Willem Dafoe’s new A24 fantasy movie debuts with a fresh Rotten Tomatoes score. Mostknown forhis versatility as an actor,Dafoe has a diverse filmography. From playing Jesus inMartin Scorsese’s controversialThe Last Temptation of Christ, the iconicSpider-Manvillain, the Green Goblin, to voicing a fish inFinding Nemo, the actor has been in many critically acclaimed projects and commercially successful blockbusters.
The four-time Academy Award nominee appeared in two of the best movies in 2024, starring as Professor Albin Eberhart Von Franz inRobert Eggers’Nosferatualongside Bill Skarsgard and Lily-Rose Depp, and as Wolf Jackson in Winona Ryder and Jenna Ortega’sBeetlejuice Beetlejuice.The actor’s 2025 slate also has some exciting projects in store, including his role in Wes Anderson’s espionage black comedy film,The Phoenician Scheme.
The Legend Of Ochi Debuts With An 85% Rotten Tomatoes Score
Willem Dafoe’s New A24 Movie Is Highly Rated
The Legend of Ochistars Dafoe, Helena Zengel, Finn Wolfhard, and Emily Watson. Ittells a fantastical tale of a young girl who embarks on a journey to reunite a baby Ochi with its familydespite being told to fear the creature. Following Ortega and Paul Rudd’sDeath of a UnicornandAlex Garland’sWarfareearlier this year,The Legend of Ochimarks the latest A24 movie to hit theaters.
Written and directed by Isaiah Saxon, who is making his directorial feature debut with the release,The Legend of Ochihas received a strongRotten Tomatoesscore. Generated from 47 reviews,the movie has an 85% approval rating from critics, with some comparing the film toE.T., praising it as “breathtaking” and “rare” for bringing the magic of cinema to younger audiences.
What This Means For The Legend Of Ochi
The Legend Of Ochi Receives A Wide Release This Week
The Legend of Ochi’s trailer offers a first look atDafoe’s father figure, but Zengel’s Yuri is the one who steals the show. As a film made for older kids and up, the new A24 whimsical fantasy movie sees Yuri learning to communicate with the Ochi and confronting the rest of the world as she discovers her own voice and identity by pursuing what she believes is right.
Set on an island, the movie not only dives into the isolated community and its social norms, but also explores the magic of the surroundings. TheLos Angeles Timeshighlighted “its peculiarity and artistry” while also noting that there is more emphasis on artistry than on narrative catharsis.Many reviewshave particularlypraised the memorable performances from Dafoe and Watson. After a limited theatrical release on April 18,The Legend of Ochiis available everywherebeginning on April 25.
