A moving, funny adventure with one of animation’s great openings, strong emotional payoff, and broad appeal for families and adults alike. It balances grief, companionship, and old-fashioned escapism with memorable visual invention.
Up
Where to watch: Buy
Movie · Animation · Comedy
Thu · 1h 36m
Director: Pete Docter
Starring: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai
Overview
Carl Fredricksen spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Wilderness Explorer named Russell) gives him a new lease on life.
Director
Pete Docter
Cast
Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai
Curator Review
Verdict
A moving, funny adventure with one of animation’s great openings, strong emotional payoff, and broad appeal for families and adults alike. It balances grief, companionship, and old-fashioned escapism with memorable visual invention.
Best for
families looking for a heartfelt adventure
viewers who like emotional animated films
fans of character-driven buddy stories
people who appreciate strong film scores and visual storytelling
Skip if
you want nonstop action without sentiment
you dislike tearjerker openings
you prefer animation that stays purely lighthearted
Overview
Up is one of Pixar’s most emotionally direct films, and it earns that reputation quickly. The opening montage is a masterclass in visual storytelling: wordless, concise, and devastating in the way it compresses a whole life into a few minutes.
Worth noting
What follows is less devastating but still charming, mixing a whimsical adventure plot with a sincere story about loneliness, aging, and learning to move forward. The film’s humor lands well, especially through Russell and Dug, and the score gives the whole thing a buoyant, nostalgic lift.
Bottom line
It is not as thematically unified as Pixar’s very best work, but it remains a beautifully crafted crowd-pleaser. The combination of emotional honesty, comic warmth, and imaginative design makes it easy to recommend to almost anyone willing to cry a little.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Georgia Coley (5★) · 8695 likes
My family went to see Up on my grandpa’s 70th birthday back in 2009. When the movie was over, I remember everyone being ecstatic - and undeniably moved. At age 9, I think it was probably the first time I’d seen my parents shed tears in a movie. My dad immediately dubbed the first 15 minutes of the film “The Robot Test” - because “if you don’t cry in the first 15 minutes, you’re a robot.” My grandpa, Jim, loved… more
Jeremy Bronson (5★) · 5174 likes
One hundred years from now, film scholars will study the 15 wordless minutes near the beginning of this movie as one of the finest examples of storytelling across any medium or genre. I say this without threat of hyperbole.
DirkH (5★) · 3764 likes
Dad what's wrong? Grown up stuff, sweetheart. Like what? Daddy's just a bit afraid for the world. Is it because of the Orange Hamster Man? Yep. Are you sad? A bit. Wanna watch a movie? Yeah. Which one? You pick. My kids know me so well.
cinéfila... 🕯️ (5★) · 2515 likes
the first ten minutes are great for introducing children to the concept of sadness
Josh Larsen (4★) · 2369 likes
Your kids have to see you cry sometime.
Themes
grief and loss, late-life adventure, friendship across generations, moving forward after bereavement, emotional resilience, found family, childhood wonder, memory and legacy
Topics
animated adventure, family film, tearjerker, buddy comedy, coming-of-age, grief, found family, whimsical, Pixar-era animation, heartfelt