Orion and the Dark

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Orion and the Dark

2024

1h 32m

Kids & Family

Comedy

Animation

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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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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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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

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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

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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

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Sean Charmatz

Director

Jacob Tremblay

Orion

Paul Walter Hauser

Dark

Werner Herzog

Voice

Angela Bassett

Voice

Colin Hanks

Voice

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Orion and the Dark: Trailer 2

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Orion and the Dark: Trailer 1

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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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