Domhnall Gleeson’s Oscar-Nominated Movie Will Move You to Tears — and It’s Only 7 Minutes Long

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Published Mar 7, 2026, 12:19 PM EST

Among the nominees at this year’s Academy Awards is the humble, independent animated short film Retirement Plan. Directed by Irish filmmaker John Kelly, Domhnall Gleeson narrates as Ray, a middle-aged man who lists the things that he will do once he retires, with the film showing his successes and failures. As has often been the case at the Oscars, the biggest impact can come from an unlikely source. Amid the big-budget dramas and ambitious epics hoping for awards glory, it’s this modest exploration of life that leaves you with the most to think about. Better still, it’s free to watch online now.

‘Retirement Plan’ is a Beautiful Portrait of Hope Amid Uncertainty

Comprised of simple line animation and accompanied by a gentle piano score, the short is a gorgeous ode to the people we hope to be in the future. Ray starts slowly, doing all the things he didn’t have time to do when he was working, such as read books, play video games, and learn to juggle. He then takes on bigger tasks as he ages – attempting adventurous pastimes, trying hiking, and learning to appreciate good wine. Finally, he approaches the bigger things, like having the conversations he always meant to have, or allowing himself to feel the emotions he has bottled up. Along the way, he learns to appreciate the beauty in everything, if only in his imagination.

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The story starts off funny, as we learn that not every method of self-improvement is for him. For example, he hates camping and decides that participating in an orgy was a mistake. However, Kelly’s film becomes more profound, asking what the meaning is behind checking off these tasks. We’re reminded that the purpose of life is to be happy, and hopefully leave the world slightly better than we found it. It’s a demonstration that life can be messy, we can fail, and be disappointed, because that’s as much a part of life as victories.

'Retirement Plan' Offers a Message Everyone Can Relate To

Regardless of your background, Ray’s quiet ambitions will speak to you. Most of us will have lain awake at night, staring at the ceiling, fretting about some aspect of the future. Retirement Plan confronts that fear in a way that isn’t exploitative, taking you on Ray’s journey and inviting you to live through the ups and downs with him. As Ray finds some resolution, perhaps you too can achieve some catharsis.

The short also speaks to a truth in most of us – that we always have grand ambitions for our future selves. Many of us store our hopes and wishes in a future where there’s time, when there’s money, when we feel stronger. As such, a grand parallel life opens up for a fictional self, while we work on building up the courage or resources to make it a reality. None of Ray’s ambitions are outlandish; they simply require a bit of time and some bravery. That’s something a lot of us will be able to relate to when we look at our own bucket lists.

'Retirement Plan' Displays the Best a Short Film Can Offer

Like Ray, the short film is a medium looking to do the most with the time it has. Think of the influence of Georges Méliès' A Trip To The Moon, or the many times audiences have cried during Pixar’s short films, which made an impact before the main feature even started. While a feature-length movie can build characters, arcs, and subplots over the space of a couple of hours, the art of a great short film lies in conveying a powerful message quickly, succinctly, and beautifully. Retirement Plan fulfills all three of these requirements.

In just seven minutes, we follow a man from the present moment to the afterlife, where he haunts an old-school enemy. Yet, none of it feels rushed, as each sentence feels like a meditation. There’s an ocean of meaning between what is said and what is shown, such as a moment where Gleeson’s Ray says “I will cry more…”, showing the character gently weeping at the end of his bed, before he follows it up with “…and less”, showing himself paying respects at a funeral. The complexity of life and emotion is broken down to an image and a few words, finding more by doing less.

Some films talk a lot, but say very little; then there are shorts like Retirement Plan that leave us with a lot to think about in a matter of minutes. Combining deceptively simple animation with Gleeson’s thoughtful narration, this small Irish tale deserves all the plaudits of the Oscars’ grand stage.

Retirement Plan is available to watch in theaters as part of the 2026 Animated Oscar-Nominated Shorts program, and is available to watch online via The New Yorker.