The Genius of Onward's Ending

I don't know why everyone gives this movie such a bad rep. When I saw it in theaters, I felt like Pixar was making a comeback

I literally burst into tears when Ian told Barley he could have time with his dad. Such a selfless act because Barley knew his dad to a degree and so they had a bond, and Barley missed his dad so much because of that. Since Ian didn’t meet his dad he understood that piece missing from his dad being gone was much larger for Barley. Such a mature and selfless decision to make and I love it so much

Why I like onwards: • Their mother was genuinely supportive and understanding and didn't just take side of the new boyfriend. • The older brother wasn't a bully brother. He genuinely cared for his younger brother. • Barley never puts ian down. Despite ian downsizing barley, barley didn't say anything to downsize ian during that fight. • Barley despite being obsessed with wizards and stuff like that, was never jealous of ian's wizarding. He genuinely supported and was excited for him. Yeah there's a few more but these are the most important. Barley was more focused on filling ian's childhood. He had a belief and stood by it. (Take him trying to save the fountain). Barley was seen a failure from other people's eyes and he knew but he didn't care. As long as his brother ian is happy. I loved that a lot.

“You’ll never be ready! MERRRGE!!!” one of the funniest lines in the movie😂

Curiously, this is the second character of Chris Pratt who in his childhood did not properly say goodbye to one of his parents on deathbed due to fear.

Toy Story 4: I have the saddest Pixar ending that will leave you in tears Onward: Hold my wizard staff

Something only hinted at and not fully spelled out; I got the feeling that Barley wasn’t so much lazy or unwilling to grow up, but purposely staying behind to help Ian reach adulthood. So when Ian inadvertently confesses that he thinks Barley is kind of a loser, it cuts Barley extra deep since everything he’s done has been for his brother.

Honestly I think the best part of the movie is that there wasn’t actually any real villain it was all just circumstance which made it more realistic and relatable.. because sometimes that’s just how life is. There’s not some evil person out to get us but more like there’s things that get in the way of us finding closure and achieving happiness. Rather than fighting other people usually we are just fighting our own emotions because we are trying to understand them. The character development was very strong and well needed and deserved it didn’t feel like it was forced because it was a steady progression and a fulfilling one at that

Another moment of genius that sadly hasn't gotten much attention and shows Ian's journey is the difference in his attitude the two times he casts visitation spell. The first time when Ian is struggling with the spell and Barley rushes to help him, he shrugs away and just as he does so, the gem breaks. The second time at the end though, Ian calls Barley himself for help and is only then he could successfully cast the spell. This not only shows how Ian's attitude towards his brother has changed but also thematically presents how Barley has been a hand on Ian's shoulder

One of my favorite parts of the movie is when Barley, the fearless brother, is terrified and starting to cry because of the worry he has for Ian over the trench. He isn’t afraid of anything, but he is, he’s afraid of his brother getting hurt. Even when they are in the water trap, right when it opens, Barley immediately picks Ian up by his shirt and tosses him up before he himself gets out. It’s the little details like that, that make me really love this movie.

There is another important character in Onward, that rarely is talked about, “MOM”. She deserves so much more rep, than she has now. A very overlooked character by a mile.

In otherwords: Ian, since he doesn’t have memories of his father hasn’t been able to form a connection with his dad. So his sadness about his dads death steams from a missing relationship rather than a lost relationship. If that makes sense. It isn’t nessarily his dad specifically that he longs for. Barly however, lacks closure. His sadness tiwards his dads death steams from guilt and his own actions. He doesn’t long for a relationship, he longs for a goodbye. So its more meaningful for Ian to give up the one thing he’s never had in order to give his brother the one thing he’ll never be able to get back. It’s no nessesarily that you can’t miss what you’ve never had but more of something along the lines of goodbyes are more important than hellos.

I also loved the metaphor when he was crossing the invisible bridge. To me it felt like he always had the ability to achieve greatness, but he held himself back due to fear. The rope symbolizes security, and Barley was able to provide it for a bit. However when he let go, Ian didn’t realize it at first because he is perfectly capable of accomplishing what he wanted on his own. He just needed a little push and to believe that he could do it.

My favorite Pixar movies are Ratatouille and Onward. Maybe it’s due to my personal life experiences, but I think they’re the most uniquely human movies I’ve ever seen.

People also don't talk about Laurel enough. It was another chance for her to see her husband as well. She knew him for years (presumably) and loved him, but she did everything in her power for her boys to see him even though him missing was probably most notable to her.

This movie was far more mature than I expected. The scene where Barley confessed to remembering his dad dying, all hooked up to tubes and everything literally killed me. I was so shocked they would include that in a kids movie but it felt so real and genuine. One of my top favorite Pixar movies for sure.

People who hate this movie have never had a connection to their siblings like Ian and Barley have. It hit me hard when Ian starting crossing off his list because I too have never had a real emotional connection with my parents, especially with my father. I never really realised how important my sister has been in my life until then. She has raised me more than anyone and I can't help but feel so lucky to have her.

I saw this movie twice in theaters and I rarely do that unless I REALLY like the movie and Onward was one of them.

Unfortunately Onward is quickly becoming an underrated gem in the Pixar repertoire. And I’m so glad to finally see some positive recognition for it. I really did love it and I think it deserves more love!

Dude, I’m SO glad there’s a community that loves this movie. It’s seriously one of my favorite Pixar movies and that’s saying a lot. I guess it also hits close to home because I’m the second-oldest of 5 brothers lol

I'm glad to see more positive responses to this movie! While it's not flawless, I really adored Onward, and absolutely loved the ending. I had a hunch that only one of the boys would have time to see their father, and once I saw the scene in the tunnel where Barley talked about his fourth memory of their father, I was glad it was given to him. And it's frustrating to see so many negative reviews and comments about this movie. "It's nothing special, Pixar is losing their touch". I've been seeing so many people labeling it as automatically bad, simply because it's not as good as some other Pixar films, which is a shame, because Onward is a great movie, even if it's not "the best".

I LOVED this movie. It was modern, charming, fantastical, but simultaneously ubiquitous and down to earth in its message. The cast was great, the jokes weren’t too raunchy and landed well, and the story was original (something we haven’t gotten from Pixar in ages). I highly recommend seeing this movie to anyone.

I cried like a bitch throughout the entire movie. I cried when Ian was having a conversation with the recording of his dad, I cried when Ian was checking off the list and the flashbacks started playing, and I broke out into TEARS when Ian watched Barley talk to his dad one last time. I'm not sure why this movie made me so emotional considering I've never really experienced the absence of a parent, or the influence of an older sibling but man, did it hit me hard. While this movie wasn't super strong during it's first act, the third act and ending were really well done, and I don't feel that it's praised enough. The movie felt so personal and I felt that there was genuine effort put into it, and I'm just glad that it's an original film.

Lets just be honest; this movie deserved more, it was a cinematic masterpiece

Weirdly, i felt emotional at the part when he left his car. I don't know why and will never know, but i felt the "sad thingy" inside me. The movie was fantastic. i wish i could have seen it in the cinema (the corona virus's fault) . I hope pixar will make another original movie even though it hasn't been successful at the box office.

Didn’t know I could love Onward more than I already did. Amazing video Brian!

I remember hearing people around me popping up with negative responses when Ratatouille was released, but now it's considered one of their classics. I watched Onward last night and loved every second of it. It's been a long time since I've felt the need to watch a movie again right after its over. I think Pixar suffers under the weight of their own status. Honestly what makes a Pixar movie is how they can pull out the heart of their characters. The notebook scene at the end with Ian was stunning and 100% cemented the movie as one of my favorites.

My husband deeply related to and loved this movie. It has been so sad to see all the negative media around it. Thanks for this take- I really enjoyed it!!

