Orion and the Dark

Hello Darkness, my new friend.

2024 • 90 min • Animation · Family · Comedy · Fantasy · Adventure

Join the Angel Guild Write your review Sign in to rate and review

Synopsis

A boy with an active imagination faces his fears on an unforgettable journey through the night with his new friend: a giant, smiling creature named Dark.

Our family guide

Best from age 6

Movie Knight Score

672 reviews

50 Reviewers · 4 · 60%
65 Audience · 668 · 40%

An imaginative boy named Orion is terrified of many things, especially the dark. He embarks on a magical night adventure with a friendly, giant creature named Dark to face his fears and understand the night.

Violence & peril: 1/10
Language: 1/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 0/10
Romance & sensuality: 0/10
Scary moments: 4/10

Heads up

Discussions of anxieties and fears
Some mildly spooky imagery

What it models well

Overcoming fears
Embracing the unknown
Friendship and understanding
Self-acceptance

Talk about it after

What makes the dark scary for Orion, and what makes it beautiful?
How can we face our own fears?
The importance of imagination

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Orion and the Dark. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

Where to watch

Country

Stream

Links go straight to each service. Some are affiliate links that support Movie Knight at no cost to you. Availability data by JustWatch via TMDB.

Top billed cast

Director: Sean Charmatz • Crew: Charlie Kaufman

Trailers & clips

Reviewer notes

Not recommended
I recommend this movie for a fun and enjoyable watch, as it has a cute and engaging storyline. While the characters may not be very memorable, the film still offers a good time. There are instances where the movie could benefit from less dialogue and more adventure, perhaps cutting down on certain cartoonish elements. This adjustment could enhance the overall experience and make it more captivating for the audience.…
tmdb51616167, TMDB Community

Recommended
While I wouldn't say this animation is as good as other works of Charlie Kaufman, or anything exceptional (even when you consider that its audience is children) it certainly was a joy to watch this movie. And I also got to appreciate the dark a little bit more after watching it.
Hossein, TMDB Community

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://fandomwire.com/orion-and-the-dark-review-a-story-about-accepting-our-fears/ "Orion and the Dark preserves the essence and messages of the original tale about understanding and accepting our fears as something that characterizes us as human beings.…
Manuel São Bento, TMDB Community

Not recommendedTrusted family reviewers
The most significant setback that _Orion and the Dark_ has is that it suffers from being a Netflix film. The humor falls flat and, while there is some creativity, the film reminds you of other cinematic endeavors it borrows from. It doesn’t help that the animation is bland. Some scenes in the film look unfinished because of a lack of natural shadows or depth in the human characters.…
Chris Sawin, TMDB Community