Netflix has released a new film, Remarkably Bright Creatures, which is already polarising critics. The movie, starring Sally Field and Lewis Pullman, arrived on the streaming platform on May 8, 2026, and has drawn comparisons to cheesy Hallmark films and shows like Virgin River.
Critical Reception
According to The Daily Beast, the film is “so saccharine it’s liable to give viewers diabetes.” The reviewer added that it “may be the most ridiculously corny movie of all time,” eliciting exasperated laughs at its every manipulation.
In contrast, Looper praised the two leads for making their characters “feel authentic” despite the “formulaic” narrative and a “dull” central mystery. Surprisingly, the outlet found the “tried-and-tested clichés” to be “far more enjoyable” than expected.
The Independent gave the film a 2/5 star review, stating that it needs “more talking octopus.” Meanwhile, The Guardian was more complimentary with a 3/5 review, calling it a “gentle Netflix charmer” and praising the third act as “a neatly contrived yet sweetly effective and emotionally earned ending.” The review concluded: “Remarkable might be a stretch, but decent will do.”
TheWrap described the film as “too heartwarming to dismiss,” noting that it doesn’t “need to be remarkable to be worthwhile.”
Plot and Cast
Remarkably Bright Creatures is adapted from the bestselling novel by Shelby Van Pelt. The story follows Tova (Sally Field), a widow and aquarium worker, who forms an unlikely friendship with Cameron (Lewis Pullman), a man searching for his long-lost father. Before Cameron’s arrival, Tova bonds with a giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus, voiced by Alfred Molina, who narrates the film and plays a surprising role in the narrative.
The cast also includes Colm Meaney from Gangs of London and Star Trek, Joan Chen from The Wedding Banquet, Kathy Baker from The Ranch, Beth Grant from Little Miss Sunshine, and Sofia Black-D’Elia from The Night Of.
Director’s Insight
Director Olivia Newman, who previously helmed Where the Crawdads Sing, told Netflix’s Tudum: “So much healing can happen through connection. You would never guess that these two seemingly opposite humans could be just what the other one needed.”
Remarkably Bright Creatures is now streaming on Netflix.
