FORGOTTEN ISLAND Review – DreamWorks Animation has built a colourful, big-hearted adventure around friendship, family stories and a magical world that feels genuinely different.
Forgotten Island follows lifelong best friends Jo and Raissa on their last night together before life takes them in different directions. A mysterious portal sends them to Nakali, an island full of magical and mythological creatures drawn from the stories they grew up hearing from their Filipino families.
There, the pair are joined by Raww, a well-meaning weredog voiced by Dave Franco, as they try to make their way home before the cost of that journey becomes their memories of each other.
Forgotten Island Is A Warm, Funny Family Adventure
This is an easy film to recommend. It has plenty of colour, energy and jokes, but it also gives its central friendship enough emotional weight to make the adventure matter.
For younger viewers, the creature designs and comedy land well. One young moviegoer named Raww the dog as her favourite character, and it is easy to see why: he is funny, chaotic and has the kind of big-screen personality children instantly gravitate towards.
Another young viewer was especially taken with Merman, saying the character reminded him of his uncle. That kind of reaction says a lot about the film’s playful character work: the island is full of strange, memorable personalities rather than simply being a backdrop for the story.
Like the best animated films, Forgotten Island also includes a few jokes aimed squarely at adults. Some of them will sail over younger heads, while the children will still be laughing at the action around them. It is a family film that understands different audience members can enjoy the same moment for different reasons.
A Surprisingly Wild Comparison
There is a strange, very funny quality to parts of Forgotten Island that brought to mind a kid-friendly version of The Hangover crossed with Dude, Where’s My Car?. It is not a comparison you would expect going in, but the escalating chaos, oddball characters and “how did we get here?” energy give the film an unexpectedly wild streak.
That sense of fun is a strength. The world of Nakali feels large enough for the film to keep unveiling new ideas, while Jo and Raissa remain the emotional anchor throughout.
A Small Issue With The Ending
The one reservation is the ending. The final stretch runs a little too long and begins to feel as though it may never quite finish. The emotional resolution is worthwhile, but the film could have reached it more efficiently.
It is a minor issue in an otherwise enjoyable movie, and it does not take away from how much fun the journey is overall.
The TV Central Verdict
Aaron: 9/10
“A colourful, funny and unexpectedly wild family adventure with real heart. Raww and the world of Nakali make it easy to recommend.”
Zach: 8/10
“A very funny adventure with great characters, although the ending goes on a little too long.”
Forgotten Island Official Synopsis
Your best friendship is worth fighting for.
High school graduates Jo and Raissa have been best friends since grade school but are about to embark on separate life paths. While celebrating their last night together, they stumble upon a mysterious portal that transports them to the fantastical island of Nakali, packed with magical and mythological creatures they grew up hearing stories about from their Filipino families.
Joined by Raww and a small-but-mighty pack of pals, Jo and Raissa must face The Dreaded Manananggal. When they discover that the memories of their entire friendship are the price for returning home, they race to find a way to leave the island before they forget each other forever.
Forgotten Island Movie Details
- Title: Forgotten Island
- Release date: In Australian cinemas September 17, 2026
- Written and directed by: Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado
- Producer: Mark Swift
- Voice cast: H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng and Lea Salonga
- Distributor: Universal Pictures
Watch The Forgotten Island Final Trailer
For more information, visit Universal Pictures Australia.
Forgotten Island At Event Cinemas Innaloo
This preview screening was held at Event Cinemas Innaloo, and it remains one of Perth’s strongest mainstream cinema options.
The sound was excellent, the screen felt enormous and the seats were very comfortable. The candy bar is well stocked, while Varsity next door makes it easy to turn a film outing into dinner and a movie.
For this premiere, popcorn and drinks were available free for moviegoers, which helped make the screening feel like a proper event. It is a venue that gets the essentials right: a big screen, great sound and a comfortable place to settle in for a family movie.
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