kraken movie reviews christian

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken

Mythological creatures

Teenagers in high school

Feeling desperate to fit in

The difference between “fitting in” and “belonging”

Teenage rebellion / Going against your parent’s orders

What is LYING? What are the truly BIG lies of our world?

Girl asking another girl to the prom

Magical powers fantasy / magic trident

Shy teenage girl with hidden powers

Fantasy magic

Girl with a crush on a boy

Protecting those you love most

“Sometimes the hero you are meant to be lies just beneath the surface.”

Here’s what the distributor says about their film: “DreamWorks Animation dives into the turbulent waters of high school with a hilarious, heartfelt action comedy about a shy teenager who discovers that she’s part of a legendary royal lineage of mythical sea krakens and that her destiny, in the depths of the oceans, is bigger than she ever dreamed. Sweet, awkward 16-year-old Ruby Gillman is desperate to fit in at Oceanside High, but she mostly just feels invisible. She’s math-tutoring her skater-boy crush, who only seems to admire her for her fractals, and she’s prevented from hanging out with the cool kids at the beach because her over-protective supermom (Toni Collette), has forbade Ruby from ever getting in the water. But when she breaks her mom’s #1 rule, Ruby will discover that she is a direct descendant of the warrior Kraken queens and is destined to inherit the throne from her commanding grandmother (Jane Fonda), the Warrior Queen of the Seven Seas. The Kraken are sworn to protect the oceans of the world against the vain, power-hungry mermaids who have been battling with the Kraken for eons. There’s one major, and immediate, problem with that: The school’s beautiful, popular new girl, Chelsea (Annie Murphy) just happens to be a mermaid-turned-human. Ruby will ultimately need to embrace who she is and go big to protect those she loves most.”

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers .

PLEASE share your observations and insights to be posted here.

Does the Latest Teenage Coming of Age Film Sink or Swim?

Parents lie to protect their children. Teenager finds out the truth. Teen decides she will make her own decisions. This causes the teen to trust the wrong person. After the teen almost destroys the world, the teen asks her parents for help. In this Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Christian Movie Review & Parent Guide, I give you the information you need before viewing this movie with your children.

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Christian Movie Review

Studio synopsis:.

Sometimes the hero you are meant to be lies just beneath the surface. 

This summer, DreamWorks Animation dives into the turbulent waters of high school with a hilarious, heartfelt action comedy about a shy teenager who discovers that she’s part of a legendary royal lineage of mythical sea krakens and that her destiny, in the depths of the oceans, is bigger than she ever dreamed. 

Sweet, awkward 16-year-old Ruby Gillman (Lana Condor, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before franchise) is desperate to fit in at Oceanside High, but she mostly just feels invisible. She’s math-tutoring her skater-boy crush (Jaboukie Young-White, Ralph Breaks the Internet), who only seems to admire her for her fractals, and she’s prevented from hanging out with the cool kids at the beach because her over-protective supermom (Oscar® nominee Toni Collette, Knives Out), has forbade Ruby from ever getting in the water. 

But when she breaks her mom’s #1 rule, Ruby will discover that she is a direct descendant of the warrior Kraken queens and is destined to inherit the throne from her commanding grandmother (Academy Award® winner Jane Fonda), the Warrior Queen of the Seven Seas. 

My Synopsis:

While Ruby Gillman knows she is different than other teens, she doesn’t know how different. When she finds out she is a giant Kraken, she is angry with her parents for lying to her. This causes her to make her own life decisions without all the knowledge necessary. 

To complicate matters, it is prom time, and Ruby wants to ask Connor to prom. However,  when she attempts to ask him, everything goes horribly wrong. Can Ruby live a normal teen life?

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Christian Movie Review What Parents Want to Know

While there is no foul language, there was one use of OMG. Additionally, the phrase “mother flipping mermaid” is spoken as well as “flipping mermaid,” and “son of an angler fish.”

Furthermore, the use of dumb is used repeatedly. “You just got played, Dumb-Dumb,” “Dumb teenager,” and “People are stupid.” Another character says, “I am a monster.”

Ruby comments that prom is “a post-Colonial patriarchal concept.”

There is a lot of animated violence. However, no one is killed. A person is hit in the head with a spear.

There is a fight scene at the end between Krakens and a giant evil mermaid. 

Additionally, Ruby Gillman turns into a giant Kraken and destroys a library, a house is destroyed, and there is a fight in the ocean. A character gets injured and lies at the bottom of the sea. 

A woman hits an unknown figure on the road. She later realizes that it was a Kraken.

Spiritual Powers:

Be advised that this movie is about magic, magical powers, and mythical creatures. Furthermore, a character says, “Show me how to use my powers.”

In addition to the mermaid and Kraken, there is also mention of a Leviathan . 

Other Content:

First, one of Ruby’s best friends is a lesbian. She asks another girl to prom. Additionally, there is a scene with a Promposal, where a young man is asking another man to prom. 

Additionally, there are scenes with a girl holding a sign that says, “Marry Me.” In the first scene, she is holding it for 

A young man follows a woman into the women’s restroom. 

Ruby is told that “your body is going through changes,” and “you’re blossoming.”

One character says, “I want to be homeschooled again” in response to a disaster at the library.

There is a lot of deception and lying within the movie. Ruby’s parents live in a town undercover. No one knows they are Kraken. Therefore, Ruby has learned to hide who she really is. 

When Ruby wants to go to prom, her mom says NO because she wants to protect her. Ruby says, “Does it bother anyone that we are lying to everyone.” Her mom says, “We’re not lying; we are omitting the truth.”

Later, one of Ruby’s friends suggests Ruby lie to her mom about prom. “What if you don’t tell her?”

Positive Content:

When Ruby gets into serious trouble, she realizes there is power in working with her mom and grandma. Family (without hidden secrets) can be a powerful force in fighting against evil. 

However, I tend to believe that it is through prayer that we can come together as a family and pray against evil.

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Christian Movie Review Viewing Recommendations

Overall, this movie is about teen decisions and the teenage world. However, very few teens will want to see this movie. Instead, pre-teen and younger girls will be attracted to seeing a movie about a Kraken trying to fit in with her friends. 

Because so much of the content involves teen life, I do not recommend this movie for younger children. Our society is constantly trying to get kids to grow up. Let them stay young as long as you can. 

About the Movie:

Rating: PG some action, rude humor, and mature thematic elements

Runtime: 1 hour, 31 mins.

Release Date: June 30, 2023

Genre: Coming of Age

Style: Animation

Studio: Universal Pictures

Director: Kirk DeMicco

Written by: Pam Brady, Brian C. Brown, Elliot DiGuiseppi

Producer: Kelly Clooney Cilella

Editor: Michelle Mendenhall

Music by: Stephanie Economou

Produced by: DreamWorks Animation

Distributed by: Universal Pictures

Cast of Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken:

Lana Condor as Ruby Gillman

Toni Collette as Agatha Gillman (Ruby’s mom)

Annie Murphy as Chelsea Van Der Zee

Jane Fonda as Grandmamah

Sam Richardson as Brill

Colman Domingo as Arthur Gillman (Ruby’s dad)

Wil Forte as Gordon Lighthouse

Jaboukie Young-White as Connor (Ruby’s love-interest)

Liza Koshy as Margot 

Blue Chapman as Sam Gillman (Ruby’s younger brother)

Eduardo Franco as Trevin

Ramona Young as Bliss 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where can i watch ruby gillman, teenage kraken.

Ruby Gillman was released into the movie theaters on June 30, 2023. It was not streaming anywhere at that time.

Is there an end-credit scene for Ruby Gillman?

No, there is no end-credit scene.

Is there LGBTQ+ content in Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken?

Yes. One of Ruby’s friends, who is a girl, asks another girl to go to prom. Additionally, there is a young man who asks another man to prom. Furthermore, the character Sam Gillman (Ruby’s brother) is voiced by Blue Chapman, who is a transgender boy.

How old is Ruby Gillman?

Ruby Gillman is a freshman, and she is 15 years old.

Will Ruby Gillman stream on Disney+? Can Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken be streaming on Disney Plus? Will Ruby Gillman stream on Peacock?

Universal Pictures and DreamWorks has a deal with Netflix. Therefore, after streaming on Peacock for 4 months, Ruby Gillman should be on Netflix after that.

However, Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken will not stream on Disney+.

How much did it cost to produce Ruby Gillman?

The budget for Ruby Gillman was $70 million.

What does the Bible say about leviathan?

The Leviathan, a creature alluded to in  Job 40  and  Psalm 74:14 , has baffled scholars, and no one seems to have a clear conclusion as to what this beast is. Read more about the Bible and the Leviathan .

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Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken

“Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken” is a cheerful, colorful animated film about a shy, academically gifted young girl with a protective mother and devoted friends who transforms into a huge creature as a metaphor for adolescence, with multi-generational conflicts. Yes, it is similar to the terrific “ Turning Red ,” but this story has its own delights. One of the best family films of the year, “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken” has humor and heart, buoyant energy, witty and imaginative visuals, and never-less-than brilliant voice talent.  

Ruby ( Lana Condor ) and her family live in a coastal village called Oceanside. Her mother, Agatha ( Toni Collette ), is a successful realtor, her father, Arthur ( Colman Domingo ), runs a gift shop, and she has an energetic little brother Sam ( Blue Chapman ). Ruby does not look like the other kids at school. She’s blue. And where a human’s hair should be, she has something fishy. Agatha tells her to explain that the family is from Canada, which seems to satisfy everyone. Her mother also cautions that she can never go in the water or even on a boat. That puts a lot of limits on her social life in a beach-centric town. 

