After a lukewarm theatrical run, Pixar’s Elio has revealed its digital release date. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, and Adrian Molina, Elio is an animated sci-fi adventure following an alien-obsessed boy (Yonas Kibreab) who finds himself navigating a crisis of intergalactic proportions when he is mistaken for the ambᴀssador of Earth. The film was released in theaters on June 20, 2025.
Elio received positive reviews, earning a strong 83% Tomatometer and 90% Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the Pixar original was a box office disappointment, grossing $148 million against a budget of $150-200 million. While the space-set adventure didn’t quite soar at the box office, fans will soon be able to experience the film from the comfort of home.
Now, Disney has announced that Elio will be available on digital platforms on Aug. 19, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home, as well as on physical formats like 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD on Sept. 9. The digital and disc versions will include various bonus features, such as a gag reel, deleted scenes, featurettes, and more.
Check out the list of Elio‘s bonus features below:
- Inside the Communiverse: The World and Characters of Elio – a deep dive into the making of the film, with cast and crew insights into Elio’s world-building and character design.
- Out of This World: An Astro Q&A – stars Yonas Kibreab (Elio) and Remy Edgerly (Glordon) meet with a real astronaut to talk about aliens, space travel, and science.
- Astronomic Art Class: Ooooo and Glordon – with lead story artist Nicolle Castro.
- Extraterrestrial Easter Eggs and Fun Facts
- Galactic Gag Reel
- Deleted Scenes – including Bike Chase, Garden Party, Carver Legend, Questa’s Second Test, and Home Visit.
The 4K UHD version of Elio will also be available in a collectible limited edition SteelBook®, featuring some striking cosmic artwork of Elio and his alien companions.
What This Means For Elio
Despite Elio being another Pixar feature with heartfelt themes and positive reviews, the movie struggled at the box office. Plenty of things went wrong with Elio‘s box office, including a lack of marketing amid stiff compeтιтion, Pixar fatigue following several original movie underperformers, and Elio‘s lukewarm plot not being enough to draw a mᴀssive audience to theaters.
Elio will prove a particularly strong hit among families and Pixar completionists, especially with its interesting bonus features and collectible SteelBook®, making it a compelling package for fans of animation, space, and storytelling. Therefore, the home release could give the movie a second life and better commercial performance, easing the sting of Elio‘s record for the lowest opening weekend in Pixar history.
Our Take On Elio’s VOD Release
Elio may not have been Pixar’s next Inside Out or Coco, but the film still delivered a visually stunning universe, a charming and sincere protagonist, and a genuinely heartfelt story. ScreenRant‘s Rachel Labonte reviewed Elio, saying, “It is just as big-hearted and imaginative as Pixar’s best,” even with the disappointing box office results, praising its critical success despite various challenges.
While it’s not the best Pixar film of all time, Elio certainly stands out as a hidden gem within the studio’s catalog. As a result, with the VOD editions debuting on Aug. 19 and physical versions releasing on Sept. 9, there’s a good chance the movie will finally find its audience where many modern Pixar тιтles now thrive, with its home release.
