
  • closing narration
  • surrealism
  • minotaur
  • cgi animation
  • psychotronic film
  • fantasy world
  • one word title
  • creature
  • mythology
  • dancing in a car
  • sword
  • unicorn
  • centaur
  • mustache
  • van
  • cgi film
  • faun
  • satyr
  • staff
  • cyclops
  • mythical creature
  • spell
  • loss of father
  • police officer
  • dragon
  • race against time
  • widow
  • flying
  • suburbia
  • teenager
  • single mother
  • quest
  • pixie
  • biker gang
Where to watch

Where to Watch Onward

Stream it on Disney Plus and fuboTV, 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

Onward Cast & Characters

Tom Holland leads the cast as Ian Lightfoot, with Chris Pratt as Barley Lightfoot and Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Laurel Lightfoot. Directed by Dan Scanlon; 12 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Onward

· 8 more
Ratings

Onward Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Onward 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and 61 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 70/100, strongest in character & emotion (80) and weakest in rewatch factor (50).

70 /100

Onward Echo Score Breakdown

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.

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

  • Art & Craft 75

    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.

  • Character & Emotion 80

    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.

  • Story & Flow 60

    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.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    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.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    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.

Plot

Onward Plot Summary

What happens in Onward from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

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.

Full summary

The whole story of Onward, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Onward Box Office & Budget

Onward grossed $141.9 million worldwide on a $175 million budget, 81% of what it cost. $61.6 million came from the US and Canada and $80.4 million (57%) from the rest of the world.

2020 box office

Worldwide gross

$141.9M

81% of its budget back

US & Canada
$61.6M
International
$80.4M
Budget
$175M
US & Canada 43% Rest of the world 57%
Awards

Onward Awards & Nominations

Onward won 1 award from 6 nominations, one of them 1 Oscar nomination. Its biggest night was the Saturn Awards 2021, with 1 win from 1 nomination.

1 win6 nominations6 ceremonies

Show all 6 ceremonies
Videos

Onward Trailers & Videos

5 videos: 3 trailers, 1 clip and 1 featurette.

Onward | Official Trailer
  • Trailer ONWARD | NEW Trailer November 2019 - Chris Pratt & Tom Holland | Official Disney Pixar UK
  • Trailer Onward | Official Trailer 2
  • Clip
  • Featurette Introducing Onward Featurette
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Onward?

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

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

Details

Onward Also Known As

40 alternative titles, including “1/2的魔法” and “魔法环游记”.

Also known as
  • 1/2的魔法
  • 魔法环游记
  • 二分之一的魔法
  • Вперед
  • En Avant
  • Framåt
  • Dois Irmãos: Uma Jornada Fantástica
  • Előre
  • ½的魔法
  • Truy Tìm Phép Thuật
  • Алға
  • Onward - Keine halben Sachen (2020)
+28 more
  • Вперёд
  • 온워드: 단 하루의 기적
  • Φύγαμε
  • Onward - Oltre la magia
  • Напред
  • Onward: Keine halben Sachen
  • Уперед
  • Eteenpäin
  • Vpred
  • Frčíme
  • Naprzód
  • Unidos
  • קדימה
  • Hadi Gidelim
  • Uz priekšu
  • 2分の1の魔法
  • Áfram
  • Fremad
  • 1/2的魔法
  • 'Bora Lá
  • คู่ซ่าล่ามนต์มหัศจรรย์
  • Naprej
  • Naprijed
  • Edasi, წინ
  • الشقيقان رحلة خيالية
  • به پیش
  • Pirmyn
  • Tot înainte

Seen Onward?

FAQ

Onward FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

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

How long is Onward?

Onward runs 1 hour 42 minutes (102 minutes).

When was Onward released?

Onward was released on March 6, 2020.

Who directed Onward?

Onward was directed by Dan Scanlon.

More films by Dan Scanlon

Who is in the cast of Onward?

Onward stars Tom Holland as Ian Lightfoot, Chris Pratt as Barley Lightfoot and Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Laurel Lightfoot, among 12 credited actors.

Where can I watch Onward?

In the US, Onward is streaming on Disney Plus and fuboTV and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How much did Onward make at the box office?

Onward grossed $141.9 million worldwide ($61.6 million domestic, $80.4 million international) on a budget of $175 million.

How is Onward rated?

Onward has 7.4/10 on IMDb, 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, 61 on Metacritic and 77% on TMDB.

What awards did Onward win?

Onward won 1 award from 6 nominations, including Best Animated Film Release at the Saturn Awards 2021.

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