Extinct is the cinematic equivalent of a box of plain crackers: it’s fine, it’s functional, and it’ll keep a kid occupied for 90 minutes while you finally tackle the mountain of laundry or stare into the middle distance. It isn't going to win any Oscars, and it’s certainly not going to be the movie your kid remembers twenty years from now, but it also isn't the unwatchable garbage that often litters the "Trending" row on Netflix. It’s a middle-of-the-road animated adventure that relies heavily on donut-shaped animals and a relentless barrage of "booby" puns.
TL;DR
Extinct is a "mid" animated flick on Netflix that works best as a low-stakes distraction for elementary-aged kids. It follows two "flummels" (donut-shaped creatures) who time-travel to save their species; it’s colorful and fast-paced, but the humor leans heavily on repetitive bird puns and generic slapstick. If you want high-tier animation, check out our best movies for kids list, but if you just need 90 minutes of peace, this gets the job done.
The premise is actually somewhat clever, even if the execution is standard. We meet Op and Ed, two "flummels"—fluffy, donut-shaped animals living in the Galapagos in 1835. They are the outcasts of their community because Op is a chaotic "ideas" person and Ed is a pessimistic wet blanket. Through a series of accidental events involving a magical flower, they find themselves transported to modern-day Shanghai.
The catch? They quickly learn that flummels went extinct shortly after they left. The rest of the movie is a frantic time-traveling quest to change the past, featuring a "Time Terminal" and a group of other extinct animals (the "Extinctables") who help them along the way.
Let’s talk about the humor, because it’s the main thing parents notice. The movie is obsessed with Booby birds. Because "Booby" is a real bird, the writers felt they had a blank check to use the word as a double entendre roughly four hundred times.
Is it "inappropriate"? Not really. It’s the kind of humor that makes a seven-year-old giggle and a parent roll their eyes for the tenth time. It’s not mean-spirited or sexualized; it’s just lazy. If your family has a low tolerance for "potty-adjacent" humor or repetitive puns, this might grate on your nerves. If you don't care, it’ll fly right over the kids' heads while they focus on the bright colors and the fact that the main characters look like pastries.
There is a tier of animation that Screenwise families usually aim for—the stuff that actually respects the audience's intelligence. Extinct doesn't quite live there. It feels like it was produced by a committee that looked at a "How to Make a Hit Movie" checklist:
- Cute, marketable creatures? Check.
- Wacky sidekicks? Check.
- Modern pop culture references that will be dated in three years? Double check.
It’s not offensive, but it lacks the soul of something like The Mitchells vs. The Machines or the world-building of Hilda. It’s "background noise" animation. If your kid is already into it, let them ride. It’s safe, it’s vibrant, and it moves fast enough that they won't get bored. But if you’re looking for a "Family Movie Night" centerpiece that you’ll actually enjoy too? Keep scrolling.
If you’re looking for something with a bit more meat on its bones—or just better jokes—try these instead:
Also on Netflix, but significantly better. It’s a high-seas adventure with actual stakes, gorgeous animation, and a story that doesn't rely on puns to keep things moving. It hits that same "creature feature" itch but with way more heart.
If you want "weird creatures in the modern world" done right, Aardman is the gold standard. It’s virtually silent, which means it’s a masterclass in visual storytelling, and the humor is actually clever enough for adults to enjoy without the eye-rolling.
If your kid likes the "misfits on a mission" energy of Op and Ed, The Bad Guys does it with way more style and a much better soundtrack.
If Extinct is already on a loop in your house, you can actually use it as a springboard for some decent conversations. The movie touches on evolution and extinction in a very "Science Lite" way, but it’s enough to spark curiosity.
- The "Extinctables": The movie features a Dodo, a Tasmanian Tiger, and a Macrauchenia. It’s a great excuse to look up what those animals actually were. Kids are usually fascinated by the fact that the Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacine) looked like a dog with stripes and only went extinct relatively recently.
- Darwin's Galapagos: Since the movie starts in 1835 Galapagos, you can talk about why that place is famous. You don't need to give a lecture on The Origin of Species, but mentioning that different animals live in different places for specific reasons is a solid "hidden" lesson.
- The "Outcast" Dynamic: Op and Ed are rejected by their community because they’re "different." It’s a trope as old as time, but asking your kid why the other flummels were so mean to them can lead to a good chat about belonging and whether "fitting in" is actually the most important thing.
The one thing to actually keep an eye on isn't the "booby" jokes—it’s the pacing. This movie is loud. It’s designed for the modern attention span, which means there’s a lot of yelling, crashing, and fast-cutting. If your kid tends to get "wired" or overstimulated by high-octane cartoons right before bed, this is a "Saturday morning" movie, not a "Sunday evening" movie.
Q: Is Extinct appropriate for a 5-year-old? Yes, it’s very much in the 5-to-9 age range sweet spot. The peril is cartoonish and the "scary" moments are resolved quickly with a joke.
Q: Are there any "adult" jokes in Extinct? Beyond the constant "booby" puns (referring to the bird), there isn't much. It’s very clean, just a bit juvenile. There’s no heavy language or romantic subplots to worry about.
Q: Why is it called "the donut animal movie"? Because the main characters, Flummels, are literally shaped like donuts with a hole in the middle. It’s a visual gag that the movie uses for various physical comedy bits throughout.
Q: Is Extinct better than the typical Netflix animated movie? It’s better than the bottom-tier stuff, but it doesn't reach the heights of Netflix’s prestige animation like Klaus. It’s firmly in the "disposable but entertaining" category.
Extinct is fine. It’s not a masterpiece, and it’s not a disaster. It’s a colorful, pun-filled romp that will keep your kids quiet while you get something done. If you’re looking for a movie with deep themes or incredible artistry, keep looking. But if you just need something safe and silly to fill a rainy afternoon, Op and Ed are up for the task.
- Check out our best movies for kids list for higher-quality options.
- If your kid is into animals, see our digital guide for elementary school for more nature-focused recs.
- Find more movies like Extinct
