Remarkably Bright Creatures (2026)
Director: Olivia Newman
Cast: Sally Field, Lewis Pullman, Colm Meaney, Alfred Molina, Joan Chen
After her husband’s passing, elderly widow Tova finds unexpected connection during late-night shifts at a small-town aquarium. There, among the quiet hum of filtered tanks and the glow of moonlit water, she stumbles upon a hidden revelation that could reawaken her sense of wonder and bring her a long-lost spark of joy.
More About This Film
Remarkably Bright Creatures is a 2026 American mystery drama adapted from Shelby Van Pelt's bestselling novel. The story centers on Tova Sullivan, a nighttime cleaner at an aquarium, whose friendship with an unusually intelligent giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus becomes intertwined with the mystery of her son's disappearance.
Olivia Newman directed the film and co-wrote the screenplay with John Whittington. Sally Field, Lewis Pullman, Joan Chen, Kathy Baker, and Alfred Molina, who voices Marcellus, lead an ensemble built around grief, friendship, memory, and unexpected connections.
- Olivia Newman directed the film.
- Sally Field and Lewis Pullman star.
- Alfred Molina provides the voice of Marcellus the octopus.
- The film is based on Shelby Van Pelt's 2022 novel.
- Netflix is the film's distributor and lists a runtime of about 111 minutes.