Ruby has a crush on Connor ( Jaboukie Young-White ), a boy she’s tutoring in math, but she cannot find the nerve to invite him to the prom. When he falls into the ocean, though, she impulsively jumps in to rescue him. And then, well, you saw the title. Her transformation leads to connections to relatives on her mother’s side of the family she never knew existed, including Uncle Brill (the always-delightful Sam Richardson ) and a deliciously imperious grandmother Kraken queen (voiced by Jane Fonda) known as Grandmamah (emphasis on the third syllable, please). 

At first, Ruby is shocked and embarrassed by her Kraken-hood. But thanks to Grandmamah’s encouragement, and a new bestie classmate, Ruby sees how her new abilities have the potential for doing good. The new friend is the instantly popular new girl at school, Chelsea Van Der Zee ( Annie Murphy of “Schitt’s Creek”). They have something in common. They are both sea creatures; Chelsea is a mermaid. Grandmamah has told Ruby about the war between the Kraken and the mermaids, but Ruby thinks her friendship with Chelsea could lead to a new era of peace and unity. 

The film’s settings are beautiful, with charming seaside buildings and an ocean environment so marvelously tactile we can almost smell the sea spray. The movements underwater, whether peaceful or turbulent, are vivid and realistic. The high school environment is funny and evocative, with the prom variously described as “a post-colonial patriarchy construct” and “a hormone-fueled benchmark of adolescence.” And there are very funny jokes about topics not often the subjects for humor: escrow and ASMR. 

The film’s characters are endearing and expressive, with thoughtful, vivid detail (Connor’s hair is a wonder), all voiced with warmth and spirit. Ruby’s human legs have a slight rubbery elasticity suitable for a gawky teenager. As a Kraken with glowing suckers on her tentacles, her personality still shines through. Chelsea’s glorious red hair is a bit of a wink to Disney’s Ariel but also a signifier that this supremely confident high school alpha girl seems to have it all together while everyone else is just trying not to do anything too humiliating. Fonda is clearly having a blast as the Queen of the Oceans; she’s supremely magisterial, a warrior at heart, but also a doting grandmother delighted to teach the newest heir to the Kraken legacy about her new world and her new powers. I got a particular kick out of Richardson’s Brill, the goofy but affectionate and always-on-your-side uncle everyone deserves. And watching Condor’s Ruby go from being ashamed and terrified to being proud of her authentic self should help us all wonder what more we are capable of. 

Now playing in theaters. 

Nell Minow is the Contributing Editor at RogerEbert.com.

• Lana Condor as Ruby Gillman (voice)
• Toni Collette as Agatha Gillman (voice)
• Annie Murphy as Chelsea Van Der Zee (voice)
• Sam Richardson as Brill (voice)
• Liza Koshy as Margo (voice)
• Will Forte as Gordon Lighthouse (voice)
• Colman Domingo as Arthur Gillman (voice)
• Jaboukie Young-White as Connor (voice)
• Blue Chapman as Sam Gillman (voice)
• Eduardo Franco as Trevin (voice)
• Ramona Young as Bliss (voice)
• Echo Kellum as (voice)
• Nicole Byer as (voice)
• Jane Fonda as Grandmamah (voice)
• Brian C Brown
• Elliott DiGuiseppi

Co-Director

• Faryn Pearl

Cinematographer

• Kirk DeMicco
• Michelle Mendenhall
• Stephanie Economou

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Movie Review: ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken’

NEW YORK (OSV News) – In theory, the tale of a shy but enthusiastic high schooler who is really a sea creature rather than a human might make for a pleasant diversion. But the major feminist and minor gay agendas that underlie the animated adventure “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken” (Universal) spoil any potential fun the film might offer.

Krakens, so the opening narrative informs us, are a misunderstood lot. Far from being the monstrous threat to shipping and sailors they have long been reputed to be, they are, in fact, guardians of good order in the depths.

Why, then, has the titular character’s caring mother, Agatha (voice of Toni Collette), decided that she (voice of Lana Condor), her energetic little brother, Sam (voice of Blue Chapman), and amiable dad, Arthur (voiced by Colman Domingo), should all live on dry land and pose as people? It’s not initially clear.

Not only has Ruby been raised on terra firma, she’s also been taught to fear any contact with the ocean. But when Connor (voice of Jaboukie Young-White), the skateboarding fellow student Ruby would like to make her boyfriend, almost drowns in an accident, she reluctantly takes the plunge to save him.

As a result, Ruby discovers the wondrous world beneath the waves and learns that her estranged grandmother, known regally as Grandmahmah (voice of Jane Fonda), is its monarch. She also breaks precedent by befriending Chelsea (voice of Annie Murphy), a mermaid and therefore a traditional enemy of Krakenkind.

Together, the lasses ostensibly hope to bring about a reconciliation between their once-warring, still adversarial tribes. But all is not as it seems to naive Ruby.

As scripted by Pam Brady, Brian C. Brown and Elliott DiGuiseppi, and helmed by Kirk DeMicco and co-director Faryn Pearl, the movie sends mixed signals about whether kids should trust their parents. Thus, although her maternal caution is, in some respects, ultimately vindicated, Agatha is portrayed as overly fond of familial secrets.

Less ambiguous is the fact that female krakens are gigantic, gleaming and powerful while their male counterparts are puny and impotent. One of Ruby’s closest pals, Margot (voice of Liza Koshy), moreover, is a lesbian who takes a girl to the prom and sports a rainbow-flag bowtie.

Grown-ups concerned that their children will be manipulated by such item ticking would be wise to be wary. Unsuitable for the youngsters at whom it’s aimed, “Kraken” – while occasionally funny and visually vivid – will likely bore their elders.

The film contains stylized cartoon combat, a benign view of homosexual relationships and mature references. The OSV News classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

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Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken

Where to watch.

Watch Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken with a subscription on Netflix, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

What to Know

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken is littered with too much flotsam and jetsam from better animated features to stand as a true original, but its inherent sweetness and lively style make for likable enough family entertainment.

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken has most of what families will be looking for in an animated movie -- and it might even be more enjoyable for the older kids.

Critics Reviews

Audience reviews, cast & crew.

Kirk DeMicco

Lana Condor

Ruby Gillman

Toni Collette

Agatha Gillman

Annie Murphy

Chelsea Van Der Zee

Sam Richardson

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Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Review: A Film With Valuable Lessons

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken is a visually stunning animated adventure that explores the journey of a sweet and awkward high school student, Ruby Gillman, who learns she is a descendant of the powerful warrior Kraken queens. Tasked with protecting the world’s oceans from power-hungry mermaids, Ruby must embrace her newfound powers and navigate her destiny while safeguarding her loved ones. In this in-depth review, we’ll explore the film’s themes, its valuable lessons for young audiences, its visual appeal, and its notable voice performances.

The film touches upon several essential themes that resonate with both children and adults. At its core, it emphasizes the importance of self-discovery and embracing one’s heritage. Ruby Gillman’s journey mirrors that of many teenagers who often struggle with their identities and self-worth. As she comes to terms with her extraordinary legacy, she serves as an inspiring role model for young viewers, encouraging them to embrace their uniqueness and potential.

Furthermore, the film explores the themes of environmental responsibility and the consequences of unchecked greed. The Kraken’s duty to protect the oceans highlights the significance of preserving our marine ecosystems. Through this fantastical tale, young audiences are subtly taught to be stewards of the environment and take responsibility for the world they inherit.

Visually, Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken stands as a testament to DreamWorks’ animation prowess. The underwater world comes alive with vibrant colors and intricate details, captivating the audience’s eyes throughout the movie. The studio’s dedication to creating mesmerizing visuals is evident, making it a delightful feast for the senses. As expected, DreamWorks once again proves why it remains one of the best animation studios globally, and this film stands among their top-tier creations.

While the film does share similarities with Disney’s beloved The Little Mermaid , it manages to carve out its unique identity. Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken introduces viewers to a captivating world with its own mythology, distinct characters, and engaging plotlines. The decision to focus on the krakens and mermaids adds an intriguing twist, distinguishing it from the classic Disney narrative.

The voice performances are commendable, breathing life into the characters. Lana Condor shines in her role as Ruby, effectively conveying the teenage angst and vulnerability of her character. The legendary Toni Collette ‘s voice talent adds gravitas to the commanding grandmother character. It is refreshing to hear her in a lighthearted animated film after her intense performance in Hereditary , showcasing her versatility as an actress.

Despite its positive aspects, the film grapples with a significant flaw – pacing issues. At times, the narrative lingers, leading to moments of restlessness among the audience. The ninety-one-minute runtime feels longer than it should, hindering the overall impact of the story. While the movie aims to immerse viewers in its underwater world, the pacing occasionally impedes the film’s momentum.

Despite the pacing issues that slightly dampen the experience, Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken remains an entertaining addition to DreamWorks’ repertoire. With its heartwarming themes of self-discovery, environmental responsibility, and the importance of family, the film manages to convey valuable lessons that resonate with its young viewers. Overall, this teenage kraken’s journey is worth embarking on for an enchanting underwater escapade.

• Acting - 8/10 8/10
• Cinematography/Visual Effects - 8.5/10 8.5/10
• Plot/Screenplay - 6/10 6/10
• Setting/Theme - 5.5/10 5.5/10
• Watchability - 7/10 7/10
• Rewatchability - 6/10 6/10

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Movie Review

Plot Summary

A shy adolescent learns that she comes from a fabled royal family of legendary sea krakens and that her destiny lies in the depths of the waters, which is bigger than she could have ever imagined. (from IMDB.com)

Film Review

With how disappointing Disney has been with their family offerings as of late, DreamWorks Animation has still been pretty reliable. The studio has been far from perfect over the years, for sure, but with franchises like How To Train Your Dragon , Shrek , Puss in Boots and Kung Fu Panda , they've become an animation studio that has been able to rightly compete with Disney and Pixar. So when I heard about Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken - which admittedly, didn't look too exciting from its character design alone - I was mildly interested merely because it's a DreamWorks production. Sadly, it seems as though DreamWorks is more than willing to follow in its competition's misguided footsteps.

