Tova Sullivan is an older widow who works nights cleaning a small aquarium in a coastal Washington town. She still mourns her teenage son, whose death has never felt fully explained. She befriends Marcellus, a clever octopus, and Cameron, a young musician who comes to town looking for his father. Their lives become linked by a family mystery, and the film tells their story in a gentle, hopeful way. The movie includes one brief reveal that Simon, an old friend of Cameron’s mother, is gay. Simon says Cameron’s mother pretended to date him because he feared his father. This fact helps explain Cameron’s mistaken belief about his father. Tova and Cameron form a caring family bond, while Marcellus helps them face grief and loneliness.
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Was our 20% Woke rating accurate?
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Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Remarkably Bright Creatures.
Woke representation / casting
Simon Brinks is a gay man who appears in Cameron’s search for his father. Simon tells Cameron about his sexuality during their meeting. The film shows him as a trusted old friend of Cameron’s mother.
6%
Woke political dialogue
Not present. The dialogue stays with personal history and grief.
0%
Identity-driven story themes
Simon tells Cameron that he is gay and that Cameron’s mother once pretended to date him. Simon says he hid his sexuality because he feared his father. The reveal explains Cameron’s mistaken idea about his father.
16%
Western institutional / cultural critique
Not present. The story emphasizes work, friendship, and caring for family.
0%
Woke character or canon changes
Simon’s sexuality is unstated in the novel, while the film identifies him as gay. Simon says Cameron’s mother pretended to date him because he feared his father. The reveal changes Simon’s background and explains Cameron’s family search.
12%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
One small X account gave the story 6/10 and called it “slightly woke.” The post had no visible likes or follow-up. The wording reads like a book review and does not identify the 2026 film.
3%
Creator track record context
Director Olivia Newman has said she aims to make hiring lists more diverse and open production jobs to women. Producer Bryan Unkeless helped produce Crazy Rich Asians and praised Netflix’s diverse film slate. Producer Tony Lipp executive produced Boy Erased, a drama about gay conversion therapy.
35%
Production
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