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Pixar’s ‘Elio’ Slammed by Employees as “Catastrophic” After LGBTQ Themes Erased Again
PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS, JUL 1 – Pixar's 'Elio' lost $78 million against its $150 million budget after removing queer themes and facing weak marketing, marking the studio's worst box office performance.
- Pixar released the science-fiction film Elio on June 20, 2025, about an 11-year-old boy mistaken as Earth's intergalactic ambassador in a new space city.
- The film underwent major alterations after a 2023 test screening in Arizona, including removing queer-coded moments and director Adrian Molina leaving due to these changes.
- Studio leaders pushed to make Elio more masculine and erased scenes alluding to his queer identity, prompting an exodus of creative staff and criticism from former employees.
- Elio grossed $21 million domestically, marking Pixar’s lowest box-office opening, with audiences enjoying it but largely unwilling to see it again in theaters.
- The film's commercial failure and creative conflicts reflect Disney's recent move away from aggressively including LGBTQ+ themes toward focusing on broad mainstream appeal.
35 Articles
35 Articles
Pixar Did the Right Thing. Elio Still Flopped.
Did you know Pixar released a new film recently? If the answer is “no,” you’re not alone. The movie is called Elio. It’s about an awkward 11-year-old orphan boy who dreams of being abducted by aliens. Predictably enough, that’s exactly what happens when alien species at the Communiverse mistake him for earth’s leader. That all sounds like a decent premise for a kids’ sci-fi film — but apparently it wasn’t good enough to get people into theaters …
Pixar Artist: Elio Is ‘Nothing’ Without Gay Propaganda
A Pixar artist admitted that the studio’s latest box-office disappointment Elio had no substance besides pushing an agenda about LGBT identity, telling The Hollywood Reporter this week that the movie was “totally nothing” without its original gay agenda. “Suddenly, you remove this big, key piece, which is all about identity, and Elio just becomes about totally nothing,” the artist […]
Pixar staff reportedly 'deeply saddened' LGBTQ elements were cut from studio's latest film, 'Elio'
Reports reveal Pixar staff unhappy as "Elio" allegedly had "queer-coded" elements removed during production, leading to talent exodus and contributing to poor box office performance.
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