Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Live-action adventure mixes peril, positive messages.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado
What's the Story?
In DORA AND THE SEARCH FOR SOL DORADO, Dora (Samantha Lorraine) and Diego (Jacob Rodriguez) have grown up on the edge of the Amazon rainforest, where their grandfather (J. Santiago Suarez) has taught them the magic and ways of the jungle. As teenagers, they're finally old enough to explore the vast jungle on their own. When Dora decides to take a summer job alongside her cousin at a local theme park, they uncover a plot by theme park owner—and former TV adventure star Camila (Daniella Pineda)—to hunt down a hidden treasure known as the Sol Dorado (the Golden Sun). Dora and Diego decide they must get to the treasure first, with help from friend Naiya (Mariana Garzón Toro) and her little brother Sunny (Acston Luca Porto). But it won't be easy to beat Camila and her team of goons, and Diego has a secret that he's been keeping from Dora.
Is It Any Good?
This film does Dora and Diego right with good vibes, good humor, great messages, fun adventuring, and satisfying nods to the beloved original series. The successful mix starts with the excellent casting for Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado, from teenagers Lorraine, Rodriguez, and Garzón Toro to child actor Porto and bad-guy-turned-good Pineda. They infuse the tale with an upbeat sweetness and innocence appropriate for the franchise's younger audiences.
Sure, the family household is idealized (a multigenerational home where extended family members are in eternally good moods and always cooking or eating). But look beyond that to the more natural portrayal of how modern-day kids might incorporate and learn from their own heritage languages, cultures, and mythologies. Their purity and the implausible adventures may not appeal to more jaded tween viewers, and that's OK. This film gets the tone and the action just right for its fans.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the concept of teamwork that Dora and Diego learn from their grandfather in Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado. How does working in a team benefit Dora, Diego, and the others?
What did you learn about the Amazon jungle and ancient Incan culture from this movie? Where could you go for more information?
What parts of this movie were animated, and which parts were "live action"? How do filmmakers create this mix?
How does this movie compare with other Dora and Diego films and shows?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : July 2, 2025
- Cast : Samantha Lorraine , Jacob Rodriguez , Daniella Pineda
- Director : Alberto Belli
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount+
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : STEM , Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Book Characters , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Teamwork
- Run time : 96 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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