Common Sense Media Review
By Christie Cronan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Language, violence in spirited but disjointed fantasy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Starbright
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
When Aisling (Alexandra Dowling) makes a wish on a star, she becomes the unexpected protector of it in STARBRIGHT. With the help of an archangel (John Rhys-Davies) and a passerby with his own troubles (Diego Boneta), Aisling has only one night, one epic adventure, and one chance to rewrite her fate—if she's brave enough.
Is It Any Good?
This is a gentle, spirited fantasy with emotional connection, dramatic music, and lovely images that may be too slow for today's impatient, instant-gratification brains. A breath of uplifting fresh air in a dark entertainment world, Lucente's take on an urban fable offers '80s fairy tale film vibes, but lacks a fully realized story arc. There are actions without purpose, complex characters with no motivation, scenes with no direction, and a random dance break. The narrative thread breaks off into numerous disjointed side quests that leave more questions than answers despite the almost 2.5-hour runtime. It's almost as if the film couldn't decide whether to embrace the full PG-13 rating or go for a PG-friendly cut.
Still, momentary flickers of childhood imagination, memorable visuals, and whimsy will make it enjoyable for kids who love fantasies.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Starbright strongly divides light and darkness and good and evil in this film. Is real life usually this clear? How can fictional stories like these help influence the way people think about good and evil in real life?
If the star symbolized something "real" in today's world, what might it represent?
This film suggests that believing is powerful. What kinds of beliefs can help a person in life and what kinds of beliefs can be harmful?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : February 27, 2026
- Cast : John Rhys-Davies , Diego Boneta , Ted Levine , Alexandra Dowling
- Director : Francesco Lucente
- Inclusion Information : Latino Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Ruby Max Entertainment
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Adventures , Family Stories , Fantasy ( Fairy Tales , Magic )
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 148 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence and some smoking
- Last updated : June 2, 2026
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