UP

Even if UP ended after its nearly wordless opening sequence, the film would still be considered a masterpiece; thankfully for us all, the rest of the film builds on that tear-jerking setup to tell a poignant story about grief, aging and friendship. Seventy-eight-year-old Carl (a superb Ed Asner), a curmudgeonly retired balloon salesman, is planning a long-dreamed of trip to South America as a promise to his deceased wife. To do so, he ties thousands of balloons to his house, which then soars into the big, blue sky — along with Russell (Jordan Nagai), a young scout who becomes an accidental stowaway. Together, they face unexpected dangers, meet an elderly explorer (Christopher Plummer) and befriend oddball creatures, including a talking golden retriever (screenwriter Bob Peterson) — while learning to rely on each other. UP became the first animated feature to open the Cannes Film Festival and won the Academy Awards® for both Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score (Michael Giacchino); it is one of only three animated films ever to receive a nomination for Best Picture. DIR/SCR Pete Doctor, Bob Peterson; PROD Jonas Rivera. U.S., 2009, color, 96 min. RATED PG

Run Time: 96 Minutes

Opening Date: Sunday, August 30, 2026

Genre: Animation

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