There so many bad reviews for this movie, and I'm there reading them thinking "What? Why? This is such a good movie"

I watched the movie last night with my S.O. and it made me cry several times throughout the movie. First scene that made me cry was when the father's legs appeared and interacted with the two sons, and the moment he recognized the drumming was affecting to me. What I LOVED most about this film is obviously the message that your father may well be the person who grew up with you and looked after you and had your best interest in heart. The slow realization that came to Ian with his list of things to do with Dad, and how he initially crossed them out before actually checking them off, was what had me ugly crying, as I too, was realizing the truth along with him. Then the entire scene with Ian insisting that his brother see the father to say goodbye, to show that Ian has had a father/older brother all this time, was what he had always had. When the credits rolled, I couldn't stop crying. I had trouble talking and couldn't express out loud how well done the movie's message was delivered. I cannot express enough how much I appreciate the message was presented. I honestly thought the boys would have their chance at seeing their father. I was blown away with the superior outcome. Amazing. Poignant. Beautiful movie. Thank you so much for making this video and pointing out some of the great touches put into this movie. Made me cry again.

My little brother texted me last night saying “The relationship of the brothers in Onward reminds me of our relationship.” So I watched it this morning and was truly brought to tears at the end... Our dad never passed away, but he wasn’t really around. So my goal was to always make sure he was protected, encouraged, and looked out for.. but despite my good intentions, I often came off like Barley - over the top, often overbearing, but always from a place of love. This movie seems to get a bad rap, but it’s the movie that hit me the hardest.. emotionally.. Not everyone has a brother like their relationship, but it made my brother and I just a little bit closer..

Finally, a good review

Onward is not perfect by Pixar standards, but it's way too underrated in my opinion. It has heartwarming and bittersweet ending.

I think this story being so personal is the reason some people didn’t like it. For me, I also never met my father, so every time they would speak about their dad i would cry along with the characters. I could resonate with the way Ian was feeling. I think people from very cookie-cutter backgrounds that haven’t experienced the groundwork for the film just weren’t really the target audience here.

The reason why people have so many divided opinions is bc this movie looks like it is for little kids but it is meant to be for adults,going in I was expecting just a stupid “funny” boring movie that my little brother was going to enjoy,but I came out crying of sadness and happiness while my little brother was bored and annoyed

I almost cried again just listening to this

The manticore was my favorite character I would love to see her get her own short

I remember seeing what seemed to be mixed-to-negative reviews and feeling hesitant, then I was able to watch it on Disney+ the other night - I laughed, I felt suspense, and the ending even made me cry, and I never cry at movies as a rule! I was confused why the negative headlines. And then I remembered it's because these days everyone seems to be a hyper-critic who can't just enjoy a good thing when we have it

...as he looks onward.” That final line got me. I was holding up until that final line. This movie got to me and this video was poetic.

the director relates because he too brought half his dad back to life with magic

You put into words how much I adored this movie when everyone else seems to be passing it off as "eh not Pixar's levels". Great stuff! Your speech is absolutely astounding

I love this movie. When the trailer came out, me and my friend thought it was gonna be dumb and just about the brothers trying to get the top half of their dad back. Boy were we wrong. This movie is by far one of the most meaningful Pixar movies to date, and helps me appreciate my family so much more.

This movie felt truly real. It wasn't a standard "what if _____ had feelings" scenario that Pixar is familiar with. To me it felt real because the world felt real. It wasn't our world, but with talking fish or our world, but with secret monsters or our world, but with emotions as little people..... It wasn't our world. Onward had a unique world, with complex world building. The manticore is immortal? Well how will she adjust to the changing times? Technology exists? Well how will it affect magical creatures who no longer have to fly or run everywhere or rely on magic?... We didn't need answers to these questions... They don't add much to the story, but they add a lot to the world building which subtly makes it all more believable. Most Pixar movies feel like the characters are just humans, but in animal bodies. A single father lost his son. A couple of guys are working at a factory. A teen girl is having emotional problems / two people who don't like each other need to work together... Replace the inhuman characters with humans and the story will stay the same, the only change will be in the setting. Nothing else. That's not the case in Onward. You can't make these characters into humans because the story will fall apart. If they're human then there's no manticore or old raven path or magic! These characters need to be magical creatures living in a magical, modernised world. That's why it feels so real, it has a realistic goal (a boy wants to know more about his dad) but it's not a human world. The story doesn't work with just humans and that's what makes it special. I've seen this movie used as an example of Pixar starting to go down hill, but I disagree. This is the best Pixar movie to date, because it doesn't feel like a human in an animal setting... It felt magical

The third act and the ending were the best parts of the movie as well Ian and Barley's mom and the Manticore. I just wish the rest of the movie was strong, because I'm ok with the idea of setting in a fantasy world and a quest of bringing back their father for one day, but there wasn't enough laughs or that Pixar magic through the film until the ending. I really appreciate what Dan Scanlon did with this movie and the message, but is not really a strong Pixar film like the Toy Story franchise, A Bug's Life, Monsters Inc, Finding Nemo, etc. Still, it was ok. Better than good dinosaur or any of the Cars movies.