Also much like last year's Turning Red , Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken feels like a movie almost exclusively crafted for a young female audience. Ruby even has three close best friends, much like Mei does in Disney's movie, and the tight-knit group of gals - and, in this case, one totally emo guy - does its best to be as inclusive as possible. In Ruby's group, we meet Margot who, when they start talking about prom, immediately exclaims that another girl had asked her out to prom and she said yes. Later, we see her donning a small rainbow bowtie and then dancing with her girlfriend who is dressed to fit the stereotype. While DreamWorks Animation is no stranger to promoting same-sex lifestyles (it dates all the way back to 2004 with Shark Tale not-so-subtly promoting that message), it still surprises and disappoints me to see them handling the subject matter so casually as if it's nothing but completely normal. Yeah, I get that "it's 2023" and that's where society is progressing (or is it regressing?), but just because more are accepting it, embracing it and promoting it, doesn't mean it's right .

The content for Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken is very much PG, mostly because of language and the aforementioned pushing of the same-sex lifestyle agenda. There is no direct profanity, but Ruby says "Son of an angler fish!" and another character emphatically shouts "I'm a mother-flippin' mermaid!" (and later just "I'm a flipping mermaid!"). There is some action in the movie, but there are no deaths, and nothing graphic is shown. There is some comedic violence, but there are also some fight scenes with kaiju-sized sea monsters brawling. Scary imagery isn't common, but I would think some of the littler viewers might find the monsters somewhat scary -- especially when Ruby is first turning into her kaiju size.

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken in no way lives up to the quality we've come to expect from DreamWorks Animation (for example, last year's The Bad Guys was far superior). Young girls are likely to appreciate this most out of any kind of audience, but those who have a soft spot for all things pertaining to sea creatures may also find something to like about Ruby Gillman.

Blu-Ray Special Features

BONUS FEATURES on BLU-RAY TM , DVD AND DIGITAL for your collection:

• WALK TO SCHOOL
• CRAB ‘N SKATE
• RUBY GILLMAN
• KRAKEN RUBY
• CHELSEA VAN DER ZEE
• MERMAID CHELSEA
• KRAKENARIUM
• WELL OF SEAS
• SQUAD SOLIDARITY: ADVENTURES IN ADR
• THE KRAKEN: MYTH OR MONSTER  – In this animated piece narrated by Lana Condor and Annie Murphy, we dive deep into the mysteries of krakens and discover how stories of these mythical beasts have evolved over hundreds and hundreds of years.
• MEET THE GILLMAN CAST  - Meet the cast behind your favorite RUBY GILLMAN, TEENAGE KRAKEN characters and discover what they loved about lending their voices to this aquatic adventure!
• THE KRAKEN KREW: MEET THE HUMANS BEHIND THE GILLMANS
• PROM STORIES  – Ruby’s greatest wish was to attend prom with her friends and crush Connor! Here, the cast of the movie share their own prom stories and explain how they would design a promposal.
• SUPER SEA GIRL BESTIES  – If you can see it, you can be it! In this piece we meet the talented women involved in the making of RUBY GILLMAN, TEENAGE KRAKEN.
• FEATURE COMMENTARY -  with Director Kirk DeMicco, Co-Director Faryn Pearl, Producer Kelly Cooney Cilella, Head of Character Animation Carlos Fernandez Puertolas and Head of Cinematography, Layout Jon Gutman.

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Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Movie Review | Safe for Kids?

June 24, 2023 Written by Christie | 1 Comment | Entertainment  & Movie Reviews

Is Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken safe for kids? Is Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken OK for children? Read the Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, an honest parents guide and mom review of the all-new 2023 DreamWorks animated film , starring Lana Condor. No spoilers! #TeenageKrakenMovie May contain commissioned links.

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Movie Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide

Disney isn’t the only one going under the sea this summer.

But krakens take center stage as the heroes in this coming-of-age film. Is the world ready to embrace this ocean monster of a teen?

Is Ruby Gillman swimming towards another box office hit like Trolls, Shrek or How to Train Your Dragon? Or is DreamWorks “kraken” under the pressure of Disney movie competition?

In this Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, I’m breaking down the visuals, the story, a full PG age rating explanation for violence, adult themes and language, and what kids’ age recommendation is suggested to watch in this new Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken parents guide to the new 2023 DreamWorks animated film. A no-spoiler parent review of Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken, does this under the sea film stand a chance against the 2023 summer blockbusters?

The Visuals

Visually, DreamWorks has produced yet another visually stunning animated film. Sharp details, enhanced water animation, as well as bright colors, sparkling skin tones and fluid movement (very similar to Trolls) gives off a very happy, bubbly, kid-friendly vibe for this summer 2023 film.

However, those prone to motion sickness may be surprised that much of the scenes are quick moving, rotating and wavering – which could be nausea and/or seasickness inducing. I would compare these potentially dizzying scenes to The Super Mario Bros. Movie warp pipe scenes combined with boat/ocean motions.

Photosensitivity Warning. For viewers prone to epilepsy or photosensitivity, please be warned that there are multiple scenes in Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken that could be triggering. I would estimate about 50% of the film with bright flashing lights and strobing like effects. There are multiple scenes are in darkness with bioluminescence animation, speedy camera visuals and use of flashing lights to enhance emotions. Bright colors, flashing lights and rotating visuals occur during much of the underwater sequences, as well as scenes on land – and they could be VERY seizure inducing (and also possibly nauseating).

Between the bioluminescence animation, flashing lights and quick camera movements, Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken is one of the most photosensitive animated movies I’ve ever watched , even more so than The Super Mario Bros. Movie or Incredibles 2 . I highly recommend those prone to epilepsy or photosensitivity to watch with caution or have a trusted loved one prescreen first.

This summer 2023, DreamWorks Animation is diving into an all-new animated film directed by Kirk DeMicco (“ The Croods “), produced by Kelly Cooney Cilella (“ Trolls “), along with Faryn Pearl (“ The Croods: A New Age “) as co-director. Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken features a comedic powerhouse cast including Lana Condor (“ To All of the Boys I’ve Loved Before “) as Ruby, Toni Collette (“ Knives Out “) as Ruby’s mom, Jane Fonda (“ Book Club: The Next Chapter “), Colman Domingo (“ Fear the Walking Dead “) as Ruby’s dad, Sam Richardson (“ Veep “) as Ruby’s uncle and Blue Chapman (“ Council of Dads “) as Ruby’s little brother. Also co-starring Will Forte (“ The Last Man on Earth “), Nicole Byer (“ Young & Hungry “), Ramona Young (“ Z Nation “), Eduardo Franco (“ Stranger Things “) and Echo Kellum (“ Arrow “).

Dive into the turbulent waters of high school with a hilarious, heartfelt action comedy about Ruby Gillman, a shy teenager who discovers that she’s part of a legendary royal lineage of mythical sea krakens and that her destiny, in the depths of the oceans, is bigger than she ever dreamed. Using popular teenage coming-of-age tropes, humor and sarcasm, Ruby Gillman shows off her true colors through a journey of overcoming stereotypes, self-identity, acceptance, and family love.

However, as charming as Ruby Gillman and the kraken life is, this animated film also seems to slap back at another certain child entertainment giant. The timing and the character placement seems ironic considering that another under the sea film has just released this summer. And the tropes and life lessons seem to be closely familiar to another popular coming of age film you may have seen somewhat recently (*cough, Turning Red , cough*).

But with enough sparkly scenes, one liners and a somewhat clever spin on ocean mythology meets modern day society story, Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken holds her own – without overstaying her welcome. With just enough takeaways that may even have audience members getting a little misty eyed, there’s character, relatability and heart (and cameos!) – all of the necessities for a somewhat memorable DreamWorks film.

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken PG Rating Explained

Is Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken safe for kids? An original DreamWorks animated movie that’s rated PG? Should parents be concerned? It’s no secret that I am highly skeptical of all MPAA ratings (um hello, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker not disclosing any language??). And as we know, not all movie and TV age ratings are the same. As a parent, it’s been rather heartbreaking to witness how ratings have shifted over the years with G-rating no longer an option.

PG ratings now oscillating between Turning Red intense to Christopher Robin calm, and even PG-13/TV-14 age ratings teetering on the edge of R or MA ratings ( Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and Werewolf by Night , I see you!), there’s a wide range between the age of 0-14 years old for parents to consider. Having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or show is kid friendly – and safe for the whole family to watch together.

Why is Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken rated PG? In this Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, this all-new 2023 DreamWorks animated film is rated PG for “ some action, rude humor and thematic elements. ” With film and TV ratings also unpredictable these days, having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or television show like Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken is kid friendly. Is Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken too adult for kids? Too crude? Let’s breakdown that PG age rating in this Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken parents guide.

Violence/Suspense. The action and violence in Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken include images of possibly scary looking ocean creatures (all within the Ruby Gillman animation realm of the film), use of harpoon gun (including harpoon hitting directly into a character’s head), one animal attacking a woman’s face (for comedic relief) and some hand-to-hand fighting. Very mild peril. No gore or blood. This DreamWorks film fits in with the violence intensity level of the How to Train Your Dragon franchise.

Adult Themes. Teenage movie stereotypes and themes are very common throughout Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken. Dealing with hormones, self-identity, prom, dating, peer pressure, cell phones and social media, acceptance, tense family dynamics (including use of the word “hate” towards parents), divorce, skipping school, mental health references to “panic attacks,” and teen rebellion actions. No alcohol or drug content.

