Parents' Guide to

Lost Ollie

By Stephanie Snyder, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Live action meets animation in dark, heartfelt miniseries.

TV Netflix Drama 2022
Lost Ollie TV Poster

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 12+

Based on 14 parent reviews

JVF0
JVF0 Adult
August 26, 2022
age 9+

Intense violence in later episodes

The review doesn't mention that episodes 3 and 4 feature scenes of brutal violence. A mentally unstable character who's very affected for his "loss" tears apart a stuffed animal, and later stones, kicks and stabs his friends. No blood since they're toys but still very disturbing. Also there are bullying themes, and very tear-jerking scenes relating to the mother's illness. The 7+ recommendation seems okay for the first episodes. Later on, the content says otherwise.

This title has:

Great messages
Too much violence
12 people found this helpful.
Halfwayhome
Halfwayhome Parent of 10, 14 and 15-year-old
August 28, 2022
age 13+

Sensitive kids should stay clear of this one

I saw the preview and thought, "what a great buddy movie to watch with my 10 year old." As an adult it was. As a sensitive 10 yr old, not so much. This 4 part series has everything. Great characters, great plot and subplots. Action adventure, romance, love, buddies, hope, good messages, pirates, fun, sadness, twists and turn, then there was dark, scary, and a stuffy murder. My whole family was in tears several times and laughing at other times, by my son was traumatized by the stuffy murder. Such a great movie though. Can't recommend it for young viewers.

This title has:

Great messages
Too much violence
8 people found this helpful.
See all 14 parent reviews

What's the Story?

LOST OLLIE begins with a patchwork stuffed bunny named Ollie waking up in a thrift store, about to be sold, and realizing that he has been separated from Billy, the boy he belongs to and loves dearly. Billy also realizes that he has lost Ollie, who has always been a symbol of childhood joy for him. A series of flashbacks reveal the relationship between the boy and his beloved stuffy, as well as the hardships that Billy grapples with: a sick mom, bullies at school, and the pressure to grow up. Billy and Ollie resolve to find one another no matter what, but there are dangerous and risky obstacles that stand between them. Nevertheless, supportive friends and life lessons help them along the way. Will they find each other again? What will they learn along the way?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (14 ):
Kids say (5 ):

This heartfelt story of childhood is apt for both kids and adults. Lost Ollie combines cool cinematography with moving storytelling, and the result is a suspenseful tearjerker that will get viewers to keep watching as they also look within. The story is very dark -- both visually and in subject matter -- and it can sometimes move slowly; however, these intentional choices force the viewer to focus on the character development. Ollie and Billy are characters that are easy to fall in love with, root for, and relate to because we've all lost something or someone. Though some of the southern accents are a bit unauthentic, the moving messages about childhood, youth, and growing up are honest. Young viewers will likely enjoy the plot and visuals while older viewers may watch for nostalgia -- and learn a little bit about themselves in the process.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about loss in Lost Ollie. How does Billy feel about losing Ollie? How does Ollie feel about losing Billy? How do you feel when you lose something or someone?

  • How does the cinematography make the movie fun to watch? What other shows or movies have you seen that blend live action and animation?

  • Have you ever lost something important to you? What did you do to find it? Were you successful?

TV 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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