Credit: Netflix

In a world that constantly gives reasons to keep one’s guard up at all times, Remarkably Bright Creatures on Netflix reminds us why it’s important to keep the door a little open for the unexpected.

Remarkably Bright Creatures has long made waves in the literary world, and with the latest Netflix adaptation, the magic has been passed on beyond. The mystery drama tells the heartwarming story of widow Tova, a cleaner at the local aquarium, who develops an unlikely friendship with a giant Pacific octopus, Marcellus, and new-in-town Cameron, helping her confront the healing power of connection and late-in-life self-discovery.

Whether it’s the story, execution, themes, or relatability, the Netflix movie hits the bullseye in every aspect. And if the watch leaves you craving for more such movies to follow up with, you’re at the right place.

If you appreciate stories about unlikely friendships, found families, and bonds that exist on the sheer belief of goodwill and kindness, here are five Netflix movies to watch after Remarkably Bright Creatures.

Five Netflix movies to stream after Remarkably Bright Creatures

Caramelo (Diego Freitas, 2025)

The animal-human bond at the centre of Remarkably Bright Creatures is undoubtedly one of the biggest takeaways of the movie. So, the immediate companion to complement the beauty of that relationship has to be Caramelo, the Brazilian drama on Netflix. The movie focuses on aspiring chef Pedro, who unexpectedly takes in a stray, caramel-coloured dog after the most accidental run-in.

But just when his career takes off, Pedro is confronted with a heartbreaking diagnosis of a brain tumour that turns his hard-built life upside down. Caramelo sheds light on Pedro’s journey as he finds love and hope through the dog he met the day before, helping him gain a new perspective on life during his health struggle, leading him to form unexpected connections, and making room for profound friendships and found family.

The Fundamentals of Caring (Rob Burnett, 2016)

Based on Jonathan Evison’s 2012 novel The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving, The Fundamentals of Caring is a road comedy-drama about Ben, an out-of-work writer who takes a six-week caregiving course after a personal tragedy. Not long after, he secures a job as a caregiver for Trevor, an 18-year-old with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. As someone who’s primarily restricted to his home, Trevor has a lot of pent-up frustration, which makes Ben’s job particularly difficult.

But determined to help Trevor move past his routine of fear and frustration, Ben decides to introduce him to the outside world, starting with a road trip to visit American roadside attractions. Despite his initial unwillingness, The Fundamentals of Caring captures that shift in Trevor as he and Ben help each other overcome their emotional and physical limitations, letting their guards down to form the most unexpected and wholesome connections.

Nonnas (Stephen Chbosky, 2025)

Another fantastic follow-up to Remarkably Bright Creatures is the biographical comedy drama on Netflix, Nonnas, based on Joe Scaravella’s life. The heartfelt Netflix movie tells the story of Joe, who, while mourning his mother, comes up with the most beautiful idea to honour her and his grandmother’s legacy. Using money from his mother’s insurance, he opens a Staten Island restaurant called Enoteca Maria, hiring local grandmothers to cook traditional family recipes.

Nonnas focuses on Joe navigating the challenges of opening the restaurant while building a new family-like community that believes in second chances. Similar to how Tova finds a new sense of purpose at the aquarium late in life, the grandmothers find a fresh start and a chosen family, in turn, setting Joe on a path of healing, built brick by brick through connections.

Penguin Bloom (Glendyn Ivin, 2020)

Based on Cameron Bloom’s book, Penguin Bloom is the true story of Sam Bloom, a young mother, who suffers a near-fatal fall from a balcony in Thailand that leaves her paralysed. Back in Australia, the former surfer struggles to adapt to immobility and her life in a wheelchair, slowly succumbing to depression while steadily growing distant from her family.

During this time, the children find an injured magpie whom they name Penguin. What begins as a source of curiosity for the kids evolves into a vital comfort for the family, especially Sam. Penguin Bloom highlights the Bloom family’s journey of nursing the baby magpie back to health, ultimately becoming Sam’s inspiration to overcome depression and find a new purpose – themes that are at the very crux of Remarkably Bright Creatures.

My Octopus Teacher (Pippa Ehrlich and James Reed, 2020)

Lastly, to end the follow-up marathon for Remarkably Bright Creatures on Netflix, we have My Octopus Teacher to do the honours. The Netflix documentary follows filmmaker Craig Foster, who, while suffering from burnout, turned to free diving in a South African kelp forest, where he runs into a wild common octopus. Although their bond is marked by initial shyness, the octopus grows to trust Foster, allowing him not only into her world but also addressing his curiosities while at it.

My Octopus Teacher undoubtedly banks on the human-animal relationship and how it becomes a source of healing in more ways than one. But the documentary also shows how the octopus teaches Foster the fragility of nature and the importance of connecting with the wild, underscoring an aspect of mutual respect grounded in practical instead of distant understanding.