Sexual innuendo and adult content include hugging, brief hand holding and dancing while holding hands, one kiss between married parents and one kiss on the cheek. There’s also discussions similar to Turning Red of discussing teen bodies going through changes and referring to blossoming and flower metaphors. There is one quick verbal and visual reference to an LGBTQ+ relationship of one girl taking another girl to prom – but could be easily overlooked/missed by a child if not paying close attention. There is also one visual of a girl holding a sign up that says “Marry Me” to another girl. And one reference to a guy as “bae.”

Language. Does rude humor include foul language in Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken? Thankfully, swear words and foul language are almost nonexistent in this animated movie. There are 2 play on words phrases of “son of an angler fish,” and “mother flipping.” But that’s as naughty as this DreamWorks film gets.

Milder insults and bad language words and phrases include “stupid,” “dumb,” “weird,” “freak,” “freaking out,” “oh my gosh,” and pronouncing the letters “OMG.” Not quite 100% clean, but glad to see that this DreamWorks film fits within the other popular animated franchises for language.

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Movie Age Rating for Kids?

With a runtime of 1 hour 31 minutes , this 2023 DreamWorks animated movie fits right in the sweet spot for kids and families for a summer family film. With bright colors, stunning visuals and a humor filled coming-of-age teen story adventure, the pacing feels right on target for young kids.

This DreamWorks 2023 animated film is most comparable to Pixar’s Turning Red meets the Trolls franchise.

No, there are NO end credit scenes in DreamWorks Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken film. Though fans may enjoy the beginning credit 2D animations.

Based on my Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken parents guide and mom review above, this parent movie reviewer would not recommend Elemental to kids younger than the age of 3-4 years old .

Considering the full PG rating breakdown above, this parent movie reviewer would not recommend Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken to kids younger than the age of 3-4 years old . This Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken PG rating is pretty spot on and easily comparable to Turning Red and Trolls movie franchise ratings. I recommend that parents prescreen Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken movie for teenage tropes, crude humor and adult content.

The Overall

Kraken up or kraken under the pressure? Not quite as iconic as Shrek or the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, Ruby Gillman is no Turning Red, in my opinion. But that’s not to say that Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken let’s her teen raging hormones overstay her welcome. In fact, Elemental may get a little emotional over the competition this summer 2023.

With clever humor, a twist on the usual ocean mythology storyline, and relatable characters, Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken stands tall as an underwater summer adventure that will have kids and parents alike laughing. This movie dives deeper below surface level – into important life lesson tentacles that we could all learn from.

Follow Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken on social media:

• Website: https://www.dreamworks.com/movies/ruby-gillman-teenage-kraken
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teenagekrakenmovie/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DreamWorks
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TeenageKrakenMovie/
• #TeenageKrakenMovie

Looking for more parent movie reviews and TV reviews like Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Movie Review | Safe for Kids? Check out these popular review posts:

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken the all-new DreamWorks animated film is swimming into theaters for summer 2023 starting on Friday, June 30, 2023. Will your family be watching?

I was invited to screen the new 2023 DreamWorks animated film Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken in exchange for this Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Movie Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide. All photos courtesy of DreamWorks/Universal Pictures. Be sure to follow Raising Whasians for more movie updates, celebrity interviews, entertainment and behind-the-scenes info!

About Christie

I’m Christie, Korean mom to 2 biracial “whasians.” A Florida gal who loves crafts, travel & any excuse to eat! Read more...

Kae-Leah Williamson says

June 24, 2023 at 9:29 pm

Yes, I know it’s just a movie. Yes, it’s fiction, and it’s not meant as an intentional personal attack, but… As a disabled person who loves mermaids, I felt hurt by the trailer for the upcoming DreamWorks Animation movie Ruby Gillman Teenage Kraken saying “people are stupid” for liking mermaids. There are many disabled people in the cosplay community who like dressing up as mermaids because for once, their lack of mobility actually makes sense. One of my favorite disabled cosplayers made a meme years ago that said “You don’t have to walk to be beautiful, just ask the mermaids”. Directly insulting people for liking mermaids unintentionally hurts many disabled people. It’s tiresome how Hollywood doesn’t often give a crap about disabled people and their feelings. Mermaids aren’t real, but disabled people who like them are. When I was a teenager 20 years ago, I watched shows where the characters I looked up to made “short bus” jokes, and while I realize rationally that this is not nearly as bad as that, it’s still hurtful and certainly unnecessary. Our feelings are very real, and everywhere we’re bombarded with subtle reminders of how we don’t matter to so many people and corporations alike.

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Related news, movie review: ‘ruby gillman, teenage kraken’, by john mulderig, osv news jun 30, 2023 culture.

NEW YORK – In theory, the tale of a shy but enthusiastic high schooler who is really a sea creature rather than a human might make for a pleasant diversion. 

But the major feminist and minor gay agendas that underlie the animated adventure “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken” (Universal) spoil any potential fun the film might offer.

Krakens, so the opening narrative informs us, are a misunderstood lot. Far from being the monstrous threat to shipping and sailors they have long been reputed to be, they are, in fact, guardians of good order in the depths.

Why, then, has the titular character’s caring mother, Agatha (voice of Toni Collette), decided that she (voice of Lana Condor), her energetic little brother, Sam (voice of Blue Chapman), and amiable dad, Arthur (voiced by Colman Domingo), should all live on dry land and pose as people? It’s not initially clear.

Not only has Ruby been raised on terra firma, she’s also been taught to fear any contact with the ocean. But when Connor (voice of Jaboukie Young-White), the skateboarding fellow student Ruby would like to make her boyfriend, almost drowns in an accident, she reluctantly takes the plunge to save him.

As a result, Ruby discovers the wondrous world beneath the waves and learns that her estranged grandmother, known regally as Grandmahmah (voice of Jane Fonda), is its monarch. She also breaks precedent by befriending Chelsea (voice of Annie Murphy), a mermaid and therefore a traditional enemy of Krakenkind.

Together, the lasses ostensibly hope to bring about a reconciliation between their once-warring, still adversarial tribes. But all is not as it seems to naive Ruby.

As scripted by Pam Brady, Brian C. Brown and Elliott DiGuiseppi, and helmed by Kirk DeMicco and co-director Faryn Pearl, the movie sends mixed signals about whether kids should trust their parents. Thus, although her maternal caution is, in some respects, ultimately vindicated, Agatha is portrayed as overly fond of familial secrets.

Less ambiguous is the fact that female krakens are gigantic, gleaming and powerful while their male counterparts are puny and impotent. One of Ruby’s closest pals, Margot (voice of Liza Koshy), moreover, is a lesbian who takes a girl to the prom and sports a rainbow-flag bowtie.

Grown-ups concerned that their children will be manipulated by such item ticking would be wise to be wary. Unsuitable for the youngsters at whom it’s aimed, “Kraken” – while occasionally funny and visually vivid – will likely bore their elders.

The film contains stylized cartoon combat, a benign view of homosexual relationships and mature references. The OSV News classification is A-III – adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG – parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children. John Mulderig is media reviewer for OSV News. Follow him on Twitter @JohnMulderig1.

Review: Cheekily titled, ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken’ is an easy, breezy, entertaining watch

• Copy Link URL Copied!

When we’re growing up, there are many times when we feel a little monstrous.

For many of us, it happens around adolescence: Bodies are changing, emotions are huge. And because we’re trying to figure everything out, we can’t help but notice how different we are.

That’s probably why there’s no shortage of coming-of-age stories that use monsters as metaphors. The latest entry in this genre, “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken,” blends teenage angst with a fun and vibrant take on sea-creature lore that subverts fairy-tale expectations.

Directed by Kirk DeMicco, the animated movie follows Ruby Gillman (voiced by Lana Condor ), a teen kraken who lives among humans in a seaside town. Sweet and relatably awkward, Ruby is a 16-year-old mathlete with a lovingly overprotective mom (Toni Collette), a crew of loyal friends (Liza Koshy, Ramona Young, Eduardo Franco) and a crush ( Jaboukie Young-White ) who’s not as unattainable as she might believe.

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June 19, 2023

A key Gillman family rule is to never go into the ocean. But when Ruby breaks it to save her favorite skater boy, she discovers a family secret: She’s kraken royalty. Not only that, Ruby learns that the kraken are warriors who protect the sea from their rivals, such as the vain and power-hungry mermaids .

At a moment when animated family features are often adaptations of existing intellectual property or additions to a franchise , “Ruby Gillman” stands out as an original story, something to be lauded. Exactly how original is another question: While watching “Ruby,” it’s impossible not to think of other recent animated films such as Pixar’s “ Luca ,” a fish-out-of-water tale featuring young sea monsters, or “ Turning Red ,” a panda puberty story involving mother-daughter tensions.

“Ruby Gillman” is also clearly in conversation with a certain animated classic from 1989 about a young redheaded mermaid princess who dreams of walking among humans. (Flipping the script on fairy tales is a bit of a DreamWorks signature .)

Still, as predictable as the movie often is, it’s elevated by Condor’s disarming and charming Ruby, and some vivid character designs. The luminous undersea kraken kingdom is also quite a sight.

Lighter in emotional stakes than other animated films released this month (“ Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse ,” “ Elemental ”), “Ruby Gillman” will likely appeal to younger audiences — and to their parents seeking a beach read of a movie.

'Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken'

Rated: PG, for some action, rude humor and thematic elements Running time: 1 hour, 31 minutes Playing: In general release

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This Might Be the Strangest Movie of the Year

On its surface, Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken is like any number of other films we’ve already seen: An awkward teenager tries to fit in, winds up humiliated, but then discovers that they’re special in their own way. With a variation here or there, the template can accommodate everything from She’s All That to Cinderella to Spider-Man to Carrie . In the case of this movie, however, like the title says, our nerdy, lovesick 15-year-old heroine (voiced by Lana Condor) isn’t just wondering whom she can ask out to prom or if the popular new girl at school will befriend her or why her parents are so strict with her. She’s also a kraken .

There are different kinds of weird. Some movies are weird due to a surfeit of imagination; the filmmakers, we sense, have worked overtime to come up with more and more creative, unpredictable ideas. Then there are those films that are weird for the opposite reason: because the people behind them appear to have run out of ideas. Sea monsters have been all the rage in animation of late, but there’s a world of difference between the fully realized universes of The Sea Beast and Luca and something like Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken, which feels like a fake movie we might glimpse in a satire about how creatively bankrupt Hollywood is. At the same time, it’s a fake film that we can sort of imagine actually wanting to see: Wait, she’s a kraken ? The ancient, mythical, ship-eating giant octopus of Scandinavian sailor lore? Okay, what’s that going to be like?

Weird. It’s going to be weird. I’m not sure at what point I realized I was watching what might be the strangest movie of the year. Maybe it had to do with Ruby’s parents hiding from their kids the fact that they are a family of krakens . Or the fact that Ruby is told her family is not allowed into the ocean even though they live in a seaside village. This is not any seaside village, mind you; it’s a village where everything is sea-based. Every single school trip is to the water. The prom is being held on a boat. “Why do you live next to the water?” someone asks Ruby’s mom, Agatha (voiced by Toni Collette). “We needed to stay moist,” she says.

Ruby doesn’t know she’s a kraken at first. She just knows to wear turtlenecks to cover up her gills lest she be mocked at school. When she’s embarrassed, one of her legs wraps tentacularly around the other. Is the latter an actual, odd character feature, or is it just part of the slippery, trippy animation style of the movie? That, too, is hard to tell. The look of Ruby Gillman has a TV-cartoon cheapness, but its frames are cluttered with all manner of objects and elements of odd design, almost as if the filmmakers hope we won’t notice how basic and uninspired everything looks. Even when our heroine transforms into a mountainous, terrifying undersea beast, it’s hard to tell what she’s supposed to look like. Her hair is made of tentacles, but her enormous fingers have suckers on them. What exactly do the people who made this movie think a kraken looks like? Ruby looks as if a drunk person tried to draw Cthulhu from memory.

Ruby Gillman tries to have it both ways. It wants to be a poppy, colorful, neon teen fantasia — a frivolous comedy with simple bursts of romantic longing, encomiums to enduring friendships, and gentle conflicts with overprotective parents. At the same time, there’s a whiff of civilizational defeat to its devil-may-care high concept. By making the teen heroine (I still can’t believe I’m typing this) a kraken , and not a particularly well-realized kraken at that, the movie undercuts the familiar sweetness of its premise in the cruelest way. It reminds us that nothing really matters. Ruby Gillman might seem like an unassuming little animated film — a trifling, family-friendly time-waster — but at some point, expect a moment of clarity that reveals how utterly absurd this whole endeavor is. And by “whole endeavor,” I mean life itself.

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Ruby gillman, teenage kraken.

• Common Sense Says
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Based on 14 kid reviews

Kid Reviews

Good, but not too good.

This title has:

• Great messages
• Great role models

Report this review

Good animation, bad messages, fantastic must see.

• Educational value

Terrible Turning Red copy that's full if ckiche's and plot holes

Some flirting, a character nearly drowns, some rude humor.

this is a great movie

Turning red x luca, what to watch next.

Song of the Sea

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Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken: Movie Review

by Kristina Light

June 26, 2023

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken

Duration 91 minutes

This weekend, our family enjoyed a sneak preview of  RUBY GILLMAN, TEENAGE KRAKEN , the latest film from DreamWorks Animation.

This fast-paced, colorful film is the latest summer film from DreamWorks. Part comedy, part adventure, the legend of the Kraken and the mermaids is told through a tale of teenage discovery.

Ruby Gillman grew up on land and never quite fit in. She always felt different, but she didn't know why. 

This shy, studious, sweet, high school student eagerly anticipates prom, begging her mom to let her go, and navigates her passion for math, her crush, and friends. She often feels invisible, until she doesn't. One day she discovers that she is in fact a Kraken, and not just any Kraken, a giant princess Kraken. 

Legend has it that Krakens were the enemy of Oceanside, her seaside suburban town, but as the story unfolds it is revealed that the real enemies are in fact, mermaids (a red-headed singing mermaid to be exact.... coincidence?). 

The movie packs a powerful message, "Sometimes the hero you are meant to be lies just beneath the surface."

Ruby is told to live by one rule, never enter the ocean. When she breaks the rule to rescue her crush, she learns she is a direct descendant of the warrior Kraken queens and is destined to inherit the throne from her commanding grandmama (voiced by Academy Award® winner Jane Fonda), the Warrior Queen of the Seven Seas. 

Grandmama Kraken tells Ruby the history of their kind and their mission to protect the seven seas against the villainous mermaids who have been battling with the Kraken for years. The problem is that the new girl in school, and Ruby's new BFF, just so happens to be a mermaid. In order to save the Kraken, she must defeat the mermaids. In order to obey her mother, she must never enter the ocean (become a giant Kraken). Ruby has to decide whether to embrace her Kraken heritage and protect those she loves, or continue to hide. 

The film is a fun underwater adventure kids enjoy.

What parents should know before they go:

• Multiple uses of the word "flippin'."

Genre:  Animated Action-Comedy 

Cast:  Lana Condor, Toni Collette, Annie Murphy, Sam Richardson, Liza Koshy, Will Forte, Colman Domingo, Jaboukie Young-White, Blue Chapman, Eduardo Franco, Ramona Young, Echo Kellum, Nicole Byer and Jane Fonda 

Directed by Academy Award® nominated filmmaker Kirk DeMicco (Vivo, The Croods) and produced by Kelly Cooney Cilella (Trolls World Tour, Trolls), with Faryn Pearl (The Croods: A New Age, Trolls World Tour) serving as co-director, the film features a comedic powerhouse supporting cast, including Emmy nominee Will Forte (The Last Man on Earth), Emmy nominee Nicole Byer (Nailed It!), YouTube Diamond creator Liza Koshy (Liza on Demand), Ramona Young (Never Have I Ever), Eduardo Franco (Stranger Things) and Echo Kellum (Arrow).

Family Media Group. All rights reserved.

Things to do | Cheekily titled ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken’…

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Things to do | cheekily titled ‘ruby gillman, teenage kraken’ is an easy, breezy, entertaining watch, dreamworks animation’s film treads in familiar waters, but its charms make up for that.

For many of us, it happens around adolescence: Bodies are changing, emotions are huge. And because we’re trying to figure everything out, we can’t help but notice how different we are.

That’s probably why there’s no shortage of coming-of-age stories that use monsters as metaphors. The latest entry in this genre, “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken,” blends teenage angst with a fun and vibrant take on sea-creature lore that subverts fairy-tale expectations.

Directed by Kirk DeMicco, the animated movie follows Ruby Gillman (voiced by Lana Condor ), a teen kraken who lives among humans in a seaside town. Sweet and relatably awkward, Ruby is a 16-year-old mathlete with a lovingly overprotective mom (Toni Collette), a crew of loyal friends (Liza Koshy, Ramona Young, Eduardo Franco) and a crush ( Jaboukie Young-White ) who’s not as unattainable as she might believe.

Commentary: ‘Elemental’ is a reminder to thank our parents while we still canA key Gillman family rule is to never go into the ocean. But when Ruby breaks it to save her favorite skater boy, she discovers a family secret: She’s kraken royalty. Not only that, Ruby learns that the kraken are warriors who protect the sea from their rivals, such as the vain and power-hungry mermaids .

At a moment when animated family features are often adaptations of existing intellectual property or additions to a franchise , “Ruby Gillman” stands out as an original story, something to be lauded. Exactly how original is another question: While watching “Ruby,” it’s impossible not to think of other recent animated films such as Pixar’s “ Luca ,” a fish-out-of-water tale featuring young sea monsters, or “ Turning Red ,” a panda puberty story involving mother-daughter tensions.

“Ruby Gillman” is also clearly in conversation with a certain animated classic from 1989 about a young redheaded mermaid princess who dreams of walking among humans. (Flipping the script on fairy tales is a bit of a DreamWorks signature .)

Still, as predictable as the movie often is, it’s elevated by Condor’s disarming and charming Ruby, and some vivid character designs. The luminous undersea kraken kingdom is also quite a sight.

Lighter in emotional stakes than other animated films released this month (“ Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse ,” “ Elemental ”), “Ruby Gillman” will likely appeal to younger audiences — and to their parents seeking a beach read of a movie.

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Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Parent Guide

This film is adequate but it lacks surprise or enchantment..

Theaters: A teenage girl discovers that she comes from a long line of krakens, sworn to protect the world from power-hungry mermaids. On top of all her high school responsibilities of course.

Release date June 30, 2023

Run Time: 90 minutes

Get Content Details

The guide to our grades, parent movie review by kirsten hawkes.

Ruby Gillman (Lana Condor) is a competitive math whiz (“mathlete”), loyal member of her friend squad, and conscientious rule-follower. Although she lives near the beach, she obeys her parents’ strict ban against ever going into the sea. She also does her best to be invisible, ascribing her blue skin to being Canadian. The truth is much harder to believe: Ruby is a kraken.

