Dive into the world of unlikely pairs and familial obligations with the 2023 film Elemental. Ember and Wade live in a city where fire, water, land, and air residents live together, though fire is separated from other parts of town. Ember and Wade are thrown together by a chance encounter, learning that even though they are different, they have a lot in common. If you want more movies centered on family, friendships, and unlikely love, watch these six movies like Elemental.
6. Encanto (2021)
Sixth on our movies like Elemental list is Encanto, a story that prizes family and the generational power passed down. The Madrigals are an extraordinary family living in the mountains of Colombia in a place called an Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with wondrous gifts except for one, Mirabel. When Mirabel discovers the magic is in danger, she takes it upon herself as the only ordinary Madrigal to be their last hope.
Instead of significant others, Encanto focuses on the love between family members and how far they will go to protect their own, just like in Elemental.
–IMDb score: 7.2
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5. Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)
Our fifth selection for movies like Elemental is Raya and the Last Dragon. The fantasy film takes place in a realm known as Kumandra, a re-imagined Earth inhabited by an ancient civilization. A long time ago, humans and dragons lived in harmony, but when monsters called the Druun threatened civilization, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. 500 years later, the Druun has returned, and it’s up to a lone warrior to track down the last dragon and stop the evil force for good.
Raya and the Last Dragon touches upon lasting legacies, just like the legacy Ember struggles with in Elemental.
–IMDb score: 7.3
4. Turning Red (2022)
Family expectations and puberty clash in our fourth selection for movies like Elemental. In Turning Red, Mei Lee is a 13-year-old girl who’s trying to juggle her growing need for independence and her family’s high expectations. As her teenage hormones kick in, so too does an unfortunate family trait. Whenever Mei Lee gets too excited or stressed, she turns into a giant red panda. Will Mei Lee be able to subdue her emotions, or will she keep turning red?
While Ember and Wade do not turn into anything, they do have to deal with family expectations and legacies, just like Mei Lee does.
–IMDb score: 7.0
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3. Soul (2020)
Our third selection for movies like Elemental is Soul. Joe spends his days as a middle-school band teacher whose life hasn’t gone completely the way he expected it to, with his true love belonging to jazz music. But, when he gets swept away to another realm to help someone find their passion, he also learns what it means to have a soul.
Premiering during the pandemic, this film not only explores life choices but also enjoying the life we’ve been given, just like Ember and Wade do even though they are fire and water.
–IMDb score: 8.0
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2. Zootopia (2016)
Our second selection for movies like Elemental also features anthropomorphic characters, this time with animals. Zootopia features a city full of mammals who live and thrive together, overcoming their “instincts” for a peaceful future. Judy Hopps is one of these mammals and the first rabbit to join the police force. She quickly realizes how hard it is to enforce the law and fit into a space previously not welcoming to her, but she is determined to prove herself. As she delves into a mysterious case, Judy enlists the help of a sly fox, Nick Wilde.
Instead of embracing family expectations, Judy learns how to break them in her dream of becoming a successful police officer, similar to Ember and the future of her family’s shop.
–IMDb score: 8.0
1. Inside Out (2015)
Last but certainly not least on our list of movies like Elemental is Inside Out, one of the highest-grossing film franchises in the world. Growing up is tough, and it’s no different for Riley, who gets uprooted from her Midwest life after her dad lands a job in San Francisco. Similar to everyone else, Riley is guided by her emotions: Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust, and Sadness. While they help her through everyday life, the added stresses of moving and finding new friends put her emotions in turmoil.
Inside Out doesn’t deal with young love but instead trying to find yourself and who you want to be, just like Ember has to in Elemental.
–IMDb score: 8.1
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