Remarkably Bright Creatures

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2:10

Remarkably Bright Creatures

PG-13

May 2026

1h 51m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

73 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

A widow who works at a local aquarium finds joy again when she forms an unlikely bond with a giant Pacific octopus and a wayward young man who comes to town in search of family. Together, they uncover a mystery that will lead them to a life-changing discovery and restore their sense of wonder.

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Critics Consensus

Grounded by a characteristically wonderful Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures is a sweet melodrama that tugs the heartstrings with admirable restraint.

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Robert Levin

Newsday

May 11

3/4

Wonderful acting and a touching story. What more could you need?

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Lindsey Bahr

Associated Press

May 11

2.5/4

Its impact may even sneak up on you, not even for the mechanics of the big ending which is a bit of an eyeroll, but simply watching Tova and Cameron find their own emotional catharsis. Luckily, in the comfort of your home, the tissues will be nearby.

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Matt Zoller Seitz

RogerEbert.com

May 10

When the film escapes the confinement tank of its numerous hand-me-down cliches, you’re happy to follow the water trail to see where it leads.

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Javier Alejandro Ramos

Cinencuentro

Aug 19

Made with a firm but thoughtful hand, not without emotion, the film's approach focuses on the possibility of rebuilding wounded hearts, and the great merit of this lies in the performance of the cast members. [Full review in Spanish]

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André Didyme-Dôme

Rolling Stone en Español

Aug 14

A warm and emotional drama that transcends its clichés thanks to an extraordinary cast and an unforgettable eight-tentacled narrator. [Full review in Spanish]

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James Croot

The Post NZ

Jun 28

Between the sharp script, a spot-on ratio of laughs to tears, fabulous use of British Columbian scenery and a trio of pitch-perfect performances, you’ll be more than glad when you find this.

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Locus P

@Locus 1h

Sally Fields is a pleasure to watch and all the cast members did a great job. Great depiction of a small town and heart-warmer of a story. And I liked the octopus. The only downsides for me was that the octopus was just a story device, the schmaltz was delivered in heavy, syrupy doses (Hallmark style), the predictable too-neat twists, and the way the group of older women were directed to act - as if old age had turned them into bumbling muppets. Even Sally Fields was directed to act as if terminally confused. The octopus could have easily been replaced by a relationships counsellor. Same role. Apart from the downsides for me, I found very watchable.

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Meri S

@mschroeder 1d

Good book and they did a decent job with the movie. Some of the story line changed, but it worked with the movie. I’m really glad Tova keeps her house in the Netflix production. Acting from Sally Field was good; but some of the production comes off as a bit Hallmarky.

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Hao Ian L

@HaOiAn 1d

Buried underneath the mountain of clichés, Netflix lighting, and formulaic storytelling was an attempt at a poignant melodrama supported by some genuinely great performances that just weren't quite enough to make up for the two hours of artificial dialogue and uninspiring characters.

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Tina L

@Lioness66 3d

Loved this film. The story is so touching, warm and very easy watch. Sally Fields is brilliant and very young at heart character she plays.

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Lisa L

@LisaMarcon 3d

Touching, heartwarming, spectacular all around!

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Claire M

@RT01732244 4d

Loved this movie! Perfect pacing. Perfect acting. I live in the Pacific Northwest so the location was fun for me. Sally Field just keeps getting better even though she's already a legendary actress. The young man who played, Cameron, had a hard job trying to hit just the right tone for his character. Nailed it! More movies like this, please.

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Olivia Newman

Director

Sally Field

Tova

Lewis Pullman

Cameron

Colm Meaney

Ethan

Joan Chen

Janice

Kathy Baker

Mary Ann

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Remarkably Bright Creatures: Trailer 1

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Remarkably Bright Creatures: Teaser

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Synopsis

A widow who works at a local aquarium finds joy again when she forms an unlikely bond with a giant Pacific octopus and a wayward young man who comes to town in search of family. Together, they uncover a mystery that will lead them to a life-changing discovery and restore their sense of wonder.

Director: Olivia Newman
Producer: Bryan Unkeless, Peter Craig, David Levine
Screenwriter: Olivia Newman, John Whittington
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Netflix Studios
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 8, 2026, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 8, 2026
Runtime: 1h 51m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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