Fans of maritime literature will recognize krakens as fearsome sea monsters, prone to destroying ships and killing unlucky sailors. As we learn, this is “fake news”: the kraken are really guardians of the ocean, destined to protect the watery world from all manners of monsters, especially cunning, power-hungry mermaids.

There aren’t a lot of surprises in this DreamWorks production. It’s vaguely disappointing that the studio that produced Shrek can’t come up with a quirkier angle on a story that’s just crying out for a less pedestrian approach. I don’t mean that Ruby Gillman is a bad film. It’s fine. Just fine. The characters are clearly drawn, the animation is bright and appealing, and the voice talent is excellent – particularly Jane Fonda as Grandmamah. (Considering Ms. Fonda’s dreadful roles this past year, maybe she should stick to voice acting in future.) The movie even delivers solid lessons about self-acceptance, the benefits of diversity, and the power of family legacies. What’s missing is the element of surprise, or perhaps enchantment.

Youngsters will probably enjoy watching the movie, but it won’t give parents the kind of comic jolt that comes from, say, The Incredibles or Shrek. This is an adequate choice for 90 air-conditioned minutes in a theater with the kids, but I think you’re better off waiting until it streams and spending your hard-earned money on a more exciting summer blockbuster. ( Elemental and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse are both better films and are still playing in theaters.)

If your kids have seen the trailer and are clamoring to see the film, you can be assured that there is very little negative content aside from dramatic body transformation and some fairly extensive scenes of fantasy violence, none of which feel terribly perilous (at least to me). Parents will note that one of Ruby’s friends is a lesbian and there’s a brief moment where two girls kiss in the background. Whether you see this as a plus or not will depend entirely on your views on sexuality and diverse representation. Frankly, I think it will go right over the heads of most young moviegoers who will be fascinated by the underwater drama. Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken might not be the catch of the day, but it gives families a reasonably safe entertainment option and that’s not nothing.

About author

Kirsten hawkes, watch the trailer for ruby gillman, teenage kraken.

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Rating & Content Info

Why is Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken rated PG? Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken is rated PG by the MPAA for some action, rude humor and thematic elements

Violence: There are frequent scenes of fantasy violence in which characters are thrown, hit, trapped by rocks, zapped with eye lasers, and menaced with a trident. A human character nearly drowns. Harpoons are fired at a main character. A building is accidentally destroyed when a character transforms into a much bigger creature. Sexual Content: A girl announces that she’s going to prom with another girl and is later seen dancing with her. Two girls are briefly seen kissing in the background of a scene. A girl kisses a boy on the cheek. Profanity:   “Dumb” is used as an insult on a few occasions. Alcohol / Drug Use: None.

Page last updated June 29, 2024

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Parents' Guide

Why does Ruby’s mother insist on raising her children on land? Do you think she made the right decision? Do you think it’s possible for Ruby to live on the land and fulfil her role as a kraken leader at the same time or do you think she’s going to have to make a choice at some point?

How does this movie’s depictions of mermaids contrast with the prevailing cinematic portrayal? Do you think this adds extra tension or humor to the story?

Loved this movie? Try these books…

Young readers who want to get to know a sea monster for themselves can read Lula and the Sea Monster by Alex Latimer. Young readers will also appreciate Monsters in the Briny which features a kraken, a sea serpent, and a giant tortoise. Written by Lynn Becker and illustrated by Scott Brundage, this book rollicks along to a sea shanty rhythm.

Young readers who want ocean adventures and lots of pictures will appreciate The Sea Monster by Kyle Lukoff and Kat Uno.

Chapter book readers will enjoy the excitement of Mary Pope Osborne’s Summer of the Sea Serpent, the third of the Magic Tree House Merlin Missions series.

Kids who want to know about the real world creatures who live in the deep will learn a lot from National Geographic Kids Weird Sea Creatures by Laura Marsh. They can also check out Scary Sea Creatures by Madelyn Ovelia Marthers.

Related home video titles:

Luca is the story of a sea monster who’s curious about life on land. When he leaves the water, he transforms into a human and has a chance to make friends, develop a passion for Vespas, and learn about the wider world.

In Turning Red , MeiMei discovers that she has inherited an unusual family trait – she transforms into a giant red panda when she feels strong emotion.

After Jacob Holland finds a young stowaway on his monster-hunting ship, they find themselves learning a lot about the feared denizens of the deeps in The Sea Beast.

A young orphaned boy goes on the run from his powerful grandfather in Kubo and the Two Strings.

The popular perception of mermaids can be clearly seen in The Little Mermaid, available in Disney’s animated and live action versions.

RUBY GILLMAN, TEENAGE KRAKEN

"mixed animated fantasy fare".

What You Need To Know:

Miscellaneous Immorality: Lying, deceit and talking back to parents, but these issues are resolved in the end.

More Detail:

RUBY GILLMAN, TEENAGE KRAKEN has always felt a little funny because she lives in a human world, but she isn’t a human, and when things go awry, she finds out just how different she is than humans. RUBY GILLMAN, TEENAGE KRAKEN is a fun animated fantasy with some positive moral content about family and motherhood, but the plot is lackluster in the movie’s first half, and the movie has some cautionary elements such as the mother isn’t truthful to her teenage daughter, and there are two references to a girl asking another girl to the school prom.

Ruby is a teenager who has always found herself out of place, because she’s a kraken living in a human world. Ruby comes from a line of royal female sea creatures who can grow huge, to protect the ocean from power-hungry mermaids. Ruby’s mother and father, who love each other deeply, have decided to live on land with their family, rather than in the water as a kraken. This means that Ruby can’t be in the water and can’t attend her prom because it will be held on a boat in the water. Ruby goes to school and tells her friends the sad news she can’t go to the prom. However, she decides to go anyway and not tell her parents. She will also ask the boy she likes to go with her to the prom.

When Ruby asks Connor to attend the prom with her, he accidentally falls over the edge of the ocean pier into the water. Ruby jumps into the water to get him. However, she turns into a huge kraken and sends a signal into the water. Ruby saves Connor, but also becomes so huge that she accidently destroys the school library. She’s totally thrown off when this happens because her mother never told Ruby this would happen if she went into the water.

Not long afterwards, Ruby returns to her smaller size, but the signal her body sent into the water notifies her Uncle Brill. He comes to visit and tells Ruby about her grandmother and leads her to her. Her grandmother, Grandmamah, turns out to be a queen of the krakens. This means that Ruby is a princess. Ruby is overwhelmed by this information and must decide to either stay on land or stay with her Grandmamah.

When going back toward land, Ruby sees a classmate, Margot, in the sea and discovers Margot is actually a mermaid. The mermaids and the krakens have been in a war for years, but Margot believes the mermaids and the krakens can be friends again if Ruby finds a trident with magical power that can unite the two groups.

Can Ruby restore the relationship between the krakens and the mermaids and end the war? Can she restore the relationship she has with her own mother, who didn’t tell her about all these things from the past?

RUBY GILLMAN, TEENAGE KRAKEN is a fun animated movie overall, but it doesn’t have a strong, cohesive plot until 45 minutes or so into the story, halfway through the movie. The story in RUBY GILLMAN has some relatable concepts when Ruby is shown as a teenager who goes to school and feels out of place. However, when she becomes a kraken, viewers may not feel as connected to her character.

RUBY GILLMAN, TEENAGE KRAKEN has some moral elements stressing motherhood and family, but it also has some cautionary elements. Ruby discovers her mother just wants to protect and take care of her family, which is promotion of motherhood. However, Ruby’s mother has a bad relationship with her own mother, though this relationship is restored in the end. Also, the mother hides a lot of information from Ruby and isn’t open with her about the past and about what exactly being a kraken means, though she learns she was wrong. Ruby herself decides to rebel against her mother, just as her mother rebelled against her own mother. This gets resolved by the end of the movie, but rebellion is the leading conflict. Finally, there are also two mentions of a girl asking another girl to go to the prom, but there aren’t any prom scenes depicting this.

All in all, therefore, MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for older children for RUBY GILLMAN, TEENAGE KRAKEN.

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Families might enjoy the discussion points in ‘Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken’ more than the film itself

2023-06-26T08:56:00+01:00

Charles Merritt believes this family film was generally uninspiring though does give you much to discuss

The Film: Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken

Watch if you liked: Trolls, Turning Red

Running time: 121 minutes

Genre: Family, Fantasy, Coming-of-Age

Overview: Ruby Gillman is a kraken* in hiding, trying desperately to fit in with the other teenagers at her school but, when she’s forced to save her crush from drowning, she discovers she is the heir to the kraken throne.

Pre-Review:

I never like writing a bad review. I realise that so many people work so hard to produce a movie that it feels mean to sit here and write about their final product in such a dismissive way. This wasn’t a dreadful movie (nor was it a good one…) but it’ll do as a summer outing if you need to get the kids out of the house for a bit.

What you liked:

The soundtrack was pretty good. ‘This Moment’ by Mimi Webb, particularly stood out as a toe-tapping, feel-good song.

The voice work was good, even if the script didn’t always allow it to be.

What you didn ’t like:

DreamWorks started their animation success with the brilliant Shrek films that beautifully parodied the Disney empire and produced slick, well-observed humour as a result.

I feel as though DreamWorks could have done more with this Little Mermaid knock-off (especially with the live-action remake releasing only a few weeks ago). Instead, it feels as though they are trying to copy PIXAR’s success, only failing to match the genius and inventiveness of those films (well, maybe not the more recent PIXAR movies but I have high hopes for Elemental).

The family dynamic felt unoriginal and uninspiring - especially when compared to the brilliant family portrayal of the Morales’ in Sony Animations Spider-Verse movies.

There weren’t any laugh out loud moments for me, nor were there any jokes that made me think of laughing…

I was surprised to learn that this movie was only an hour and half long as it felt much longer… I definitely got restless but a child might have found this more entertaining than myself.

