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Plot Summary

Onward (2020) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 102 min · English
Echo score 70
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Directed by
Dan Scanlon
Starring
Octavia Spencer, Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, John Ratzenberger, Ali Wong, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Budget
$175M

Ian and Barley, two elven brothers, set out on a magical quest to spend one last day with their deceased father. Guided by a mystical map, they face numerous challenges and uncover surprising truths along the way. Their mother, noticing their disappearance, teams up with a powerful manticore to rescue them and bring them safely back home in this heartwarming story about family, love, and adventure.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Onward
  6. 6 Every angle
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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Onward: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Onward (2020) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

In a vibrant realm populated by mythical beings, magic was once a prevalent force millennia ago, though mastering it proved challenging. With the rise of technology over countless years, magic faded into obscurity, becoming a forgotten relic of the past.

In the present day, two elf siblings, Ian Lightfoot and Barley Lightfoot, reside in the bustling city of New Mushroomton. Ian, the younger of the two, grapples with his self-esteem as a high school student, while Barley, the older brother, is an enthusiastic and impulsive aficionado of history and role-playing games. Their father, Wilden Lightfoot, passed away from a serious illness shortly before Ian’s birth, leaving a void in their lives. Their mother, Laurel, has since moved on and is dating Colt Bronco, a centaur police officer, who is not favored by either boy.

On Ian's sixteenth birthday, Laurel presents her sons with a treasured gift from Wilden: a magical staff, a rare Phoenix gem, and a letter detailing a "visitation spell" intended to resurrect their father for one day. In a surprising turn of events, Ian manages to cast the spell; however, only the lower half of Wilden's body materializes before the gem shatters. Determined to complete the spell, Ian and Barley set off on an adventurous quest to find another gem, commandeering Barley’s cherished van, "Guinevere." Noticing her sons are missing, Laurel decides to track them down.

Their first destination is the Manticore's Tavern, where a monster with a map to the gem resides. However, the tavern has morphed into a family restaurant run by the Manticore, affectionately known as Corey. During a heated discussion with Ian about the map, Corey realizes how mundane her life has become, leading her to create chaos by scaring off customers and accidentally igniting the restaurant, along with the map. The boys’ only remaining clue to the gem is an illustration on a children’s menu that hints at "Raven's Point," a nearby mountain. Laurel soon arrives and, after befriending Corey, learns that their journey might awaken an ancient curse that can only be vanquished with Corey's sword, which she and Laurel stealthily acquire from a pawn shop.

As they trek to the mountains, Ian and Barley narrowly escape confrontations with the police and a motorcycle gang of pixies, relying on Ian's burgeoning spell-casting skills and Barley's expertise in RPGs. "Raven's Point" leads the brothers along a trail marked by an array of raven statues, but they are pursued by Colt, who calls for backup. When they reach a dead end, Barley makes a selfless choice to sacrifice Guinevere to create a landslide that obstructs their pursuers. Following the raven statues, they navigate through a cave filled with traps and perilous creatures, during which Barley reveals his emotional struggle with saying goodbye to Wilden during his final moments.

Their journey culminates back at Ian's high school, where tensions boil over. Angered by Barley’s decisions, Ian rebukes him for what he perceives as leading them astray and walks away with a piece of Wilden. However, upon revisiting his list of things he wished to do with Wilden, Ian realizes that Barley has fulfilled a fatherly role throughout his life and heads back to reconcile. Barley discovers the needed gem within a historic fountain across from their school, but this act inadvertently triggers the curse Corey had warned them about, summoning a dragon-shaped golem from surrounding debris, intent on claiming the gem. During a fierce battle, Ian's staff falls into the ocean, but he impressively recreates it using a splinter lodged in his hand, continuing to fight against the creature. At just the right moment, Corey arrives with Laurel, who plunges the magical sword into the golem's heart, allowing Ian the opportunity to finish casting the visitation spell, thus fully restoring Wilden's body.

With a heavy heart, Ian sends Barley to give Wilden a proper farewell while he holds off the golem long enough for Laurel to destroy it. After Wilden vanishes, Barley shares a poignant moment with Ian, affirming that their father is proud of them before they share an emotional embrace.

