Willem Dafoe’s A24 Fantasy Movie Debuts With Strong Rotten Tomatoes Score

Willem Dafoe‘s new A24 fantasy movie debuts with a fresh Rotten Tomatoes score. Most known for his versatility as an actor, Dafoe has a diverse filmography. From playing Jesus in Martin Scorsese’s controversial The Last Temptation of Christ, the iconic Spider-Man villain, the Green Goblin, to voicing a fish in Finding 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 in Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu alongside Bill Skarsgard and Lily-Rose Depp, and as Wolf Jackson in Winona Ryder and Jenna Ortega’s Beetlejuice 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 Ochi stars Dafoe, Helena Zengel, Finn Wolfhard, and Emily Watson. It tells a fantastical tale of a young girl who embarks on a journey to reunite a baby Ochi with its family despite being told to fear the creature. Following Ortega and Paul Rudd’s Death of a Unicorn and Alex Garland’s Warfare earlier this year, The Legend of Ochi marks 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 Ochi has received a strong Rotten Tomatoes score. Generated from 47 reviews, the movie has an 85% approval rating from critics, with some comparing the film to E.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 at Dafoe’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. The Los Angeles Times highlighted “its peculiarity and artistry” while also noting that there is more emphasis on artistry than on narrative catharsis. Many reviews have particularly praised the memorable performances from Dafoe and Watson. After a limited theatrical release on April 18, The Legend of Ochi is available everywhere beginning on April 25.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes, Los Angeles Times