Review of 'Boys Go to Jupiter': A vibrant animated piece exploring the themes of oranges, extraterrestrial beings, and the contemporary workforce structure
In the vibrant world of animated cinema, a new contender has emerged, ready to captivate audiences with its unique blend of humor, drama, and social commentary. Boys Go to Jupiter, an animated feature film, premiered at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival and is set to open in theaters on August 8.
The film follows the journey of Billy 5000, a 16-year-old high school dropout, who spends his winter break trying to earn $5,000 by delivering food through the gig economy app, Grubster, in a surreal, pastel-colored suburban Florida setting. The world of Boys Go to Jupiter is populated with abandoned pools, construction sites, and a gamified economy that Billy navigates while slacking, shoplifting, and hanging out with friends.
The plot takes a turn when Billy encounters an alien creature shaped like a donut, named Donut, during a delivery. Billy tries to save Donut from the sinister schemes of Dr. Dolphin, the mad scientist owner of the local juice company, Dolphin Groves. This encounter forces Billy to confront difficult choices about friendship, love, and financial survival in a capitalist world.
Boys Go to Jupiter is a film that defies categorization, with elements of fantasy, comedy, crime, horror, and musical numbers. It serves as a coming-of-age story that satirizes the gig economy and youth culture, blending deadpan humor with a surreal visual style. The film was animated entirely using Blender and marks the feature debut of indie animator Julian Glander.
The film's soundtrack features lo-fi musical numbers, such as an ode to side hustles and a catalog of an alien's favorite Florida delicacies. The animation style is distinct, with neon CG renderings that resemble toys or video game settings, a signature of Glander's.
The voice cast includes comedians Sarah Sherman, Julio Torres, and Cole Escola. One of the most memorable characters is Dr. Dolphin, voiced by Janeane Garofalo. Elsewhere in the series, Glander gets less subtle, such as when Dr. Dolphin's daughter hands Billy a book all about capitalism which he promptly absorbs.
Boys Go to Jupiter has a winding quality, with diversions that are often unexpected but never unwelcome. One such vignette involves an unexpectedly philosophical encounter with a hot dog stand manager on the side of a highway. The film takes a staunchly anti-capitalist tack, with small details like Grubster workers not being allowed to engage with customers and repeating "grubby" catchphrases painting Billy's job as a dull dystopia.
Reviewed out of its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 11, 2024, Boys Go to Jupiter has been described as bizarre, hilarious, and a wonderfully absurd experience. With its latest release information updated as of Aug. 5, 2025, 9:31 a.m., audiences are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to embark on this surreal journey with Billy 5000 and his alien friend, Donut.
You can stream the awaited animated film, Boys Go to Jupiter, on various online platforms after its official release in August 8. The film, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, features an AI-generated soundtrack and is a satire of the gig economy and youth culture, blending elements of fantasy, comedy, crime, horror, and musical numbers. The film's unique animation style, reminiscent of toys or video game settings, was created using Blender and marks the feature debut of indie animator Julian Glander.
