Remarkably Bright Creatures: Sally Field’s Moving Netflix Drama Viewers Are Calling A Must-Watch

A quiet story about grief, friendship and an unlikely bond with an octopus has struck an emotional chord with Netflix viewers.

Remarkably Bright Creatures, starring Sally Field and Lewis Pullman, has been praised by audiences as an “absolute must-watch” and an unforgettable drama. The Netflix film, adapted from Shelby Van Pelt’s bestselling 2022 novel, follows a lonely widow whose life begins to change through two very unexpected relationships.

Directed by Olivia Newman, the film arrived on Netflix on May 8, 2026, with Field taking the lead as Tova, a widow who works nights at a small-town aquarium.

A Friendship No One Saw Coming

Tova has spent years dealing with the loss of her husband and son, living a quiet life while working at the aquarium.

Her routine changes when she develops an unusual friendship with Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living in one of the aquarium’s tanks. Voiced by Alfred Molina, Marcellus is far more perceptive than Tova initially realises.

At the same time, Cameron, a young man who has recently arrived in town while searching for information about his family, enters Tova’s life. Their connection gradually becomes another important source of companionship.

Together, these seemingly unrelated relationships lead toward a mystery that promises a life-changing discovery and gives Tova a renewed sense of wonder.

The film’s central friendship is deliberately unconventional. Netflix describes Marcellus as a clever octopus, while Cameron is portrayed as an adrift young man searching for his place and his family. Their connection with Tova becomes the emotional heart of the story.

Sally Field Leads The Emotional Story

The film gives Sally Field one of its most important dramatic roles as Tova.

The two-time Academy Award winner is joined by Lewis Pullman, known for Top Gun: Maverick and Lessons in Chemistry, who plays Cameron.

The cast also includes Colm Meaney as Ethan, Joan Chen as Janice, Kathy Baker as Mary Ann, Beth Grant as Barb and Sofia Black-D’Elia as Avery. Alfred Molina provides the voice of Marcellus.

Behind the camera, Olivia Newman directed and co-wrote the screenplay with John Whittington. The production was led by Bryan Unkeless, Peter Craig and David Levine, with Shelby Van Pelt also serving as an executive producer.

Viewers Have Called It “Unforgettable”

The emotional tone of Remarkably Bright Creatures has been one of its biggest talking points among audiences.

Viewers quoted in the original report described the movie as an “absolute must-watch”, while others praised Field and Pullman’s performances and its emotional impact. One audience member called it one of the best films they had ever seen, while another described it as the best new movie they had watched in decades.

The response has not been limited to viewers. Critics have also recognised the film’s softer, character-driven approach. Rotten Tomatoes currently gives it an 85% Tomatometer score from 73 reviews and a 90% Popcornmeter score from more than 1,000 ratings. Its critics’ consensus praises Field’s performance and describes the film as a restrained melodrama designed to tug at the heartstrings.

The Guardian gave the film three stars, while The Hollywood Reporter described it as a warmly funny and tearfully touching drama.

The reception has not been universally glowing, however. Some reviewers have found elements of the story overly sentimental or uneven, showing that the film’s emotional style will not work for every viewer.

Based On A Bestselling Novel

Remarkably Bright Creatures is adapted from Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel, which became a major bestseller.

Netflix notes that the book spent more than 64 weeks on the New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list, helping establish the story’s audience well before the film adaptation arrived.

The adaptation keeps the novel’s central ideas intact: grief, loneliness, family, friendship and the possibility of finding connection in unexpected places.

Rather than relying on a conventional romance or straightforward mystery, the film builds its story around the relationships between Tova, Cameron and Marcellus.

That unusual combination is also what gives the movie its distinctive tone. It is part family mystery, part character drama and part gentle story about an unlikely friendship.

Now Streaming On Netflix

With Sally Field and Lewis Pullman at the centre, Remarkably Bright Creatures offers a quieter alternative to the bigger, more action-driven films often dominating Netflix’s catalogue.

Its story begins with a grieving widow and an octopus in an aquarium, but gradually expands into a mystery involving family, loss and a discovery capable of changing Tova’s life.

For viewers looking for an emotional drama built around unusual friendships rather than spectacle, the film has already found a receptive audience.

Remarkably Bright Creatures is now streaming on Netflix.