Parents' Guide to

Finding Dory

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Delightful sequel promotes teamwork; some sadness, scares.

Movie PG 2016 103 minutes
Finding Dory Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 6+

Based on 42 parent reviews

Amiah G.
Amiah G. Parent of 6, 10 and 12-year-old
January 7, 2023
age 3+

That you are better alone and together

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
JonDan22
JonDan22 Parent of 8 and 12-year-old
November 30, 2022
age 7+

A masterpiece!

(Written by 8yo boy) - This movie has been my favorite ever since I was four, but I'm rating it for 7+ because now I understand it more and think it's a bit sad and dark. My brother thinks it has a lousy setting - he doesn't like that it takes place in a fish hospital. But I think it's fine for six and seven-year-olds. I do really like it.
See all 42 parent reviews

What's the Story?

It took 13 years from when Finding Nemo first swam into theaters for FINDING DORY to make its way to the big screen, but the story takes place only one year after clownfish Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks) -- with a lot of help from Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), a blue tang with short-term memory loss -- found his missing son, Nemo (Hayden Rolence). Everything is going well for the friends/neighbors until Dory has a flashback to her life as a little fish and remembers something about her parents for the first time. Realizing she and her parents used to live on the California coast, she asks Marlin and Nemo to help her find her family. Thanks to their pals the sea turtles, they quickly arrive at the Marine Life Institute in California, but they're separated when scientists rescue and tag Dory. She must befriend new sea creatures, like an octopus named Hank (Ed O'Neill), to help her locate her parents, while Marlin and Nemo desperately find a way into the institute to look for her.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (42):
Kids say (106):

This poignant, beautifully voice-acted adventure is everything a sequel should be: emotionally satisfying, full of lovable old and new characters, and, just as Dory would want, utterly unforgettable. DeGeneres' performance is pitch perfect -- as is that of her younger counterpart (Sloane Murray) in flashbacks to Dory's youth growing up with her loving parents, Jenny (Diane Keaton) and Charlie (Eugene Levy), who cleverly work around her memory condition by encouraging ways she can remember to get back home. DeGeneres' voice beautifully evokes Dory's loneliness, sadness, wonder, confusion, hope, and joy.

Audiences will also love new characters in Finding Dory like the chameleonic, curmudgeonly Hank, who wants Dory's tag that grants her transfer to the Cleveland Aquarium as a way of avoiding his eventual release back into the ocean. Dory also reacquaints herself with her old pal Destiny (Kaitlyn Olson), a nearsighted whale shark, and meets Destiny's neighbor, Bailey (Ty Burrell), a beluga; the whales have a fun, bantery vibe. And a pair of sea lions voiced by The Wire co-stars Idris Elba and Dominic West provides comic relief as they help Marlin and Nemo hitch a ride into the institute via a kooky loon, Becky. Although Dory's adventure is subtler than Nemo's, it tugs at the heart strings; teaches valuable lessons about disabilities, teamwork, and the unconditional love of family; and is as memorable a movie as Pixar's finest.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what Finding Dory is saying about family and friendship. What does Dory learn about what makes a family? Kids: Who do you consider to be part of your family?

  • Even if you knew things were going to end on a happy note, which sequences were sad and/or scary? How much scary stuff can young kids handle?

  • Which characters are role models? What do they do that's brave, courageous, selfless, and caring? How do their actions demonstrate teamwork and perseverance? Why are those important character strengths?

  • Discuss Dory's disability and how it impacts her. Does it keep her from experiencing love, friendship, or happiness? What does her experience (and Nemo's) teach us about disabilities? How do you know what your abilities are, and what do you do to make the most of them?

  • What does it mean to love someone unconditionally? How do the characters in the movie make it clear that they love each other that way?

Movie Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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