Elio

Elio has built a real following in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Disney Plus among viewers who want their sci-fi to think as hard as it looks. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. 1,044 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Yonas Kibreab's performance is the anchor the more ambitious scenes need. Available now on Disney Plus — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Elio is worth clearing space for. The world-building is meticulous, but it is the characters who carry Elio through its more ambitious moments. Elio, a space fanatic with an active imagination, finds himself on a cosmic misadventure where he must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms, navigate a crisis of intergalactic proportions and somehow discover who he is truly meant to be. Yonas Kibreab and Remy Edgerly lead a cast that never lets the concept overwhelm the characters. Elio came out in 2025. The rules of Elio's world are consistent enough that the big swings never feel like cheating. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Elio is satisfying on multiple levels — something to watch and something to think about after. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Yonas Kibreab anchors it with a performance that makes the more abstract moments feel personal. If you have been burned by ambitious sci-fi before, this is the exception.