Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Family eco-drama lovely but doesn't dive deep; some peril.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Blueback
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
After Dora (Radha Mitchell) suffers a stroke, her adult daughter, Abby (Mia Wasikowska), returns to their coastal Australian hometown to help with her recovery. To try to coax Dora out of her nonverbal state, Abby tells her stories from her childhood, recalling Dora's activism in trying to protect the bay and the fish that swam in its waters -- including a large blue grouper they named BLUEBACK. Flashbacks show Abby's pivotal moments as an 8-year-old (Ariel Donoghue) and a 15-year-old (Ilsa Fogg).
Is It Any Good?
As gentle as Abby's free dives, the deep breaths, lapping waves, and immersive images of this film's underwater beauty make for a calming watch. Kids may end up more lulled than learned, but they'll likely take away one key idea: It's important to protect marine life, and there are different ways to go about it. Blueback doesn't try to give too much information, but keeping the educational content generalized actually works a bit against it. Terms like "overfishing" and "illegal fishing" are tossed around briefly, but it's not really made clear why the villains are participating in that activity or how it will help a developer get the city council's permission to build a housing community on the beach.
When kids see another kid develop a friendship with a wild animal, it tends to draws them into a story and make nature-related messages more impactful. But fish aren't cute or cuddly, and the grouper Abby befriends and defends isn't especially expressive or lively. As magical as it is to see her pet a big fish, it's not incredibly engaging. Add that to the foggy story details, and Blueback's impact is somewhat washed away.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the importance of purpose. How does Abby follow her curiosity to find her purpose?
How do Dora and Abby demonstrate courage? At times, it's clear they do feel fear -- what motivates them to move past that emotion? Is that something you can learn from?
Why is it important to protect the oceans? Do you prefer to learn about ecological issues through a narrative feature like Blueback or through documentaries?
Does this movie promote activism? Does it motivate you to take action?
How do Dora and Abby demonstrate perseverance and why it is important when trying to accomplish a goal?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 3, 2023
- On DVD or streaming : April 21, 2023
- Cast : Mia Wasikowska , Radha Mitchell , Eric Bana
- Director : Robert Connolly
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Quiver Distribution
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Activism , Book Characters , Animals ( Ocean Creatures )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Curiosity , Perseverance
- Run time : 103 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some thematic elements, peril and brief mild language
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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