Onward is a fun adventure journey of 2 elf brothers, who are very different joining together on a mission to bring their dead father back for one day. The movie deals with themes of discovery, purpose, grief and loss, family relationships. This movie creates an accessible way for kids to talk through feelings they may be experiencing of having lost someone they love. This movie also invites the opportunity to discuss technology use and our relationship between digital reliance and human interaction.

Which of the characters did you like best? Why?

What feelings did you experience in this movie?

Discuss grief and loss. The plot of this movie is a quest for Barley and Ian to bring back their dead father for a day. Are there people your family is grieving the loss of?

Upon learning that magic would bring his father back for one day, Ian creates a list of all the things he would like to do with him. Is there someone you have lost (whether through death or moving away, etc) that if given the chance you would like to spend 1 more day with? What would be on your list?

Ian’s focus of all the things he never had with his dad changes by the end of the movie. What does he discover? How does this change him?

Other themes to discuss: teamwork, perseverance, courage, identity and family dynamics/changes.