Hash Import 2026 05 18 12 34

Up (2009)

★★★★ — Up (2009)

Pete Docter had already directed Monsters, Inc. (2001) before taking on Up, and the film represents Pixar at arguably their most ambitious in terms of emotional scope, a $175 million production that opens not with action or comedy but with a near-wordless sequence about aging, love, and loss. Released in 2009, it was also Pixar's first film to open the Cannes Film Festival, giving a family animation an unusual prestige-circuit moment. The screenplay, co-written by Docter and Bob Peterson, is entirely original rather than adapted, which was something of a statement of confidence from a studio that had long since earned the creative latitude to make a film about a 78-year-old widower its leading man. Jordan Nagai, then eight years old, was cast after visiting the studio with his father.

Pixar have a habit of making the impossible feel intimate, and Up is a prime example. What begins with one of the most quietly devastating montages in animation history quickly shifts into a wildly imaginative adventure, yet never loses sight of the grief and loneliness at its core. It’s a rare film that can pivot from heartbreak to buoyant escapism without feeling disjointed, all while anchored by Carl’s gruff, deeply human sorrow. The emotional intelligence on display is typical of Pixar at their best. The journey to South America (complete with talking dogs, a floating house and a giant, colourful bird) could easily have veered into pure whimsy, but the film’s sense of wonder is balanced by genuine warmth and wit. Dug the dog steals every scene he’s in, not just for the jokes, but because he embodies the film’s underlying message about kindness and belonging. Even the more outlandish elements feel grounded by character, never just spectacle for spectacle’s sake. It might not quite reach the transcendent heights of Inside Out, but Up remains a beautifully crafted, deeply affecting film. It reminds you that adventure doesn’t always mean excitement, sometimes it’s about learning to let go, to open up, to move forward. Funny, tender, and visually inventive from start to finish, it’s a modern classic that earns every tear and smile it provokes.

Rating: ★★★★ | Year: 2009 | Watched: 2025-07-23

View on Letterboxd →

Where to watch (UK)

Stream: Disney Plus
Rent: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Sky Store
Buy: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Google Play Movies
Physical: Amazon UK

Affiliate disclosure: Movies With Macca may earn a small commission on purchases or subscriptions started via these links. It costs you nothing extra.

Related on Movies With Macca

Up (2009)

Read more

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

Fantastic Planet (1973)

Viy (1967)

Alice in Wonderland (1951)