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Remarkably Bright Creatures

Play trailer 2:10 Poster for Remarkably Bright Creatures PG-13 May 2026 1h 51m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
83% Tomatometer 65 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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Remarkably Bright Creatures

Remarkably Bright Creatures

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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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Critics Reviews

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Robert Levin Newsday May 11
3/4
Wonderful acting and a touching story. What more could you need? Go to Full Review
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. Go to Full Review
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. Go to Full Review
Connor Petrey Pop Culture Leftovers 3d
Based on the novel of the same name, this remarkably bright adaptation is a sincere look at life, trauma and grief. Go to Full Review
Aaron Neuwirth We Live Entertainment 3d
7/10
I was happy to see the various tentacles find a way to move around together and deliver something charming. Go to Full Review
Jayne Nelson Radio Times 4d
4/5
Expect chuckles, but pulled heartstrings, too, as the movie muses (beautifully) on mortality. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Spencer P. @s_plewe 3h Sally Field still lights up the screen in this small-town slice-of-life melodrama about a widow and her octopus friend welcoming a lost soul into their group. See more Jon B @RT41134519 7h Amazing! So well done. You won't be disappointed! See more Eric S. @RT21448665 8h Cheesy. Well acted. Bad script. Probably a good book. But come on. I can suspend disbelief on the Octopus character… it’s brilliant. But I cannot buy the loser guy who doesn’t know how to use the Internet to find out who is dad is. His motives for finding his estranged dad just to get the child support money is horrible. Not a sympathetic character … that’s a loser and grifter. And don’t get me started on the romance angles or the every person is really sweet and angle. That’s I love Sally Fields. She’s a fantastic actress. But the script is dog poop. See more Tomato B. @GummyBee 8h Never read the book, but I was remarkably impressed by this story. See more Julie F. @jflynn2004 8h Just as good as the book. Loved it! See more Goose R. @rodrigug 14h Before I give a review on this film. I’d like to share some fascinating facts about octopuses 🐙: Some fascinating facts about octopuses: * 🐙 They have three hearts. Two pump blood to the gills, and one pumps blood to the rest of the body. * 🩸 Their blood is blue, because it uses a copper-based molecule called hemocyanin to transport oxygen. * 🧠 About two-thirds of their neurons are in their arms, allowing each arm to perform complex tasks independently. * 🎭 They are masters of camouflage, changing both color and skin texture in fractions of a second. * 🔓 Octopuses can solve puzzles, open jars, navigate mazes, and even recognize individual humans. * 🦴 They have no bones, allowing them to squeeze through openings as small as their beak. * 😴 They appear to experience sleep cycles that resemble dreaming, with changing colors and body movements during sleep. * ♻️ Some species use tools, such as carrying coconut shells for shelter—one of the rare examples of tool use among invertebr See more Read all reviews
Remarkably Bright Creatures

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Movie Info

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)