10 Movies You Need To Watch If You Loved Pixar's Onward
Pixar's Onward was theatrically released in early March 2020. Since it went to Disney+, tons of families have already enjoyed the movie together. Its main characters are elves living in the city of New Mushroomton. Brother elves Ian and Barley Lightfoot live with their mother and miss their late father very much. Ian and Barley have the gift of bringing their father back to life for just one day, but his entire top half is missing when he shows up.
The mythical characters must drive on a hectic modern highway system while living in a community that has traded in the wonder of magic for the convenience of the smartphone. As unique as the movie is, there are plenty of other films that Onward fans will love to watch.
10 Honey, I Shrunk The Kids (1989)
There is a great sequence in Onward where the tough older brother, Barley, is shrunken. After seeing little pink biker pixies at a convenience store, Barley and Ian get into more trouble with them later. These scenes will certainly remind Disney fans of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. The 1989 classic is the perfect follow-up with ant-sized kids going on wild adventures. It would be funny to see what the Szalinski kids think of Barley Lightfoot.
9 Inside Out (2015)
Onward fans will probably want to watch or rewatch Inside Out (2015). Aside from the obvious similarity that both are Pixar movies, they are also both so emotionally intelligent.
Ian's complicated feelings as a sixteen-year-old who misses his father are fully sketched out, and his journey to closeness with his brother is heartfelt and convincing. Inside Out deals even more with the psychology of emotions--the emotions of a young girl are personified within her brain. These would go well together in a Pixar marathon.
8 The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe (2005)
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is based on the work of C.S. Lewis.
The story is a great follow-up to Onward, even though the movies differ tonally and thematically. Both require incredible bravery of young characters, and it is eye-opening to compare each story's use of magic and depiction of fantastical creatures.
7 Sky High (2005)
Sky High (2005) is a great companion to Onward because both movies deal with teenagers developing supernatural powers. Will Stronghold is a little brawnier than Ian Lightfoot, but both guys have their insecurities and experience tremendous growth from beginning to end of their stories.
Will is an only child and has both of his parents, but he still has to work through friendships complicated by the hope of fitting in and finding himself.
6 Secret Society Of Second-Born Royals (2020)
This new Disney+ original movie takes a leaf out of Sky High's book. The second-born royals are sent to a training program to become superheroes.
Those who enjoy watching Ian develop his powers of wizardry will like seeing the royal team flourish, especially Sam (Peyton Elizabeth Lee of Andi Mack), as they learn how to save the world. Like New Mushroomton's citizens, some of the kids in training are a little too plugged in to the online world of their phones.
5 Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Pixar fans have fun spotting characters between separate movies who look similar. Whether intentional or not, Lazy the Dragon in Onward is evocative of Randall from Monsters, Inc., even though Randall is a bad guy and Lazy is just a dragon.
The medieval-themed restaurant with the Manticore (who could be a cousin of Sulley's) also includes mythical creatures reminiscent of the Monsters, Inc. characters. While there are obvious differences in the animation from 2001 to 2020, the movies share a similar spirit.
4 Halloweentown (1998)
Marnie Cromwell's story in Halloweentown is a great follow-up to Ian Lightfoot. Marnie is much more action than emotion, but she and Ian both have to grow into their powers.
Also, both characters are without their father. And like Barley and Ian's initial differences, Marnie and her brother Dylan do not always see eye to eye.
3 Frankenweenie (1984)
Tim Burton's Frankenweenie is a much darker animation style than Onward, but the movie might appeal to those who like the reincarnation storyline. Instead of bringing back a parent, Victor in Frankenweenie brings back his dog, Sparky.
The short movie takes a spooky turn when Sparky becomes monstrous, hence the film's homage to the Frankenstein archetype. Victor must try to get his dog back to normal. In a sense, Barley and Ian are trying to get their reincarnated dad back to normal, since all they've got is a walking pair of pants and shoes.
2 Zenon: Girl Of The 21st Century (1999)
Zenon and Onward have something interesting in common: they both take place in realms at least somewhat separate from Earth as humans know it. Ian's life is full of mythical creatures, and Zenon's life takes place in the year 2049, both on a space station and on Earth.
Even though Zenon doesn't have magical powers in the first movie, she is a young girl trying to save those around her from grave danger. Ian Lightfoot would admire her adventurous spirit, and they'd probably be friends.
1 Life-Size (2000)
Lindsay Lohan plays Casey in Life-Size, a wonderful 20-year precursor to Onward. Casey lives with her father as her mother has passed away previously.
All the girl could ever wish for is to see her mom again, so she grabs a spellbook to try to bring her mother back to life. It completely backfires on her when she brings her new doll, Eve (Tyra Banks), to life by mistake. This movie from The Wonderful World of Disney is a timeless family story, and it's some of Lindsay Lohan's best work.