I can just imagine after that hug barley carries Ian to a hospital

I appreciate that people are actually giving this movie the credit it deserves I mean just because it’s not from your child hood doesn’t mean it’s not a good movie this movie had good morals and the structure of a technical classic really good Pixar movie

one of the movie endings that genuinely broke me. You're right. We saw through everything with Ian's perspective, so when he was trying to catch a glimpse of his dad it hurt me. Like Ian we accepted that Barley deserved it, but that we also had to salvage what we could with the moment. Him limping up the rocks trying to see through the tiny gaps. It hurt. And I love this movie so much. Seeing it again rekindled that hurt

You put why I loved the ending beautifully.

Onward is underrated tho everyone says it was bad but I think it's one of the better Pixar films of the last year or so.

I'm glad this is on Disney Plus. I was afraid many people wouldn't have the chance to see it with everything going on. Going to see this was one of the last things I did before quarantine and I'm glad others will get to experience this gem.

This movie hit me hard. My dad almost died from an aneurysm when I was about 10 and the scene where Barley tells Ian about his dad looking so scary on all those tubes made me cry so damn hard because that's exactly how it was. I didn't understand back then but that time we walked in was a goodbye to my dad in case he didn't make it. My dad had a miracle recovery in the end, and he's still with us but that was the scariest moment in my entire life. Amazing movie, Pixar really did a great job on this one.

When the fourth memory came up, sold me on the story.

Onward is up there with my Pixar favorites: WALL-E, Up, Inside Out... It makes me feel those same heavy, powerful emotions, and it does so with arguably one of the more out-of-place settings/concepts of any Pixar film to date. I mean, we’ve had sci-fi. We’ve had superheroes and monsters, toys and emotions. We’ve had magic with Brave, but not like this. This is _old school,_ true-fantasy magic. It’s something new and in spite of (or possibly also BECAUSE of) how cheesy it is, Pixar pulls it off brilliantly.

How come many people didnt like Onward?! I loved it and the story is so sad yet beautiful that maybe many people can relate.

this movie made me break down during multiple scenes, something not most films are able to do. my father and I have a very close relationship and I always think about what will happen when he’s gone. one scene that gets overlooked is when the father realizes he’s standing in-front of his sons. that moment of realization really stuck with me. not only does the father realize he’s with them, but he also realizes they found the gift of magic. the ending was beautiful and I was very happy barley got that moment.

I’ve been seeing so much negativity regarding the film and it’s nice to see someone talk about it in a positive light for a change! It’s not my favorite Pixar film but it’s definitely one of my favorites. It may be fantastical, but the message of the film is so down to earth and realistic, and as someone who’s an older sibling, I have so much respect for this film and I may have teared up at the end.

This movie hit me hard on the ending when I was a kid my family was in a divorce and I did not see dad much so when I was home with my mom my brother was kinda like a dad to me

The ending for me was such a huge twist and was the first time I’ve actually felt something in a animated movie in a long time

I loved how every little think in this movie ended up having a purpose. It has such a creative and finely tuned plot line so that makes it so enjoyable. I liked it a lot

The ending is the reason why Onward is great. This gives a beautiful message.

This makes me realize how amazing this movie truly is.

THIS MOVIE MADE ME CRY! Very touching. Very nice family movie. I didn't expect that we'll enjoy this.

Honestly, this is my new favorite movie. I couldn't watch the movie without tears, unlike all Pixar movies. This didn't need any villains, this has realizations about Ian even though he didn't get to see his father. But his brother Barley, was still there acting like a father figure.