It was a generic kids movie, which is disappointing as DreamWork’s previous film - Puss in Boots: The Last Wish - was great for all-ages.

Thoughts for parents:

When you’ve watched a lot of films, you notice a trope. You sit and yell at the screen ‘why didn’t you just tell them the truth sooner?!’.

To be fair, the movie does address this and Ruby’s disdain at her mum for not telling her that she was a giant kraken princess is what drives her to become rebellious and to discover her kraken powers.

Ruby’s mum says that she doesn’t lie but leaves out ‘tiny omissions’ which ultimately come back to haunt her. Telling the truth is something that people of all ages struggle with. Whether it’s because we’re scared of what will happen if people know the truth or if we’re trying to protect people’s feelings, it can be tempting to tell a white lie every so often.

What is hidden in darkness can only be healed when brought into the light - how do we create safe spaces for children and young people to feel as though they can be open and honest with us?

Ruby doesn’t feel as though she fits in at school and feels as though she has to hide her kraken identity as a secret. I wonder how children and young people feel about their Christian identity at school?

I remember struggling with it, feeling a weight on my shoulders when invited to parties when I knew there’d be alcohol and other activities. Ruby’s rebellion happens because her mum won’t let her to go to prom. I wonder whether the boundaries we put on our children and young people can actually be unhealthy and maybe an encouragement to be the light in those places is a better thing to do? I went to parties and refused alcohol (for a variety of reasons) and whilst, at first, people made fun of me for it, after a few years people began to really respect me for it and opened up amazing conversations in which I could share my faith.

*kraken is a legendary sea monster of enormous size said to appear off the coasts of  Norway 

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The 10 Best Movies About Christianity With Great Acting, Ranked

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Faith can be a very challenging topic to depict on screen , as much of a film’s impact is based solely on the personal reaction that an audience member has when leaving the theater. Although it can be challenging to appreciate a film that contradicts one’s personal beliefs, even if it is a great piece of drama in its own right, great acting has the ability to expose viewers to a great diversity of cinematic experiences.

Faith-based films often get a bad reputation , as there are certainly a number of low quality projects that only aim at appeasing those that share its beliefs. However, there are many profound films from veteran filmmakers that deal with the ways in which faith intersects with historical events, modern issues, and one’s personal mental health struggles. Here are ten faith-based films with great acting, ranked.

10 ‘Black Narcissus’ (1947)

Directed by emeric pressburger and michael powell.

One of the most defining films of the “Golden Age of Hollywood,” Black Narcissus was yet another example of the genius work of Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell , the award winning directorial team behind such classics as The Red Shoes and A Matter of Life and Death among many others. Although the two directors worked in a variety of different genres, Black Narcissus focused on a small covenant of Anglican sisters who work to establish a headquarters on top of a mountain.

"The brilliant work by Deborah Kerr and Jean Simmons elevates Black Narcissus into a profound meditation on what it is like to hold on to one’s faith in the midst of dangerous circumstances."

The brilliant work by Deborah Kerr and Jean Simmons elevates Black Narcissus into a profound meditation on what it is like to hold on to one’s faith in the midst of dangerous circumstances. The film was also notable for giving a breakout performance to David Farrar , whose performance as the military agent Mr. Dean became the unexpected heart of the film when he decides to join forces with and support the sisters in their seemingly insurmountable mission.

Watch on Prime Video

9 ‘The Seventh Seal’ (1957)

Directed by ingmar bergman.

The Seventh Seal is one of the defining medieval films of all-time , and for good reason, as some of the striking shots that Ingmar Bergman conjured up rank among the most aesthetically striking in film history. While it's a film that will be studied for its unique visual design forever, The Seventh Seal is just as emotional of a viewing experience because of the great performance by Max von Sydow as a knight who must contend with the literal manifestation of death.

While eventually he would become more closely associated with playing on screen villains , Sydow gives a complexity that captures the chivalry of knighthood and the perils of having to literally contend with the possibility of death. While the film itself is reliant on the audience’s ability to buy into many extended metaphors, Sydow’s performance is strong enough to carry the emotional weight of the narrative.

The Seventh Seal

Watch on Max

8 ‘The Last Temptation of Christ’ (1988)

Directed by martin scorsese.

The Last Temptation of Christ is one of the most controversial films of Martin Scorsese’s entire career , as the backlash from radical Christian movements due to his depiction of key events from scripture became so significant that at one point FBI agents were brought in to ensure the safety of the cast and crew. Tackling the story that Scorsese did with The Last Temptation of Christ was in of itself an act of cinematic bravery, but Willem Dafoe took on an even greater challenge when he accepted the role of Jesus of Nazareth.

Dafoe was able to do the seemingly unthinkable and turn Jesus into a relatable character as he is seduced with the possibility of living out a human life during his pivotal walk in the desert. Harvey Keitel is also strong in a memorable supporting role as Judas.

The Last Temptation of Christ

The life of Jesus Christ, his journey through life as he faces the struggles all humans do, and his final temptation on the cross.

Rent on Amazon

7 ‘Dead Man Walking’ (1995)

Directed by tim robbins.

Dead Man Walking is an unusual legal thriller that made the bold choice to spend just as much time on the victims as it did on the supposed criminal culprits. Sean Penn gave one of the biggest breakout roles of his career as a convicted murderer who is on trial for murdering a teenage couple; Susan Sarandon won the Academy Award for Best Actress for playing a timid, yet quietly powerful Catholic nun who helps the convicts prepare for their last days on Earth by finding a relationship with God.

"Susan Sarandon won the Academy Award for Best Actress for playing a timid, yet quietly powerful Catholic nun."

Dead Man Walking is very well-acted because of its director , as Tim Robbins decided to step behind the camera and ask his friends to co-star in this masterful drama. As a result, an actor like Robbins was able to inspire more intimate performances out of the cast than a non-actor may have been able to do so with the same material.

6 ‘Doubt’ (2008)

Directed by john patrick shanley.

Doubt is a brilliant ethical drama lifted from the play of the same name , but was able to make the necessary alterations in its narrative structure in order to seem inherently cinematic. Philip Seymour Hoffman gives one of his most challenging performances as a beloved Catholic father who is accused of assaulting a young boy under his care; Amy Adams and Meryl Streep are simply astounding as the two nuns who must hold him to justice, despite their warring beliefs on his innocence.

Doubt is best remembered for a ten-minute sequence involving Viola Davis , who co-stars as the mother of the boy who is considered to be a possible victim. Despite the relative brevity of her screen time, Davis was able to bring to life the racial and religious conflicts that her character dealt with to life in such a profound manner that she earned the first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress of her career.

A Catholic school principal questions a priest's ambiguous relationship with a troubled young student.

5 ‘The Tree of Life’ (2011)

Directed by terrence malick.

The Tree of Life is a beautiful arthouse epic that attempted to tell the story of all of life on Earth, tracing back in time to the emergence of the dinosaurs and following through to the eventual collapse of the human race. While it may have been easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer ambition of what The Tree of Life is attempting to pull off, writer and director Terrence Malick makes the smart decision to focus on how a young Texan boy ( Tye Sheridan ) grows up to question the beliefs of his compassionate mother ( Jessica Chastain ) and more aggressive father ( Brad Pitt ) as he discovers the person that he wants to be.

An appearance by Sean Penn as an older version of Sheridan’s characters helps improve the film’s third act , as the consistency of characterization allows The Tree of Life to merge some of its more audacious visual qualities with a more intimate coming-of-age story.

The Tree of Life

4 ‘silence’ (2016).

Silence is another very personal film for Scorsese , who tackled another issue regarding Catholic faith with this historical epic set in the heart of feudal Japan. Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver star as a pair of Jesuit priests who travel deep into enemy territory to find their mentor ( Liam Neeson ), who is rumored to have given up his faith entirely.

Garfield’s performance is one of the best of his career , as the dangerous situations that he finds himself in only heighten his personal anxieties about praying to a God that he is unsure is listening. Silence is just as beautifully made and brilliantly staged as any of the other masterpieces in Scorsese’s career, but it's the intensely personal work that Garfield does as a man who questions what his life’s work has amounted to that elevates it among the greatest faith-based films of all-time.

In the 17th century, two Portuguese Jesuit priests travel to Japan in an attempt to locate their mentor, who is rumored to have committed apostasy, and to propagate Catholicism.

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3 ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ (2016)

Directed by mel gibson.

Hacksaw Ridge tells the incredible true story of Desmond T. Doss , a World War II veteran that served as a medic and rescuer in the heat of combat because of personal religious beliefs that prevented him from ever holding a weapon. While someone as inspiring as Doss became a challenging protagonist to depict because of his seeming flawlessness, Andrew Garfiled delivered an incredible performance that captured the specific reasons why he felt he could not ever be associated with weapons.

Garfield added a gentleness and sincerity to Hacksaw Ridge that made it only more powerful in the third act, in which director Mel Gibson delivers some of the most harrowing World War II battle footage ever captured on film. While Garfield’s work earned him a well deserved Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, the film also featured strong performances from Luke Bracey and Vince Vaughn.

Hacksaw Ridge

Watch on Netflix

2 ‘First Reformed’ (2018)

Directed by paul schrader.

First Reformed is an astounding modern neo-noir classic that manages to ask existential questions about whether faith in God can be justified when the world is struggling with serious environmental issues. Ethan Hawke gives one of the best performances of his career as a grieving priest who is called upon to become a hero when a member of his church ( Amanda Seyfried ) comes to believe that her husband may be considering becoming a radical terrorist.

