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Forgotten Island backdrop

Forgotten Island

25 September 2026English1h 38m
6.7
from 2 scored reviews · 4 not rated

Weighted from a 7.9 average · Why?

What critics are saying

Critical reception for 'Forgotten Island' leans positive, with most reviewers responding warmly to its celebration of Filipino culture, its imaginative world-building, and the central friendship between its two leads.

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In cinemas now

While celebrating their last night together, high school graduates and best friends Jo and Raissa stumble upon a mysterious portal that transports them to the fantastical island of Nakali. When they discover that the memories of their entire friendship are the price for returning home, Jo and Raissa will race to find a way to leave the island before they forget each other forever.

Critic Consensus

Critical reception for 'Forgotten Island' leans positive, with most reviewers responding warmly to its celebration of Filipino culture, its imaginative world-building, and the central friendship between its two leads. Several critics highlighted the film's humour, personality, and emotional authenticity as key strengths. The most consistent criticism, voiced notably by Bradshaw and Ehrlich, concerns the film's relentless pacing and overstuffed plotting, which some felt undermined character development and obscured the clarity of its story.

2 rated reviews · 2 positive

Praised: central friendship and cultural specificityCriticised: relentless pacing and overstuffed plot

AI-generated summary of 5 critic reviews · may contain errors

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Critic Reviews (6)

Updated
8.8
“"Forgotten Island" ultimately is the story of longtime besties Jo and Raissa, whose strong bond is tested as forces threaten to pull them apart. With all it has going for it, we easily can forgive a few faults. And "Forgotten Island" may be one of those movies you won't soon forget.”
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Abhishek Srivastava· Times Of India
7.0
“'Forgotten Island' takes a familiar story about friendship, growing up and letting go and gives it a distinctly Filipino flavour. The film does not get everything right, but its humour, imagination and affection for its characters keep it engaging. It is a colourful, unusual adventure with enough personality to keep you hooked.”
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Kristy Puchko· Mashable
Not rated
“Forgotten Island is a rollicking, imaginative adventure... a celebration of friendship, Filipino culture and '80s/'90s American radio. And, as you might guess from such a setup, this terrifically enthralling animated adventure is a wild ride that is absolutely not to be missed.”
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Peter Bradshaw· TheGuardian
Not rated
“Frantically and even stroboscopically over-energised, this big new movie from DreamWorks about best friends for ever seems to me another example of exhausting AI-type content production in animation. Forgotten Island is over-controlled and over-determined, a movie that never, or hardly ever, takes its pedal from the metal, never takes a breath or a moment to let its characters come to life.”
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David Ehrlich· IndieWire
Not rated
“While "Forgotten Island" is relentless, distractable, and overstuffed to a degree that waters down the simple power of its message (and makes it difficult to understand the basic principles of its plot), none of its lovingly sourced ingredients ever lose the basic essence of their flavor. If the plot of "Forgotten Island" can frequently be too busy in a way that distracts from the purity of its central friendship, the film always holds together — by something more than just centrifugal force — because the bond shared between its co-leads is strong enough to withstand a lot more than that.”
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Not rated
“Forgotten Island with its retro animation inspired by Filipino folk art and the graphic style of the '90s with eye-popping colours, makes you feel as though you are on a sugar rush after a triple shot of espresso. All the weird and wonderful creatures from Filipino folklore lend an endearing freshness to the film, while Jo and Raissa's friendship and shared adventures give the story a solid emotional core.”
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Cast & Crew

Cast

Details

Release Date
25 September 2026
Runtime
1h 38m
Language
English

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