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Orion and the Dark

Play trailer 1:14 Poster for Orion and the Dark 2024 1h 32m Kids & Family Comedy Animation Play Trailer Watchlist
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92% Tomatometer 76 Reviews 58% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
The thing Orion fears the most is the dark. When the embodiment of his worst fear pays a visit, Dark whisks Orion away on a roller-coaster ride around the world to prove there is nothing to be afraid of at night.
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Orion and the Dark

Orion and the Dark

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Critics Consensus

An uncommonly ambitious animated film, Orion and the Dark benefits from a Charlie Kaufman screenplay that isn't afraid to tangle with existential ideas.

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Critics Reviews

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Radheyan Simonpillai CTV's Your Morning Turns into the Being John Malkovich of kids movies. Not saying it works. But I was certainly having more fun watching this unfold while my kids turned to me multiple times being like, “what is this??!!” Feb 9, 2024 Full Review Kristy Puchko Mashable Whether you have a kid in your life who could use some catharsis or an inner child in need of a lullaby, check out the chaotic yet comforting Orion and the Dark. Feb 7, 2024 Full Review Robert Levin Newsday This is a smart movie that addresses real and universal childhood fears in an original way. Rated: 3/4 Feb 6, 2024 Full Review John Daniel Tangalin The Cinema Spot I can tell Kaufman is the proper choice to bring this book to life. This is a storyteller known for delving into psychology and psychoanalysis. Simply put, in the words of the late French philosopher, Anne Dufourmantelle: “The night is our truth”. Rated: 4.5/5 Jul 18, 2025 Full Review Alan French Sunshine State Cineplex Orion and the Dark quickly earns its laudits for being one of 2024’s first great animated movies. It’s funny, gorgeous to look at, and it features some incredible heart. Rated: 8/10 May 24, 2024 Full Review Lee Zumpe Tampa Bay Newspapers “Orion and the Dark” is surprisingly effective in conveying its message that sometimes we must learn to accept the unknown and get on with the business of living. Mar 27, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Tim M A playful deconstruction of the narrative format and existential constructs, Orion and the Dark finds Charlie Kaufman tapping into his charming family-friendly side. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/24/25 Full Review Juan D At first they were actually making a good impression on me but then they started to make the plot get messier and messier, this was so confusing Rated 2 out of 5 stars 07/21/25 Full Review Kauê T O filme passa uma mensagem linda, com bom roteiro e personagens bem desenvolvidos. O problema que da metade do filme para o final, o filme fica confuso, com várias cenas estranhas, acontecimentos inesperados e um grande caos. O filme se perde numa maluquice, e o final é muito mal explicado e sem graça. Pra que dar um salto gigantesco no tempo? Explicaram quase nada e ainda tem um monte de acontecimento sem explicação! O filme é bom, mas acaba sendo estragado, e os outros personagens? Foram descartados. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/20/25 Full Review Alexander P It’s a good movie that actually teaches a valuable life lesson. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/24/25 Full Review Ben P A deeply cynical Kaufman script, a suicidal night-entity, a Werner Herzog cameo, and a scared little boy come together to create the most wistful kids movie since Where the Wild Things Are. The dark doesn’t seem so scary when you’re seeing it through tears. Full review on my Substack: https://benpatten.substack.com/ Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/11/25 Full Review Mitchell S I'm glad DreamWorks is getting into the whole 3D watercolor look. It's colorful, creative, and showcases how both dark and light have a place in the world. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/11/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Orion and the Dark

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Movie Info

Synopsis The thing Orion fears the most is the dark. When the embodiment of his worst fear pays a visit, Dark whisks Orion away on a roller-coaster ride around the world to prove there is nothing to be afraid of at night.
Director
Sean Charmatz
Producer
Peter McCown
Screenwriter
Charlie Kaufman, Lloyd Taylor, Emma Yarlett
Distributor
Netflix
Production Co
DreamWorks Animation, Mikros Animation
Genre
Kids & Family, Comedy, Animation
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 2, 2024
Runtime
1h 32m
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