What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedRemarkably Bright Creatures
Shelby Van Pelt · Book · 2022
If you loved Remarkably Bright Creatures, start with Remarkably Bright Creatures (Shelby Van Pelt, 2022) — a book from the same story. Below: 2 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Remarkably Bright Creatures across media.
What hooked you in Remarkably Bright Creatures was the delicate balance between profound grief and the transformative power of unexpected connection.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Olivia Newman · Film · 2026
Films on the same thread
A Man Called Otto
Marc Forster · Film · 2022
Explores: Grief and Loss, Intergenerational Friendship, Finding Purpose.
Like Remarkably Bright Creatures, this film captures the slow thaw of a guarded, grieving widower whose life is irrevocably changed by the persistence of an unlikely new neighbor.
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Dean Fleischer Camp · Film · 2022
Explores: Loss and Grief, Community, Resilience.
If the intergenerational bond in Remarkably Bright Creatures moved you, you will appreciate this story of a tiny survivor finding resilience and family in the wake of deep loss.
Series on the same thread
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Moon Ji-won · Series · 2022
Explores: Autism representation, Acceptance, Overcoming prejudice.
Much like the unique perspective found in Remarkably Bright Creatures, this series centers on a protagonist who navigates the world differently while building a community of loyal, supportive allies.
Vera
Ann Cleeves · Series · 2011
Explores: Obsessive Detective, Rural Crime, Strong Female Lead.
For fans of the mystery woven through Remarkably Bright Creatures, this detective drama offers a similarly sharp, witty lead who pursues truth while grappling with her own personal history.
The Summer I Turned Pretty
Jenny Han · Series · 2022
Explores: First Love, Summer Romance, Love Triangle.
This coming-of-age story mirrors the nostalgic, heartfelt exploration of family secrets and the passage of time that defines the emotional landscape of Remarkably Bright Creatures.
My Brilliant Friend
Saverio Costanzo · Series · 2018
Explores: Female Friendship, Childhood, Memory.
The reflection on long-term relationships and memory in this series echoes the way Remarkably Bright Creatures examines how the people we lose continue to shape our present lives.
Podcasts on the same thread
We Can Do Hard Things
Treat Media and Glennon Doyle · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Vulnerability, Personal growth, Emotional support.
Those who cherished the raw vulnerability and comfort found in Remarkably Bright Creatures will find a similar sense of emotional support and community in these candid, life-affirming conversations.
Scamanda
Lionsgate Sound · Podcast · 2025
Explores: medical fraud, parasocial relationships, deception.
While darker in tone, this investigation into deception and human nature provides the same deep curiosity about hidden truths that drove the central mystery in Remarkably Bright Creatures.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Remarkably Bright Creatures based on a book?
Yes, Remarkably Bright Creatures is based on the 2022 debut novel by Shelby Van Pelt. The story follows a widow who develops an unlikely friendship with a giant Pacific octopus at a local aquarium while investigating the mystery of her son's disappearance thirty years ago.
When will the Remarkably Bright Creatures movie be released?
The film adaptation of Remarkably Bright Creatures is scheduled for release in 2026. The movie brings to life the narrative of the 2022 novel, which centers on the bond between a woman and an octopus at an aquarium and the long-unsolved mystery of her son.
Should I read the book before watching the Remarkably Bright Creatures movie?
Reading the 2022 novel Remarkably Bright Creatures before the 2026 movie release provides full context for the plot. The book details the protagonist's friendship with a giant Pacific octopus and her search for truth regarding her son's disappearance, which serves as the foundation for the film adaptation.
What is the plot of Remarkably Bright Creatures?
Remarkably Bright Creatures tells the story of a widow who forms an unlikely friendship with a giant Pacific octopus living at the local aquarium. Through this connection, she finally uncovers the truth about her son's disappearance that occurred thirty years earlier in this luminous debut novel.