‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken,’ an animated movies featuring the voices of Lana Condor and Jane Fonda, has reached the top spot on the most streamed list of Netflix in the US, according to the specialized website FlixPatrol.
The film, co-directed by Kirk DeMicco and Faryn Pearl (in her official directorial debut), was originally released in 2023, arrived on the platform on Feb. 20, and in only two days have become the most popular film in the US (as for Feb. 22).
Cowritten by Pam Brady (South Park), and the duo of Brian C. Brown and Elliott DiGuiseppi, who also developed the concept, the film follows a 16-year-old Ruby Gillman, an anthropomorphic kraken who will discover her true identity.
‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken’ a self-discovery tale
The film follows Ruby Gilman, an anthropomorphic kraken girl who just wants to fit in in her high school, but when she breaks her mother’s rule by going into the ocean with her new friends, she discovers that she is the heir to the throne of the battle-hardened krakens who protect the ocean.
Talking to Animation Magazine, producer Kelly Cooney Cilella explained that Ruby’s self-discovery journey and her “embracing” a new side of her “was such an exciting story for me to tell on such a grand scale.” Actually, the movie was inspired by some teen classics such as Easy A (2010), Lady Bird (2017) and Booksmart (2019), as DeMicco told the magazine.
Despite having popularity on streaming, the film was a box office failure, grossing $46 million against a $70 million budget. Meanwhile, reviews were mixed, with some praising the cast and animation, but criticized the script.
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 66% of 98 critics’ reviews are positive. Among the positive reviews, Tara McNamara of Common Sense Media wrote: “A parenting gold mine, this literal fish out of water story is completely entertaining and enjoyable for all ages, with plenty of positive messages.”
Who is in the cast of ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken’?
Condor plays the titular character, while Fonda plays the grandmother. Meanwhile, Toni Colette plays Ruby’s mom, with Annie Murphy playing Narissa. The rest of the cast includes Sam Richardson, Liza Koshy, Will Forte, Colman Domingo, Jaboukie Young-White, Blue Chapman, Eduardo Franco, and Ramona Young.
