Orion and the Dark – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Orion and the Dark

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2024

78%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A Charlie Kaufman fever dream about befriending your fears—critics loved it, kids were confused, and your anxious 8-year-old might find it genius.

91%

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Orion and the Dark

movie

PG, 2024

78%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A Charlie Kaufman fever dream about befriending your fears—critics loved it, kids were confused, and your anxious 8-year-old might find it genius.

91%

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Screenwise Verdict

Here's the deal: critics adored this (91%!) because Charlie Kaufman brought his signature inventive weirdness to a kids' movie about anxiety. It's genuinely creative, tackles fear in a non-patronizing way, and has real visual imagination.

But that 57% audience score? That's parents and kids going 'wait, what?' It's not a breezy Pixar emotional journey—it's quirky, abstract, and meta in ways that won't land for everyone. Some anxious kids will find it revelatory; others will just find it confusing or still scary.

This is a 'know your kid' situation. If they're into weird, thoughtful stories and struggle with nighttime fears, give it a shot. If they prefer straightforward narratives and clear emotional beats, skip it for something more accessible. It's a solid WISE pick for the right audience, but definitely not a universal crowd-pleaser despite the pedigree.

Age Fit

Common Sense says 8+, and that tracks—younger kids might find it too abstract or intense, while older elementary kids dealing with anxiety could really connect. Tweens might appreciate the meta-narrative layers, but teens will likely find it too young.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A DreamWorks animated film about facing fears through friendship with a personified creature. The premise centers on kindness, cooperation, and emotional growth. The 91% critic score suggests well-crafted storytelling with positive messaging. Pacing appears balanced for an animated feature targeting younger audiences. No red flags in synopsis about chaotic or mean-spirited content.

Imaginative

The core concept—personifying darkness as a friendly giant creature and taking a literal journey through nighttime—shows strong originality. Written by Charlie Kaufman (known for inventive narratives), this invites kids to reimagine something scary as something curious and explorable. The premise naturally encourages creative thinking about abstract concepts like fear and darkness.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it for age 8, suggesting some mildly intense moments that could startle younger viewers. The subject matter (facing fears, darkness, nighttime) inherently includes some scary imagery, but within the bounds of a DreamWorks animated film. No indicators of violence, gore, inappropriate content. The 57% audience score vs 91% critic score suggests some parents/viewers found it didn't land as expected—possibly too abstract or mildly intense for the youngest viewers.

Enriching

Strong thematic focus on confronting anxiety and reframing fear—genuinely valuable for kids struggling with nighttime worries or general anxiety. The 72 Metacritic score indicates thoughtful execution. However, the 57% audience score and 6.3 IMDb rating suggest it may not fully connect emotionally with all viewers, potentially limiting its impact. Still offers meaningful takeaways about courage and perspective-shifting.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Tackles childhood anxiety and fear of the dark in a genuinely creative way—not just 'be brave' platitudes
Charlie Kaufman's signature weirdness brings originality to the 'face your fears' genre
Strong visual imagination with personified nighttime concepts (Dark, Sleep, Quiet, etc.)
Could be genuinely therapeutic for kids with bedtime anxiety if they connect with it
Critics gave it 91%—there's real craft here even if it's polarizing

⚠

What to Watch For

The 57% audience score tells the real story: this is quirky and abstract, not a crowd-pleaser like typical DreamWorks fare
Some scary imagery inherent to the premise—it's about darkness and nighttime fears, after all
Kaufman's meta-narrative style might sail over younger kids' heads or just feel weird
If your kid doesn't vibe with it in the first 15 minutes, bail—it won't suddenly click

Conversation Starters

"What would your fears look like if they were actual characters you could meet?"
"Dark in the movie is actually trying to help—are there things that seem scary but are actually okay?"
"Orion has a really active imagination. What do you imagine when you're lying in bed at night?"
"The movie gets pretty meta and weird—what did you think was actually happening versus what was in someone's head?"

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