This movie hit me hard. my dad passed away about half a year ago, character was also around 16, just kinda real to me. I give it a 10/10

Just saw this on Disney+ and I loved it, Honestly I'm kinda saddened by the fact that it probably has/won't get the attention it deserves due to it being rushed out of theaters and everyone is so focused on Covid-19. It was pretty nice to be able to stream it early though!

I watched this movie the other night, and i have to say it was one of my favorite Pixar movies. Had me crying for hours!

I really liked this movie. This movie isn't just about the clear cut ending that is there. There is also that feeling of what happens between 2 siblings as they grow up. Like... My sister and i used to fight constantly, over stupid shit. As we grew up, we eventually became best friends, and looking back all of those petty squabbles feel so silly. We eventually realized that we were the ones that will always be there for each other, no matter what, and the small things just melted away.

The way you said the last word "onward" made me hold a tear in the back of my throat, just like the film did at the cinema, (the night they shut down them all because of the virus). There is no doubt this will become a classic once it gets a fair viewing.

just watched this movie and cried for ten minutes straight, zero exaggeration

Thank you so much for giving this movie the recognition it deserves. When I saw it, I actually felt like I got something out of it other than just the usual feelings you get from watching a Pixar movie. I related to Ian on an unexpected level, and just watching the movie taught me how to be more comfortable in my own skin just BECAUSE of the character. So, just because the film doesn't ring to a bunch of people, does't mean it does not ring to others.

And then... I cried again... this movie really touched me...

This movie made me cry more than any other Pixar film

Glad that a number of KZhead personalities "got" this movie, since it seemed like some people just didn't, so they thought it was mid-tier Pixar. I don't understand that at all, frankly. One insight I'd like to add is that at the beginning of the movie, Ian wants to see his dad because he has this sense that he's missing a lot of good qualities (being assertive when necessary, confidence, etc.) due to not knowing him. It isn't until the end that he realizes that Barley passed down not just their dad's love of magic, but all of the skills Ian wanted that his dad, had to him. Without drawing attention to it or telling him directly, Barley filled in as the father figure that Ian needed to grow into who he was meant to be. That means so much to me because I've felt like Ian a lot in my life, and it wasn't really until seeing this movie that I was finally able to realize that there were plenty of men in my life that filled in those fatherly roles, even though I didn't realize it at the time.

Why did this review made me wanna cry to? Such a great one, nicely done! 🙌🏽👏🏽

This hit so hard because my dad left my mom when I was 2 and I always wondered if I made him proud and a bunch of other emotions. I was looking for a father figure and appreciating the siblings that I had getting me through life. Best movie and a powerful message.

This is by far one of my favorite Pixar movies! I had the chance to see an advanced screening of it in theaters and it left me in tears! I’ve been telling everyone at work to see it!

I honestly thought it was cute. It portrayed grief of losing a parent young, & how it can affect people, & the bond between siblings. Also, I liked how it was tru about how different siblings r & I also REALLY REALLY liked how it brought more attention to D&D & Magic The Gathering. Also, I liked how it shown the bigger siblings (as goofy as he was) played the part as a step in dad/big brother, b/c that's what older siblings do honestly. & as being the oldest of 5 younger brothers, it's ALOT like being a parent. Also I liked how it showed accepting grief & moving past that in a positive way. I genuinely enjoyed this movie, & loved the down-to-earth plot. I gave it a 9 out of 10 honestly.

I was NOT expecting it to be good honestly. It’s really good and i would DEFINITELY watch it again

This has cemented itself as my personal favorite Pixar film. It hit me on a personal level. I have two brothers. I still have my father. My parents are still married, but he was in the military. He was there, but at a distance. Many times I would have a band concert or a play I was in and he would be on the ship, halfway across the world, but my brothers were there. Same goes for their concerts, baseball games, etc. We were there for each other, even though we fought regularly. I respect my Dad and love him very much for what he did, but I have a bond with my brothers and this movie drove that home for me.

pixar legit makes adult emotional depression and problems we face into a kids movie lol

I’ve literally seen this film 5 times now. Twice in theatre and I recently bought it on digital. It really hits a soft spot for me

I remember watching this together with my Mom, we were in teh living room and during that moment when Ian realized that he never needed to actually see his Dad since his brother already let him felt his presence and filling up for everything, I remember trying to hold my tears.. Pixar will always be the company I wanted to work for because of their never ending ways of bringing stories to life and tuoching everyone's heart.