First Reformed is a film that is reliant on slower scenes of character interaction and dialogue , and it's to Hawke’s credit that it never becomes dull or unfocused. Although there are some bold visual and narrative choices that writer and director Paul Schrader made when pulling off the film’s ending, it's the diligence of Hawke’s work in the film that makes First Reformed hit like such an emotional gut punch.

First Reformed

In a narrative that combines spirituality with environmental and personal crises, a pastor faces a profound moral and existential dilemma after meeting an eco-activist couple. As he delves deeper into the environmental cause, his growing radicalization confronts him with troubling questions about his capacity for violence and his commitment to his faith.

1 ‘The Two Popes’ (2019)

Directed by fernando meirelles.

The Two Popes brings to life an interesting chapter in Catholic history , in which the younger Pope Francis ( Jonathan Pryce ) was elected to serve as the leader of the faith after Pope Benedict ( Sir Anthony Hopkins ) chose to step down in the wake of a series of scandals relating to the institutional coverup of child sexual abuse by priests. Although the film has important historical context regarding the direction that the faith has taken, The Two Popes is at its best when it allows its two stars to simply interact with one another.

Pryce and Hopkins were able to show how two leaders with very different beliefs formed a friendship that ended up strengthening the direction that the Catholic church took moving forward; both Pryce and Hopkins received well deserved Academy Award nominations for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively.

The Two Popes

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Kraven the Hunter

Kraven 's complex relationship with his ruthless father, Nikolai Kravinoff, starts him down a path of vengeance with brutal consequences, motivating him to become not only the greatest hunte... Read all Kraven 's complex relationship with his ruthless father, Nikolai Kravinoff, starts him down a path of vengeance with brutal consequences, motivating him to become not only the greatest hunter in the world, but also one of its most feared. Kraven 's complex relationship with his ruthless father, Nikolai Kravinoff, starts him down a path of vengeance with brutal consequences, motivating him to become not only the greatest hunter in the world, but also one of its most feared.

• J.C. Chandor
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• Aaron Taylor-Johnson
• Russell Crowe
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• 2 Critic reviews

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Sergei Kravinoff : [after his father tries to attack him] You don't get to do that to me anymore.

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5 great Amazon Prime Video movies to watch on Labor Day

As summer gives way to fall, Labor Day marks the point when kids are back in school, and adults are thinking more about the holidays than about summer vacations. Labor Day itself is an excellent time to reflect or plan, but it’s also a great time to relax and watch a movie.

If you are an Amazon Prime Video subscriber, you likely have plenty of great options to choose from. In fact, you might have so many that you don’t know where to begin. We’ve got you covered. We’ve selected five movies that are a great way to celebrate Labor Day without leaving the comfort of your couch.

Need more recommendations? We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix , the best movies on Hulu , the best movies on Amazon Prime Video , and the best movies on Max .

Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning (2023)

Mission: Impossible  may be the best action franchise operating today, and Dead Reckoning  is just the latest bit of proof that these movies remain great. Following Ethan Hunt and his team as they battle a hyper-intelligent AI,  Dead Reckoning  is much less about the actual plot and much more about the stunts that Tom Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie think up.

This film has a genuinely delightful car chase through the streets of Venice as well as a motorcycle jump off a cliff that will make you giggle just thinking about how deranged Cruise is. It’s everything an acton movie should be, even if it is a little convoluted.

You can watch  Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning   on Amazon Prime Video.

Death Becomes Her (1992)

Robert Zemeckis has made several masterpieces in the course of his long career, and depending on who you ask,  Death Becomes Her  may be one of them. The movie tells the story of two women who take an elixir that grants them immortal life in their battles to woo a hilarious Bruce Willis. Hijinks ensure when the women keep on killing each other, leading to bizarre scenes with one woman walking around with a hole in her stomach while the other women’s neck is stretched out like an accordion.

Thanks to the performances of Willis, Meryl Streep, and Goldie Hawn, and their commitment to its gonzo premise,  Death Becomes Her  became a camp classic almost immediately, and it remains one of the funniest movies any of these actors has ever made.

You can watch  Death Becomes Her on Amazon Prime Video.

Drive-Away Dolls (2024)

Ethan Coen made some of the best movies in history with his brother Joel, but he’s aiming to clear a much lower bar with Drive-Away Dolls . The movie follows two friends who embark on a cross-country journey in a car with a highly sought-after briefcase.

From there, they encounter all kinds of people interested in getting that suitcase back, and discover just a little bit about how much they really care about each other.  Drive-Away Dolls is so funny, charming, and light on its feet that it feels over almost before it’s even started.

You can watch  Drive-Away Dolls   on Amazon Prime Video.

Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

One of the great horror movies ever made,  Rosemary’s Baby  tells the story of a young couple who move into a New York City apartment as they strive for success. When Rosemary, the wife, becomes pregnant, she begins to suspect that the baby she’s having is not a normal baby at all.

Rosemary’s Baby  is terrifying in large part because of what it implies, and it’s one of the darkest horror movies ever made, even though nothing all that scary actually happens on screen. Rosemary’s Baby  is not a movie filled with jump scares, but it will leave you unsettled for days after you watch it.

You can watch  Rosemary’s Baby   on Amazon Prime Video.

Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)

A great example of a movie that knows exactly how to execute on its central idea,  Assault on Precinct 13  tells the story of a police lieutenant who teams up with his prisoners to defend a soon-to-be-closed precinct from the gang members that have descended on it. In essence, Assault on Precinct 13  is a prolonged siege movie, and it knows exactly how to wring the most out of every moment of its story.

Director John Carpenter rarely missed during this early stage of his career, and  Assault on Precinct 13  is a perfect showcase for the kind of thriller storytelling he was best known for.

You can watch  Assault on Precinct 13   on Amazon Prime Video.

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Labor Day sadly marks the end of summer and a time to return to the typical daily grind of work, school, and other obligations. No matter where you live, the cooler weather and the preparations for the holiday season begin as soon as Labor Day weekend comes to an end. A great way to end the summer is to relax at home with a good book, board games with the family, or even enjoying a good movie or TV show.

With up to four days off, you might finally have time to power through that multi-episode series you have been meaning to watch. Or maybe you just want to watch a single season of a lighter but entertaining series once you relax at night in the RV, up at the cabin, or at home once the kids are in bed. We have you covered with the five best Netflix shows to stream this Labor Day weekend. The Diplomat (2023-) The Diplomat | Official Trailer | Netflix

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The last long weekend of the summer is upon us, and while the daytime may call for soaking up the last dregs of sun before winter comes, the nighttime is for great movies. In particular, dramas can offer something other genres cannot: entertainment, yes, but also insight into the human condition.

So, you’re planning for some lazy days over the Labor Day weekend. Maybe you have a few activities on the schedule, but want to curl up on the couch at night and relax once you get back home. Perhaps you’re relaxing at the cabin or maybe even traveling and want something to entertain you for the car (passengers or rest stops only!), train, or plane ride. Whatever the case, we have you covered.

The 10 best shows to stream this Labor Day weekend come from all the top streaming services. So, no matter which one you subscribe to, there’s an option to consider. They include a mix of titles, from comedies to dramas and reality TV. There are old shows, new ones, and shows with new seasons you can catch up on or previous seasons to watch before an upcoming new one is released. Have a look and you’re sure to find something worth enjoying for your unofficial last weekend of summer.

Christian McGuigan and Timothy Reckart Launch Sycamore Studios (EXCLUSIVE)

By Katcy Stephan

Katcy Stephan

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Former Participant executive Christian McGuigan and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Timothy Reckart have launched Sycamore Studios , a kids and family animation studio.

Per Sycamore, the studio will focus on creating stories rooted in beauty, truth and goodness that elevate the vision of their audience.

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Filmmakers and writing partners Cal Brunker and Bob Barlen’s latest film, “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie,” earned the top spot at the global box office and ended up fifth-biggest animated film at the global box office in 2023.

As a duo, their films have earned over a half a billion dollars, including “Bigfoot Family” (2021), “Son of Bigfoot” (2017), “The Nut Job 2” (2017) and “Escape From Planet Earth” (2013).

Brunker came to writing and directing features with a strong background in storytelling. In his years as a story artist, he was responsible for visualizing and staging sequences in the animated films “Horton Hears a Who,” “Despicable Me,” “Ice Age 4” and “Minions.”

Barlen is a member of the Producers Guild of America, and came to features through writing and producing both television and high-end CG commercials. He was a producer and writer on “George Stromboulopoulos Tonight,” where he created sketches for celebrity guests including Will Ferrell, Michael Bolton and Miss Piggy.

Before founding Sycamore Studios, McGuigan served as the VP of global content strategy for Omnicom’s Porter Novelli. He previously served as VP at Participant Media, where he began his career developing digital strategy and leading creative for their integrated film marketing campaigns. He later helped lead Participant’s in-house agency division. He is also an Emmy-nominated producer.

“As dads, Christian and I see every day how deeply kids engage with entertainment,” said Reckart. “The characters they meet and stories they experience live on outside the film and become part of day-to-day life at home, even helping to shape a kid’s own identity. We want our kids to grow up with the highest quality entertainment we can offer, which is why Sycamore is committed to beautiful, rich animation that supports relevant and meaningful stories.”

Reckart is a writer and director whose animated short film “Head Over Heels” was nominated for an Academy Award in 2013, after premiering at the Cannes Film Festival and winning grand prizes at festivals globally. Sony Pictures Animation released his debut feature film, “The Star,” an animated retelling of the Nativity story from the point of view of the animals. “The Star” was nominated for a Golden Globe for Mariah Carey’s original song, “The Star,” and won MovieGuide’s Epiphany Prize for Inspiring Movies.

Brunker and Barlen are represented by Entertainment 360 and Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz.

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