Madeline Sharafian

Pete Docter, chief creative officer at Pixar, has revealed why the studio removed an LGBTQ storyline from its 2025 animated film Elio during a major overhaul of the project.

Disney Pixar's "Elio," influenced by Spielberg's "E.T." and Roald Dahl's works, tells the story of a space-obsessed boy who becomes Earth's ambassador to a quirky alien council. Directors madeline sharafian and Domee Shi aimed to portray aliens positively, exploring humanity's curiosity about space. The film, featuring a Mumbai shout-out, emphasizes finding belonging and connection beyond Earth.

Despite new releases, "How to Train Your Dragon" dominated the box office for a second weekend with $37 million. Pixar's "Elio" had a disappointing opening, earning only $21 million, while "28 Years Later" debuted strongly with $30 million, marking director Danny Boyle's best opening. "Lilo & Stitch" continued its success, and A24's "Materialists" held well in its second week.