A quiet mystery drama starring Sally Field is suddenly becoming one of Netflix’s biggest emotional surprise hits — and viewers say it’s the kind of film that completely sneaks up on you before emotionally wrecking you by the end.

A Netflix mystery drama film starring Mrs Doubtfire‘s Sally Field has become the second-most-watched film on the platform, reaching 30.7 million combined views this week. The film, Remarkably Bright Creatures, is based on the 2022 novel of the same name by Shelby Van Pelt, which was awarded the McLaughlin-Esstman-Stearns First Novel Prize by the Writer’s Center in 2023.

The plot follows Tova Sullivan (Field), a widow who works as a night janitor at an aquarium, who sparks an unlikely friendship with an aspiring musician (Lewis Pullman) and a Giant Pacific octopus (voiced by Alfred Molina) as they uncover a life-changing mystery.

Alongside Field, Pullman, and Molina, the film also stars Colm Meaney, Joan Chen, Kathy Baker, and Beth Grant. Meanwhile, Olivia Newman, who directed 2022’s Where the Crawdads Sing, directed and co-wrote the screenplay with John Whittington, known for his work on The Lego Batman Movie.

Netflix

Last week, Remarkably Bright Creatures ranked third in the top 10 Global Movies, with around 38 million hours viewed (via FlixPatrol). However, it has moved one spot up to second, though first place is still out of reach, as Swapped, a kids’ film about a woodland creature and bird swapping bodies, has 44.8 million hours viewed.

Reviews for the film have been largely positive, with one IMDb review describing it as “gorgeous in every sense of the word” and a “modern classic”. They added: “Though my first impression seeing the revelation at the end of the film was admittedly eye-rolling, the charm won me over.

What to Read Next

5 movies you must see in May on Netflix, Prime Video and more including “unmissable” thriller

Gerard Butler’s “gripping” thriller climbs streaming top 10 after surprise release

Toby Jones and Martin Freeman’s “stand-out” murder mystery is now streaming in the UK

“It’s one tiny flaw in a truly beautiful film that makes you ponder life’s little synchronicities and how much precious time can be wasted if one allows a tragedy or the hand they’ve been dealt to consume them.”

Meanwhile, another declared it a “worthy adaptation” of the book, adding: “Both are well worth your time.” And a third described Field as the “perfect actor to bring Tova to the screen”.

Funnily enough, Field was actually who Van Pelt pictured when creating the character, as Newman told Tudum: “Knowing that Sally was going to be saying this dialogue made it so much clearer to me how to craft it for her. Sally knew this character inside and out.”

Netflix

Related: Stranger Things next fix is out tomorrow! Here’s why Netflix’s new sci-fi series is a must-see

Newman also praised Pullman’s performance, describing him as bringing “incredible humor that makes us adore Cameron and empathize with him”, as well as having amazing comedic timing.

As for how to voice an octopus, which doesn’t have a distinctive sound, Molina told the publication: “I didn’t turn up with any preconceived ideas of how octopuses sound. If you’re voicing a human, then there are certain criteria you have to fulfil.”

Remarkably Bright Creatures is available to stream on Netflix now.

Remarkably Bright Creatures has surged to become the second-most-watched movie on Netflix this week, pulling in an astonishing 30.7 million combined views as word-of-mouth reactions continue exploding across social media.

Based on the bestselling 2022 novel by Shelby Van Pelt, the film follows Tova Sullivan, a lonely widow working nights at an aquarium whose life begins changing after forming an unexpected bond with an aspiring musician and a Giant Pacific octopus hiding secrets of its own.

Alongside Sally Field’s deeply emotional performance, the film stars Lewis Pullman and Alfred Molina, whose voice performance as the octopus has become one of the movie’s most talked-about surprises online.

Directed by Olivia Newman — best known for Where the Crawdads Sing — the film blends mystery, grief, humor, and emotional healing into a slow-burning story that many viewers admit caught them completely off guard.

Social media is now flooded with emotional reactions from fans calling the movie “gorgeous in every sense of the word,” “a modern classic,” and “the most unexpectedly beautiful Netflix film in years.”

Many viewers say what makes the movie hit so hard is its quiet emotional depth. While the mystery keeps audiences hooked, it’s the relationship between the lonely characters — and the strange emotional warmth of the octopus itself — that people say stays with them long after the credits roll.

Fans have especially praised Lewis Pullman’s performance as Cameron, with viewers highlighting his “incredible humor,” emotional vulnerability, and perfect comedic timing that makes the character instantly lovable even in the story’s heaviest moments.

Meanwhile, Sally Field’s portrayal of Tova has been described as “perfect casting,” with author Shelby Van Pelt previously revealing that Field was actually the actress she imagined while writing the character.

Now, as the movie continues climbing Netflix’s trending charts, more viewers are discovering the emotional mystery drama everyone suddenly seems unable to stop recommending.

For many fans, Remarkably Bright Creatures isn’t just another streaming hit — it’s the rare kind of movie that quietly finds its way into your heart when you least expect it.