What makes me like this movie a lot is that reminds me of the invaluable relationship I have with my twin brother. We’ve had our rough patches but we know it’ll get better if we keep moving onward. As we charge onward into the future we’ll always be there for each other despite what quests we decide to embark on throughout our lives.

One of my favorite parts about this movie that I don't see a lot of people talk about is the scene where Barley sacrifices his car. Not only was Guinevere his handcrafted pride and joy, Barley also mentioned it was one of the things he wanted to show his dad when Ian was making his list. It just adds another element to the things Barley gave up in the movie for the greater good.

I loved Onward, with the characters, settings, humour and the relationship between the brothers. As someone who's just started college and has recently lost someone, I could probably relate to this more than some other people. Ian's attitude around people at school and not having enough self-confidence at doing new things is something I can relate to, which is something I really hadn't had before with other Pixar films. Sure, it's not as good as many other Pixar favourites, but it's not the worst one out there. There are some really good messages throughout though, like Ian learning to be content with what he has now and letting Barley have one last moment with their dad. But also the fact that our two male characters are allowed to show emotions like sadness.

I lost my father 3 years ago now, and I'm an only child. Onward had me sobbing by the end. What I wouldn't give for one more moment. They built it up beautifully and it felt like a perfect ending to me.

Great video! You managed to word the ending perfectly!! I loved this movie a lot mostly due to constantly relating to Barley. The scene where he shares his fourth memory hit close to home with myself sharing an extremely similar situation to my own father. Because of that Onward will be special to me

I’m so glad to see some good publicity on this movie. I feel it doesn’t deserve the hate it’s getting for multiple reasons, and this puts another one in my pool. Very well put!

It broke my heart when Ian couldnt see his dad, but seeing how you put it in this context I can appreciate that creative decision much more, it was hard to watch but it does work better for completing the arch of the story and characters in a meaningful way.

This movie made me cry plenty of times. I utterly loved it! It had some very funny moments too.

I saw Onward in theaters with my mother and we both left with the same thought. I NEEDED to see that movie. It resonated with me so well that I couldn’t stop talking about it for days. It’s the first movie I’ve ever watched where I see all of myself in the main character. I was so proud of him, and it allowed me to feel proud of myself. Officially in my top 10.

Why am I crying? I don't know. I loved this movie, I connected so much with Barley, he still believes in magic like me. We are very similar. When my father was sick in the hospital, I didn't want to go either. So I keep only the good memories I have of him. This film for me is undoubtedly one of the most personal and touching films that Pixar has ever created 💜

This movie was beautiful and made me cry because it touched my heart so easily... I hope we get more movies like this soon

This is one of the most heartbreking Pixar movies. I felt like weeping every time they interacted with their dad’s legs. Everyone wishes to share one more day with a lost loved one, and we see this being fulfilled in this movie, but it’s just out of reach.

The ending taught a great lesson. You can work very hard for something you wanted but but then you realize you had it all along.

I loved this movie and I'm glad others love it too. I have an older sister who has acted as my guiding female figure in my life and an independent father so I related to this movie on personal level. It actually hurt to see all these people talk it down because they didn't relate. Thank you for your lovely video Update: Watched it with my family and cried during the "sharing my life with him" section again and said "this is why I wanted to watch this with you sis" and she yelled back "I'm not crying; you're crying!" with tears in her eyes, and we hugged. It hits both ways.

I thought this movie would be really dumb because the premise was kind of ridiculous, but I ended really liking the movie and cried a lot while watching it.

Pixar movies don't try to have that happily ever after ending. Pixar films have always been about the journey and watching the characters grow and Onward does that well. Like every Pixar movie it kept me emotionally invested and by the end I was in tears.

Onward made me cry with exactly what you were talking about, and then you put it all into deeper words and brought tears to my eyes again. This movie deserves better reviews than it’s gotten, and those 17 dislikes must be people who can’t understand good writing and good analysis!

TBH I’m so glad they made this movie because it also shows that not all older brothers are super mean, moody, and bullies.