- Coming from Pixar, Elio was released in the theatres on June 20, 2025.
- While some fans praised the film for its animation, others criticized it for the underwhelming story.
- Elio's eyepatch was the most talked-about topic ahead of the film's official release, and now, we finally know why the boy wears the patch.
When the official trailers of the new Pixar film Elio were released, fans were perplexed to see the young protagonist wearing an eye patch on his left eye. Initially, there were several theories surrounding it, but now that the movie has finally made it to global theaters, we finally have a concrete answer. If you’re curious like we were before watching the film, stay with us until the end.
Why Does Elio Wear An Eyepatch in Elio?
Elio wears an eyepatch as he gets his eye injured in a fight with another kid. There’s no rocket science behind Elio’s Eyepatch; well, that’s what the film showcases. He is just a kid who doesn’t have even one friend. He is obsessed with aliens and wants to go to their planet. Not everyone understands his curiosity. So, rather than attracting friends, he gains the attention of bullies. One day, when he calls a boy named Bryce to deliver ham radios to him on the beach, another kid named Caleb joins in. When Elio asks them to leave, as he doesn’t want to share his desires with them, Caleb and he engage in a fight. That way, Elio gets his eyes injured, and doctors ask him to wear the eyepatch so that he doesn’t touch that eye.
What Did the Early Theories About Elio’s Eyepatch Suggest?
As hinted by the trailers, the adorable kid named Elio is looking forward to getting abducted by aliens. While at times, we see his eyes working fine, there are some sequences where he wears a blue eyepatch over his left eye, raising concerns among the fandom.
Some Reddit users believe Elio suffers from amblyopia or lazy eye, and that’s why he is wearing the patch. This is a condition that usually develops in children. It prevents one of the eyes from getting normal vision, so to strengthen the muscles of the weaker eye, one must cover it with a fabric patch. The film isn’t out yet, though, so we can’t say anything with certainty. That’s what some Reddit users say.
A user on Reddit states, “I’m pretty sure when the movie was announced, they said Elio is a character with amblyopia, a vision issue where an eye patch is worn at times over the stronger eye to help strengthen the weaker eye. 9ne of the first examples of a movie/show representing this eye disorder.”
“The movie isn’t out. I would imagine it’s something that would be explained in the movie…when it comes out,” says another.
An Instagram post from a children’s eye foundation appreciated how an animated film is addressing an eye condition in such a normal way. It reads:
Have you heard about Disney’s new movie, Elio? This movie is going to be released in 2024. If you’re wondering why CEF of AAPOS is telling you about this, it’s because Elio wears an eye patch. We are so excited for the inclusivity this provides to children that are being treated for amblyopia with eye patches.
Several fans also believe that Elio wants to be a pirate, so he intentionally wears a patch on one of his eyes. Well, for the time being, everything about Elio’s eye patch is a theory and speculation. So, let’s not stick to a point and rather wait for the film, which will be officially released on June 20, 2025, to find the answers.