Time passes, and Ian's self-assurance and magical abilities flourish. He surprises Barley with a newly painted van, aptly named "Guinevere The Second." Corey revitalizes her tavern to reflect its original spirit, drawing in patrons with captivating tales of past exploits. She and Laurel strike up a friendship, and Ian and Barley forge a better bond with Colt, who has been inspired to embrace his identity more fully. As they explore their newfound acceptance of magic, the brothers embark on yet another exciting quest, ready to rediscover the wonders of their richly storied heritage.

Last updated: November 16, 2024 at 15:25

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Plot questions answered

Onward Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Onward (2020): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why did only half of Ian's dad appear during the spell?

The visitation spell required a Phoenix gem to fully resurrect Wilden for one day. When Ian cast the spell with the only gem available, it was powerful enough to materialize only the lower half of his father's body before the gem shattered from the magical strain. The brothers needed to find another gem to complete the spell and fully restore Wilden.

Foreshadowing: The letter from their father mentioned the spell would bring him back 'for one day,' hinting at the spell's limitations.

  • visitation spell
  • Phoenix gem
  • Wilden
  • resurrection spell
  • magical limitation
Q2

Why did the Phoenix gem shatter?

The Phoenix gem contained the magical energy needed to power the visitation spell. When Ian cast the spell, the gem was insufficient to fully complete the resurrection, it only had enough power to materialize part of Wilden before the magical strain caused it to shatter.

  • Phoenix gem
  • spell failure
  • magic source
Q3

Why did the Manticore burn the map?

When Ian confronted Corey (the Manticore) about the map, she realized how stagnant and unfulfilling her life had become running a family restaurant instead of the adventurous tavern she once owned. In a moment of chaos and self-realization, she accidentally scared off customers and set the restaurant on fire, destroying the map in the process.

  • Corey
  • Manticore
  • map
  • tavern
  • fire
Q4

What is the curse that the Manticore warns about?

Corey warned that finding the gem would awaken an ancient curse capable of destroying the city. This curse manifests as a massive dragon-shaped golem made from surrounding debris, which is summoned when Barley discovers the gem at the historic fountain. The golem is driven by anger and greed, attempting to claim the gem for itself.

Foreshadowing: Corey specifically mentioned the curse could only be vanquished with her sword, which she and Laurel acquire from a pawn shop.

  • curse
  • dragon golem
  • Corey
  • sword
  • ancient magic
Q5

Why did Barley sacrifice Guinevere?

When the brothers reached a dead end at Raven's Point with Colt and the police in pursuit, Barley made the selfless decision to crash his beloved van into a rock formation, triggering a landslide that blocked their pursuers. This act demonstrated his willingness to sacrifice something precious to him to protect his brother and complete their quest.

Foreshadowing: Barley had previously revealed his emotional struggle with saying goodbye to their father during his final moments, showing his deep desire to make things right.

  • Barley
  • Guinevere
  • sacrifice
  • van
  • landslide
  • police
Q6

Why does Ian get angry at Barley at the high school?

Ian was frustrated and overwhelmed after their dangerous journey, narrowly escaping police, pixies, and mounting obstacles. When they returned to his high school and faced another dead end, Ian lashed out at Barley, blaming him for leading them astray. However, upon reflecting on his list of things he wished to do with his father, Ian realized Barley had actually fulfilled a fatherly role throughout his life, leading to reconciliation.

  • Ian
  • Barley
  • argument
  • high school
  • reconciliation
  • brotherly conflict
Q7

How does Ian create a new magical staff from a splinter?

During the battle with the dragon golem, Ian's staff falls into the ocean. However, a wooden splinter is lodged in his hand from an earlier injury. Drawing on his growing magical abilities and determination, Ian channels his magic through the splinter, transforming it into a fully functional staff to continue fighting the creature.

Foreshadowing: Throughout the journey, Ian's spell-casting skills had been steadily improving as he gained confidence.

  • Ian
  • staff
  • splinter
  • magic
  • growth
  • battle
Q8

How is the dragon golem defeated?

