Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Superb animated "cat-astrophe" has animals in peril.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Flow
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 67 parent reviews
Parents say this film is a visually stunning but emotionally intense experience, suitable for older children and adults rather than younger kids, who may find it distressing due to scenes of peril and animal violence. While it offers profound themes of friendship, resilience, and connection, many parents express concerns over its suitability for children under 10, as it may provoke fear and sadness.
- emotional intensity
- not for young kids
- strong themes
- beautifully animated
- open for interpretation
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 19 kid reviews
Kids say this is a visually stunning and unique film that captivates with its beautiful animation and sounds rather than dialogue. While older kids and adults appreciate its deeper themes and complex emotions, younger viewers may find the slow pace and abstract storytelling difficult to grasp, making it best suited for ages 10 and up.
- visual appeal
- deeper themes
- meditation experience
- age recommendation
- slow pacing
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In FLOW, a cat's solitary, peaceful life is interrupted when its home is devastated by an epic flood. To survive, the cat bands together with a secretary bird, a capybara, a lemur, and a dog in search of dry land, navigating the many perils that they encounter on the way.
Is It Any Good?
Magical and majestic, this perilous animated adventure about a black cat who's having its own bad luck is pretty purrfect. Because cats are some of the most entertaining, endearing animals for many people, making a cat Flow's main character helps the animal's plight capture the viewer's heart and makes us hold our breath, hoping it will survive. The animals are drawn to behave realistically in their movements and sounds; there are no talking dogs here, or animals taking on human characteristics. In fact, the creatures' noises were recorded from real animals.
It's a bit of a mystery how some of the animals find themselves in the same ecosystem—capybara, elk, secretary birds, and lemurs are unlikely to cross paths in the wild—but that helps to suggest that, while the creatures' story has recognizable elements, this is a fictional world. One ethereal sequence, which may signify the death of an animal (it's up to viewers to decide), suggests that, in this animated world, anything can happen. All of that said, some kids may get antsy without the typical one-liners and pratfalls of many animated-animal movies. Older viewers are more likely to be swept away by Flow's gorgeous art and subtle storytelling.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the fact that Flow doesn't have any dialogue. Do you think this aids or hurts the story? How does this compare to movies in which animals speak to each other in a human language?
Flow was adapted from a short film that the writer-director made in high school about his cat's fear of water. What in your life might make a good subject for a story?
How do the animals grow and change during their time together? Do you think the way they behave is realistic, or do you think they're meant to be seen as stand-ins for people?
How do the characters demonstrate teamwork, compassion, courage, consideration, and perseverance? Why are these important life skills?
Discuss the lemur's obsession with material objects. What do you think the filmmaker is trying to say?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 22, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : February 14, 2025
- Director : Gints Zalbalodis
- Studio : Janus Films
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Gratitude , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 84 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : peril and thematic elements
- Awards : Academy Award - Animated Feature Winner , Academy Award - Animated Feature Nominee , BAFTA - BAFTA Nominee , Common Sense Selection , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Winner
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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