ONWARD
A witty magical quest about family, sacrifice, and reconciliation.
Should You Watch It?
ONWARD gives you an unusually warm reason to spend time with an animated fantasy. Its brothers begin divided by grief, embarrassment, and misunderstanding, but the story steadily turns them toward family, reconciliation, sacrifice, and faith. Each major character learns something valuable, and the emotional center is strong.
The tradeoff is that magic drives the entire adventure. The film says magic should be used to help others and shows consequences when it is used poorly, but the magical worldview remains prominent. Christian sacramental references appear in some of the quest’s ideas, while one female character makes a quick ambiguous comment about her girlfriend.
If your family is ready to discuss those elements, this is WORTH THE TRIP — MIDDLE SCHOOL AND UP.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESIan and Barley are elf brothers living in a modern fantasy world where magical creatures have exchanged magic for technology. On Ian’s 16th birthday, the brothers receive a gift from their late father: a magical staff and gem that could bring him back for one day.
When the spell goes wrong, only part of their father returns. With time running out, the brothers set off on a quest to find another magic gem and complete the spell.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means ONWARD is a clear recommendation for its wit, emotion, and craftsmanship. The animation is well made, and the comedy carries the story without weakening its emotional weight.
Its greatest strength is characterization. Ian and Barley have superb character arcs, and each character learns something valuable along the way. The story’s movement toward family, reconciliation, sacrifice, and stepping out in faith gives the humor a meaningful foundation.
The Worldview
ONWARD presents a fantasy magical worldview in which fairy tale creatures have exchanged magic for technology. Magic is at the center of the story, including an attempt to bring a deceased father back to life. Yet the film also teaches that magic should be used to help others and that poor use of magic has bad consequences.
The movie’s moral vision is stronger than its magical framework. It stresses family relationships, reconciliation, sacrifice, and stepping out in faith. Some of the quest’s tests recall Christian sacramental ideas, especially the way virtues are required to move forward. The story also includes a female character’s quick, ambiguous comment about her “girlfriend,” along with witty jokes making fun of political correctness.
At its heart, the film longs for reconciliation between family members and for a closer relationship between children and parents. Scripture says, “God settles the solitary in a home” (Psalm 68:6).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Fantasy magical worldview that has deeper sacramental aspects since the movie is set in a magical land with a stress on using magic for good not evil and characters try to bring back their deceased father using magic, or as the note from their father says that you only live once, but he will be reborn, also there are consequences for messing up a spell (for example, if someone lies during a disguise spell, they get found out), mixed with strong moral elements as characters wrestle through family dynamics and ultimately end up getting closer than ever and some redemptive elements such as sacrifice extolled, reconciliation occurs and there are themes of stepping out in faith, plus a female character makes a comment about her “girlfriend”
Foul Language
No foul language but a character says, “dang those kids,” one instance where a character starts to say SOB but then trails off, and some says “what the” but then trails off
Violence
Light animated violence, brothers get into a tussle, dragon breathes fire in pursuit of stopping some characters, boulders fall, a building gets destroyed
Sex
No sexual immorality but a married couple kisses
Nudity
Upper male nudity
Alcohol Use
Implied alcohol use (steins are shown at a tavern, but it’s not clear if they’re filled with alcohol)
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Characters pretend to be someone they aren’t, character plays a scratch off at a gas station, lying and brief name-calling, but that ultimately ends in characters reconciling, and lots of jokes making fun of political correctness.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Ian and Barley begin with misunderstandings but move toward reconciliation. What does it take for people in a family to become closer?
Ephesians 4:32 · Colossians 3:13The film presents magic as something that should be used to help others, while showing consequences for using it poorly. How should we think about power, motives, and responsibility?
Philippians 2:3–4 · Galatians 5:13The brothers step out in faith during a difficult quest. When have you had to act before you felt ready?
2 Corinthians 5:7 · Joshua 1:9The story centers on longing for a deceased father and deeper family connection. How does Scripture describe God’s care for those who feel alone or fatherless?
Psalm 68:5–6 · Psalm 27:10The Final Word
ONWARD is witty, emotional, and exceptionally well made. Its magical worldview deserves discernment, but its family-centered story strongly emphasizes reconciliation, sacrifice, and faith. For older children and adults ready to discuss the fantasy elements, the answer is WORTH THE TRIP — MIDDLE SCHOOL AND UP.
