Netflix’s new Remarkably Bright Creatures is a quiet, heartfelt story of loss and connection. However, there is something much more interesting lurking below the placid surface. The story echoes the emotional core with an Oscar-winning streak, one that actually did materialize in 2018. And now this Netflix production flips the perspective with a surprising twist.

It is not a typical human-animal love story, but a story that portrays an unlikely bond that challenges the viewers' understanding of what connection can mean. 

A familiar emotional thread still exists in Remarkably Bright Creatures, but the journey could not be more different. 

Remarkably Bright Creatures is an upcoming mystery drama set to arrive on Netflix on May 8, 2026. The movie is about a widow who has an unlikely relationship with an octopus. Their developing relationship is part of a larger emotional arc involving the discovery of a secret family mystery.

The relationship between a human and a sea creature is used not just for emotion, but to help solve a bigger puzzle. In the event of pleasant coincidence, however, it is very much reminiscent of The Shape of Water on the surface, yet takes a very different path from its supposed predecessor. 

They both portray a lonely woman making a connection with a sea creature, but the function of the relationship is different. One is about emotional healing and quiet discovery, the other about an intense, unconventional love story. The Shape of Water is a romance and fantasy, and portrays love, desire, and acceptance in an almost fairy-tale setting. 

In contrast, Remarkably Bright Creatures is a mystery-driven story. The relationship with the creature exists alongside a deeper investigation, adding elements of suspense and emotional closure rather than romance. Ultimately, the two stories utilize a similar idea to explore entirely different outcomes. 

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While a somewhat shared foundation does set the stage, Remarkably Bright Creatures is nowhere near the same when it comes to its cast and crew. 

Shelby Van Pelt’s heartwarming story, Remarkably Bright Creatures's plot revolves around Tova Sullivan, a 70-year-old widow working night shifts at the aquarium to cope with the death of her husband and the decades-old mysterious disappearance of her son. She develops an improbable but charming friendship with Marcellus, a very smart giant Pacific octopus who employs his wits to crack the mystery of her son’s disappearance.  

It stars two-time Academy Award winner Sally Field as Tova, a widowed woman, and Lewis Pullman as Cameron, a newcomer to town. Alfred Molina lends his voice to the smart but lovable octopus, Marcellus. The strong ensemble is completed by a supporting cast featuring Colm Meaney, Joan Chen, Kathy Baker, Beth Grant, and Sofia Black-D’Elia. 

At the end of the day, Remarkably Bright Creatures and The Shape of Water are proof that the same emotional premise can lead to wildly different cinematic experiences. One talks about quiet introspection and mystery, the other about romance and fantasy on a grand scale. But both leave a lasting impression when exploring loneliness, connection, and the unexpected ways people find meaning, proving that even the weirdest of bonds can hit home with audiences. 

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Do you think Remarkably Bright Creatures may have a streak of the Oscar-winning The Shape of Water? Let us know in the comments.