A warm, crowd-pleasing Pixar sequel with real emotional payoff, especially when it leans into Dory’s memory loss, family longing, and resilient optimism. It’s not as fresh as its predecessor and occasionally over-relies on callbacks, but the craft, humor, and heart make it an easy watch for families and Pixar fans.
Finding Dory
Where to watch: Buy
Movie · Adventure · Animation
Thu · 1h 37m
Director: Andrew Stanton
Starring: Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Ed O'Neill
Overview
Dory is reunited with her friends Nemo and Marlin in the search for answers about her past. What can she remember? Who are her parents? And where did she learn to speak Whale?
Director
Andrew Stanton
Cast
Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Ed O'Neill
Curator Review
Verdict
A warm, crowd-pleasing Pixar sequel with real emotional payoff, especially when it leans into Dory’s memory loss, family longing, and resilient optimism. It’s not as fresh as its predecessor and occasionally over-relies on callbacks, but the craft, humor, and heart make it an easy watch for families and Pixar fans.
Best for
families with kids
Pixar fans
viewers who like emotional animated adventures
fans of gentle comedy with sentimental payoff
people interested in stories about memory and identity
Skip if
you want a sequel that feels fully original
you dislike nostalgia-heavy follow-ups
you prefer sharper comedy over broad family humor
you’re looking for the emotional depth of the first film only
Overview
Finding Dory is a sequel that understands why the original character worked: Dory is funny, vulnerable, and deeply lovable, and the film builds a whole story around the emotional logic of her memory gaps. The result is lighter and more episodic than Finding Nemo, but it still lands several sincere, moving beats about belonging, family, and self-worth.
Worth noting
Pixar’s visual invention is on display throughout, especially in the marine institute setting and the playful use of underwater movement and scale. The movie also has a strong comic rhythm, with side characters and running gags that keep it buoyant even when the plot gets a little mechanical.
Bottom line
It does lean on familiar beats and franchise callbacks more than necessary, which keeps it from feeling essential. But as a family adventure with genuine tenderness and polished craft, it earns its place as one of Pixar’s more successful sequels.
Top Letterboxd reviews
alor (4★) · 3004 likes
gonna tell my kids this was memento
James (Schaffrillas) (3.5★) · 2156 likes
This is easily the best non-Toy Story Pixar sequel but y'all aren't ready for that conversation
˗ˏˋ suspirliam ˊˎ˗ (4.5★) · 2077 likes
THEY LAID SHELLS OUT FOR HER EVERY SINGLE DAY LADS 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
alor (4★) · 1381 likes
I would take a bullet for baby dory
Kait (4.5★) · 1044 likes
never before in my life have I cared more about the mental health of a fish
Themes
memory loss, family reunion, identity, belonging, resilience, friendship, self-discovery, adventure