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

82%

Tomatometer

61 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

500+ 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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Tom Meek

Cambridge Day

1h

2.5/4

It’s heartwarming for sure, but never maudlin. Field, a veteran presence, carries the film and knows when to cede the stage to her eight-armed co-star.

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Monita Roy Mohan

Stereo Geeks (Podcast)

1d

3/5

The film isn’t memorable. It crams in too many story beats in an inorganic fashion, flattens the majority of the characters, and leans heavily on exposition. It’s a nice couple of hours, but Remarkably Bright Creatures needed space to breathe.

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Michael Cook

KLRT-TV

3d

8.5/10

This movie is gonna get you in the feels. You'll tear up a couple of times because there is good emotional payoff. It [the film] is so well-crafted and Sally Field is a fantastic actor, at 80 years old and still cranking it out.

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Landon W.

@RT43896891 6h

Amazing movie with a good plot!

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Andrea D

@AndyD208 8h

Just a warm and beautiful movie with an unexpected couple of twists. Sally Field continues to awe with her powerful performances. I have added my name to the wait list at my local library for the book!

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laura H

@RT55194961 10h

So so bad, watched it because I like Sally Field and because of high RT rating. It’s very poor, not worth watching, basically about an AI generated red octopus slithering around for the duration of the movie and a ‘relationship’ with Sally F. Ridiculous coincidence is the ‘twist’ at end DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME

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Vesna C

@RT36754439 12h

It was a very touching story and it’s a good feel movie! 🍿 a must watch. Nice to watch a movie that doesn’t have to portray heavily on DEI. So tired of these movies that inject everything into it. It was such a pleasant experience.

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Jarek D

@Dzarko 12h

Very surprising movie. I would never expect to sweat from the eyes while listening to octopus. Very feel good movie, great acting, nice cinematography and even some mystery. I do recommend.

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Bryce J

@RT69825417 14h

Great movie new favourite which will be a classic

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Olivia Newman

Director

Sally Field

Tova

Lewis Pullman

Cameron

Colm Meaney

Ethan

Joan Chen

Janice

Kathy Baker

Mary Ann

Remarkably Bright Creatures: Trailer 1

2:10

Remarkably Bright Creatures: Teaser

0:42

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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)