The golem is defeated through teamwork. Corey arrives with Laurel, who plunges the magical sword directly into the golem's heart. This weakens the creature enough for Ian to complete the visitation spell, fully restoring Wilden's body. The team effort, magic, sword, and the completed spell, finally destroys the golem.

Foreshadowing: Corey had mentioned the sword was the only weapon capable of vanquishing the curse.

  • dragon golem
  • Corey
  • Laurel
  • sword
  • battle
  • defeat
Q9

Why does Ian let Barley say goodbye to their father?

After Ian completes the spell and Wilden is fully restored, Ian chooses to let Barley have the final moments with their father. This is a significant emotional gesture, as Ian realizes throughout their journey that Barley has always been the one who kept their father's memory alive and acted as a father figure. By stepping aside, Ian shows his love and respect for his brother.

  • Ian
  • Barley
  • Wilden
  • farewell
  • goodbye
  • brothers
Q10

What happens to Wilden at the end of the movie?

Wilden is successfully resurrected for one day through the visitation spell. He gets to spend precious moments with both of his sons. After a bittersweet farewell, Wilden vanishes as the spell's time expires, but not before the brothers experience closure and learn that their father is proud of them.

  • Wilden
  • father
  • resurrection
  • farewell
  • vanishes
  • ending
Q11

Why did magic disappear in the magical realm?

Millennia ago, magic was prevalent in the realm populated by mythical beings, but mastering it was difficult. As technology advanced over countless years, magic gradually faded into obscurity and became a forgotten relic of the past. This sets up the movie's central theme of rediscovering magical heritage.

  • magic
  • technology
  • forgotten
  • realm
  • history
Q12

Why is the police chasing Ian and Barley?

Colt Bronco, the centaur police officer and Laurel's boyfriend, notices the brothers have taken off on their quest. Concerned for their safety, Colt calls for backup and pursues them throughout their journey. The chase intensifies when they reach Raven's Point, where Barley's sacrifice of Guinevere creates a landslide to block them.

  • Colt
  • police
  • chase
  • centaur
  • pursuit

Movie threads

More Movies Like Onward, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Onward tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Magical Healing Quests like in Onward

Adventurous journeys where grief propels a magical search for closure. Discover movies like Onward where characters embark on adventurous, often magical, journeys to cope with grief and connect with lost loved ones. These stories balance heartfelt emotion with uplifting fantasy adventures, perfect for fans of hopeful and heartwarming quests.

  • heartwarming
  • bittersweet
  • magical
  • adventurous
  • nostalgic
  • uplifting
  • Tone: hopeful, bittersweet
  • Pacing: fast, adventurous
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a classic quest structure, but the motivation is deeply emotional: confronting the absence of a loved one. Characters face external challenges that parallel their internal struggles with grief, leading to discoveries that offer not a perfect reversal of loss, but a meaningful, bittersweet resolution and personal growth.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a unique blend of fantastical adventure and emotional depth. They are united by a hopeful tone, a fast-paced quest narrative, and a central theme of using an extraordinary journey to work through ordinary, profound human emotions like grief, resulting in an uplifting yet poignant experience.

Brotherhood Adventure Movies like Onward

Fast-paced journeys where brothers bond and grow through shared challenges. If you liked the brotherly bond in Onward, explore these movies about siblings on a journey. These fast-paced adventures focus on teamwork, differing personalities clashing and uniting, and the powerful theme of family, perfect for viewers seeking fun and heartfelt stories about brothers.

  • funny
  • heartwarming
  • adventurous
  • uplifting
  • coming of age
  • family
  • Tone: hopeful, funny
  • Pacing: fast, comedic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot is a linear journey that forces two siblings with contrasting personalities to work together. Through a series of comedic misadventures and genuine perils, they learn to appreciate each other's strengths, resolve old tensions, and discover their individual identities, all while striving for a common goal.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their central focus on the sibling relationship as the engine for both comedy and drama. They typically feature a fast pace, a mix of humor and heartfelt moments, and a narrative where the external adventure directly catalyzes internal character growth and stronger familial bonds.

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Movies Like Onward

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Every angle

Onward (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Onward in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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