Forgotten Island opens, early viewers praise DreamWorks' original film

moviesSep 25, 2026741,413

Forgotten Island opened this weekend and early viewers are rallying around its emotional story of two friends, Jo and Raissa, praising a decade-spanning montage that uses INXS’s "Never Tear Us Apart" to compress a lifetime of shared memories. Viewers are highlighting the film’s celebration of Filipino culture, from mythological touches to Lea Salonga’s turn as the dreaded Manananggal, and many are urging Filipino audiences to see it together. Celebrity moments have threaded into the moment too, with Dave Franco joking that his character Raww should join the DreamWorks opening logo alongside Shrek. Directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado spoke about crafting that montage in an interview, which has become a focal point for conversations about the film’s storytelling choices.

Animated Antic

@animatedantic.bsky.social

Forgotten Island is a terrific film. It’s a riveting emotional roller coaster filled with some of the best sequences DreamWorks has ever crashed with top tier animation and a fun protagonist duo. It’s one of the best animated film of the year. I’ll give you my full review soon.

14015d ago

Daniel Gudino Juarez1

I really hope people see this, i know I am tomorrow!

Amanda Wong

@amandawtwong.bsky.social

"Forgotten Island" is opening this weekend and unfortunately does not seem to be tracking very well financially, but going up against "Avengers Endgame: Encore" does feel a little like, "It's Malibu Stacey but she's got a new hat!"

Lisa Simpson holding up a regular Malibu Stacey doll with a new hat and looking dismayed

17115d ago

Agustin Macias7

It really sucks that people are falling for the new hat instead of watching something new and refreshing. I mean, how many times do we get people online crying about wanting new stuff but they failed to show up for them.

Edwin Kim6

The marketing absolutely failed this movie. Not to mention this week has not just Avengers but also Primetime, Resident Evil, and that Brad Pitt dog movie. It is the ONLY animated family film this week & WOM/reviews is great thus far. But it'll need to be super leggy like "Elemental" to survive.

AM2

I’m going to see it with my son tomorrow, we’ve been hyped since we saw the trailer a few months back 💙

DiscussingFilm

@discussingfilm.net

Dave Franco says his dream is for Raww from ‘FORGOTTEN ISLAND’ to be included in the DreamWorks opening logo with Shrek and Toothless. “If my character makes it in the opening DreamWorks animatic, that is the only thing that tops being People Magazine’s sexiest man alive.”

11814d ago

Quoting this

The Vegapunk of Hyenas6

Dave Franco, we welcome you to the table as honorary furry

Danny Costa5

Dave's amazing. I've never really seen his live-action stuff, but his animated voice roles in LEGO Ninjago, Hoppers and this movie give me a very good impression.

psudonym

@psudonym.bsky.social

Seated down for The Forgotten Island, brought a bunch of Filipinos with me.

10914d ago

We Are Many Mouths And We Must Feed 😀2

oh hey that's out now? Gotta see it myself... Enjoy!

Sammynona1

I really enjoyed it! Excited to hear your reaction to it

ViyaGyudon 🇵🇭✨I LOVE VAGGI

@feedmekatsudon.bsky.social

I know I won't make a big difference but PLEASE check out Forgotten Island when it releases in Cinemas in the USA! It is a story about two best friends in the Philippines by Dreamworks. Let's show we DO want more original content!!

6216d ago

Cartoon Brew

@cartoonbrew.bsky.social

Exclusive: The opening of ‘Forgotten Island,’ in theaters today, traces a decade of Jo and Raissa’s friendship to INXS’s “Never Tear Us Apart.” Directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado explain how they fit a lifetime of shared memories into one montage: www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film...

5414d ago

Gale Frostbane

@galefrostbane.bsky.social

Dear god Forgotten Island is fucking wild LOL Furries and kinky folk about to loose their MINDS watching this haha Super fun movie to see with your pals! Some unreal animation too!

7715d ago

Salamander Commander2

Ohohohoh. Well that's good to know X3

Kame the Turtle🔜 Carolina Furfare1

It's definitely one I want to watch

💚 Limey 🔜 Aquatifur (Friday) 💚1

Sitting through the credits right now, yeah, the film was AWESOME 💚💚

Loc0 🐾1

I mean, @doryuuz.bsky.social is practically on the poster art. <3

Richard K Niner1

Probably gonna watch on Saturday

Masterofthemasks🔜ASC1

Yeah it looks pretty good, so I'm going to watch it in theaters along with Wildwood and Clayface next month

Sarah Cosico 🦇✨NYCC B06! 🔜

@sarahcosico.bsky.social

Get thee to the theater to see Forgotten Island this weekend OR ELSE 🫵🫵🫵 I never wanna hear about people wanting original animation agaiiiin

3915d ago

Kastia| The Farmer And The Wolf1

Just saw a matinee yesterday and I LOVED IT. I've been hyping this movie up as much as I can on socials.

Amber Keplinger 🏳️‍⚧️ 🖤🤍💜🩶1

I do plan on seeing it in theaters, but this weekend and next is booked with Beyond Fest. Forgotten Island looks beautiful.

Sarah Cosico 🦇✨NYCC B06! 🔜1

I will be tootin and honkin my megaphone about this all weekend!!!! 💥📣

nona 🇵🇭

@nonadraws.bsky.social

"You don't drag me down, you make me soar" #forgottenisland #dreamworks

fanart of Jo and Raissa from Forgotten Island, based on a scene in the movie where Raissa carries Jo up in the sky at Nakali with her Manananggal wings.

2314d ago

StewsSpicyblog (Commissions Open!)🔞

@stewsspicyblog.bsky.social

Watched Forgotten Island. I dug it but man this film is hyper as hell. Great story though, Raissa was beautiful.

3114d ago

LoudNoises 🇦🇺 🔞1

Forgotten Island is a great film, and I agree. Raissa was a great character

TheJayster99 (SUPPORT SMALL ARTISTS!)1

Yeah I mean, I definitely thought the story was great, but man, it really needed to slow down and take a breather 😅

Matt Zoller Seitz

@mattzollerseitz.bsky.social

From the filmmaking team behind "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish," this fantasy comedy pitches its humor at different age groups simultaneously. Pixar makes a big deal of understanding children, but I think DreamWorks gets them better. Thus all the fart jokes. www.rogerebert.com/reviews/forg...

2714d ago

Sarcastic Chorus

@sarcasticchorus.bsky.social

Forgotten Island is VERY Fun. should've been a mini series but a blast nonetheless. That said this film is my exact breaking point when it comes to 80s/90s licensed music. As after the 7th song it hit me that the 80s was nearly 50 years ago and i'm ready to let these songs go.