Orion and the Dark

Play trailer

1:14

Orion and the Dark

2024

1h 32m

Kids & Family

Comedy

Animation

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

77 Reviews

57%

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.

Watch on Netflix

Stream Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Radheyan Simonpillai

CTV's Your Morning

Feb 9, 2024

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??!!”

Go to Full Review

Kristy Puchko

Mashable

Feb 7, 2024

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.

Go to Full Review

Robert Levin

Newsday

Feb 6, 2024

3/4

This is a smart movie that addresses real and universal childhood fears in an original way.

Go to Full Review

Marta Medina Pérez

mundoCine

Aug 7, 2025

3.5/5

Orion and the Dark is a film that shines in the dark. An animated story that invites us to confront our own fears, delivering a message that resonates equally with children and adults. [Full Review in Spanish]

Go to Full Review

Kyle Amato

Boston Hassle

Jul 31, 2025

The concept of a Charlie Kaufman kids movie is more interesting in theory than practice.

Go to Full Review

John Daniel Tangalin

The Cinema Spot

Jul 18, 2025

4.5/5

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”.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

George H

@RT05329330 Aug 3, 2026

It's pretty funny if you've got two brain cells to rub together and can take a joke. My toddler also thought it was great in spite of it sometimes feeling like it was aimed at adults, so she must've gotten something out of it too. I was shocked that viewers were trashing it here until I read the reviews. Yes, failure to understand the premise at all would, in fact, reduce a person's enjoyment of the film.

See more

Flighty G

@RT60114903 Jul 24, 2026

I totally forgot this movie existed, it's been 2 years and I was recently searching movies in Netflix and I found it again. So I watched it and now I remember why this movie needs to be buried death It's boring, cliche and it's forgettable

See more

Jonathan O

@RT41230270 May 18, 2026

The animation looks amazing, creativity and magical but it felt like inception for kids and the story are somewhat makes sense but isn't impossible to see yourself in the future while you're a sleep that may be a lot of questions for kids and even adults if there's a theory to see yourself to the future. And the voice casting are terrific and really funny moments but may be the least best DreamWorks Animation.

See more

Joey M

@RT34468626 Feb 3, 2026

I can't bring myself to believe

See more

Amy S

@RT94676577 Dec 2, 2025

This is the fricking worst movie I have ever seen. Do not watch. Confusing plot, bad animation, and terrible storytelling. I guess the message was okay though. It has such a generic story, chunky animation, and no plot line! If you want to be happy for the rest of your life, do not watch this movie! Don’t even think about it!

See more

Miguel C

@Miguel3110 Dec 1, 2025

Orion e o Escuro logo se destaca de outras animações da DreamWorks, com um roteiro terapêutico, engraçado e criativo. Com certeza, mais uma obra de arte do estúdio. Um filme inovador, diferente e com animação linda e vibrante.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Sean Charmatz

Director

Jacob Tremblay

Orion

Paul Walter Hauser

Dark

Werner Herzog

Voice

Angela Bassett

Voice

Colin Hanks

Voice

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

98%

95%

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

My Little Pony: A New Generation

92%

78%

My Little Pony: A New Generation

Watchlist

Ron's Gone Wrong

82%

94%

Ron's Gone Wrong

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Ron's Gone Wrong

Soul

95%

88%

Soul

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Soul

Luca

91%

85%

Luca

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Luca

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Orion and the Dark: Trailer 2

1:14

Now Playing

Orion and the Dark: Trailer 1

2:17

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

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

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings