"Forgotten Island' premieres to rave reviews, audience joy and so-so box office

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Producers and cast members pose for selfies at the US premiere of 'Forgotten Island.'

When the newly minted Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opened its doors for its historic first-ever film screening on September 23, it didn't choose a standard Hollywood blockbuster. Instead, it handed the keys to Forgotten Island —and two days later, DreamWorks Animation's latest feature is setting both the internet and nationwide theaters on fire. 

Boasting a staggering 98% to 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 72 on Metacritic, directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado haven't just made a hit; they’ve created a cultural milestone.

From the glitzy museum premiere to standard Friday matinees, the verdicts are rolling in from critics and audiences alike. Here is how the world is reacting to this vibrant explosion of Filipino culture.

The Critics: Visually stunning and pure chaos 

Mainstream critics are universally dazzled by the film's kinetic, anime-inspired aesthetic and its deeply respectful integration of Philippine mythology. For many Western reviewers, it is being hailed as an absolute triumph of original storytelling.

"A gorgeous, hyper-stylized adventure that effortlessly marries emotional depth with jaw-dropping folklore," writes Variety. "It’s the most visually inventive film DreamWorks has delivered in years."

Even the rare pushback feels like a compliment to the movie's relentless energy, with critics noting its frantic, Hangover-style quest structure.

The Guardian was slightly more fatigued by the pace, calling it a "frantic, over-energized experience that rarely slows down to breathe." However, Mashable completely disagreed, enthusiastically crowning it as "a chaotic joyride and an epic adventure for weirdos."

Set against a nostalgic 1990s backdrop, the film focuses on two Filipino BFFs: Jo (voiced by Grammy winner H.E.R.) and Raissa (voiced by Liza Soberano), two lifelong best friends standing at the precipice of adulthood. 

On the final night after their high school graduation, just before their lives pull them down separate paths, they unexpectedly stumble through a magical portal. They are transported to Nakali, a fantastical island straight out of Philippine mythology. To find their way home, the two must navigate a breathtaking landscape populated by legendary folkloric creatures, forcing them to confront the evolution and survival of their friendship. 

The Gateway: How it plays with Non-Filipino audiences

One of the film's biggest triumphs is how it is received outside of the diaspora. Non-Filipino viewers and critics aren't just tolerating the dense Filipino lore; they are entirely enchanted by it. Reviews note that while the movie introduces creatures like the duwende (goblins) and tikbalang (were-horses), it never feels like a lecture.

"The rich mythology of the Philippines provides a fertile soil that will stun the uninitiated," notes The Mercury News.

RogerEbert.com pointed out the organic writing, stating that while general audiences "will likely learn a lot about Mercado's culture," the film's core themes remain universally human. "The threat of the mystical island—losing the memories of the person you love most—is a deeply moving metaphor for the fear of growing apart."

Box office and word-of-mouth potential

Forgotten Island is currently projected to open with a modest $14 million to $18 million domestically. While the film is a massive hit with critics, it is facing a highly competitive weekend and a slow box office start that underperforms early tracking expectations.

The early box office data and tracking dynamics highlight several factors shaping its theatrical run:

• Strong Previews: The film grossed $1.48 million in domestic previews across Thursday showtimes, Mystery Monday, and Sunday sneak peeks. This is a strong start for an original film, pacing slightly ahead of DreamWorks' 2022 hit The Bad Guys ($1.1 million previews). With an almost 100% on Rotten Apples, the feature is the Dreamworks' highest rated animated film of all time.

• Tough Weekend Competition: The movie is not expected to claim the #1 spot this weekend. It is battling major crowded theatrical traffic, including the highly anticipated re-release Avengers: Endgame Encore and the horror debut of Resident Evil, placing it on track for a 4th or 5th place finish.

• Long-Term "Legs" Potential: Carrying an $80 million production budget, the movie will rely heavily on sustained long-term performance. Because it faces zero major family film competition until The Cat in the Hat debuts in early November, box office analysts predict its near-perfect critical reviews will drive strong word-of-mouth over the coming weeks.

View from the edge: A historic celebration of representation

For Filipino and Filipino American theatergoers, Forgotten Island is less of a standard movie release and more of a historic victory lap. Audiences are flooding social media with praise for seeing specific cultural nuances and monsters like the manananggal proudly centered in a massive Hollywood production.

The star-studded cast—featuring voice performances from H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Lea Salonga, Dave Franco, Jo Koy and Manny Jacinto — has only amplified the AAPI community's excitement.

At the premiere, star Jacinto captured the emotional weight of the moment: "Seeing this wave of support from the community is just huge. These opportunities are so rare, and to see our stories told on this scale is everything."

An early audience member posting on X (formerly Twitter) echoed the sentiment: "I took my parents to see it today and we were all crying by the end. Seeing a manananggal on a theater screen while Dave Franco plays a chaotic creature named Raww is the exact chaotic energy my inner child needed."

It is hoped that the feature will catch on like last year's big hit,  K-pop Demon Hunters animated movie, which captured a wide ranging audience beyond the Asian American community.

Ultimately, Forgotten Island is proving that the most specific stories are often the most universal. Unfortunately, in too  many eyes, "universal" means white, male and born in the US. 

We are betting that "universal" means more than that narrow perspective. RogerEbert.com's review gets it. Forgotten Island  captures the heart of "Forgotten Island" goes beyond race or nationality: "... friendships, even very close ones, have a lifespan, and that even though changes in circumstance or geography might not completely end the friendship, it will alter it and make it less central to daily life — and that’s not only a bearable disappointment; it’s a natural part of growing up that almost everyone has had to deal with."

By grounding a wildly imaginative mythical world in a deeply relatable story about two lifelong best friends facing the reality of growing up, DreamWorks has delivered a masterpiece that belongs to everyone who has ever had a friend.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.