While many beloved Pixar movies have received sequels in recent years, it’s actually the box office flop Onward that’s most deserving of a follow-up film. Pixar is among the most successful animation studios of all time, and several of their acclaimed releases have served as the basis for ongoing franchises, with their first film, Toy Story, still going strong even 30 years after the first film premiered. As a studio that consistently took risks on developing original stories, not every Pixar movie was able to hit big at the box office.

Although it’s true that Toy Story, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars, and Inside Out have all managed to receive sequels or prequels, there are also just as many original Pixar movies that have ended with just one lone film. While viewers might crave the continuation of classics like Ratatouille or WALL-E, the 2020 urban fantasy Onward is also ripe for a sequel. However, despite earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature, audiences didn’t turn out for Onward, and it flopped at the box office.

Onward Has A Unique World That We Need To Explore Further

The Urban Fantasy Setting Of Onward Offers Endless Possibilities

Pixar’s Onward told the story of two elf brothers named Ian and Barley Lightfoot (Tom Holland and Chris Pratt) who live in a fantasy world with a modern, suburban twist. By blending elements of classic fantasy stories with a more laid-back urban environment, Onward quickly set itself apart from other stories featuring elves, centaurs, pixies, and goblins. As a unique world where magic once thrived but has since been lost as the population became more reliant on technology, Onward had something interesting to say about our reliance on smartphones, Wi-Fi, and tech in the real world.

Just the initial premise of Onward alone was enough to set up endless sequels and spin-offs, as a fantasy world where magic has become obsolete offers limitless possibilities for compelling stories. With the potential to cleverly satirize the troubling way people in the real world have become reliant on tech that was presented in a way even young viewers could understand, it feels like a waste not to explore the unique world of Onward further.

The story of Onward used its unique setting to tell a touching story of two brothers setting off on a quest to find an artifact that can revive their deceased father for 24 hours. As a heartfelt story that explores themes of family, brotherhood, grieving, and purpose, Onward was also a coming-of-age story about self-discovery and personal growth. With the groundwork already laid to tell thoughtful tales that boasted the same maturity and depth of Pixar’s best work, it would be sad if Onward was never expanded beyond its one lone feature film.

Unfortunately, An Onward Sequel Is Unlikely

Onward Was Released At The Beginning Of The Pandemic

The intriguing fantasy world of Onward would be absolutely perfect for a sequel, but the sad truth is that’s unlikely to happen. As a film that theatrically released in the U.S. in March 2020, Onward was just one of many movies to suffer the financial ruin of the COVID-19 pandemic as its release coincided with the mᴀss closure of theaters across the country. With a budget of between $175 and $200 million (via Variety), Pixar had put serious money behind Onward, and it only recouped $142 million at the box office.

Like many other movies released during the pandemic, such as Dune and Encanto, Onward did eventually manage to find an audience once it landed on streaming for Disney+. However, this belated appreciation, paired with widespread critical acclaim, was not enough to ensure a sequel, and there has been no word from any of the principal creatives regarding the possibility of a follow-up. Through a mix of unfortunate timing, a lack of enduring cultural relevance, and just plain bad luck, an Onward sequel doesn’t look like it’s on the cards any time soon.

Source: Variety