Parents' Guide to

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken

Movie PG 2023 90 minutes
Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Movie Poster: A figure in the shape of a teenage girl lies on a bench with headphones on, while various mystical sea creatures dance above her

Common Sense Media Review

Tara McNamara By Tara McNamara , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 6+

Fun animated coming-of-age fantasy has thoughtful messages.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 6+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Ruby Gillman standing in front of herself in kraken form
    1:06
  • Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Movie: A girl with blue skin speaks with a young man with dark skin and puffy, purple hair next to the sea
  • Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Movie: A purple-skinned girl talks with a yellow sea creature woman

Parent and Kid Reviews

See all
age 8+

Based on 14 parent reviews

Megan H.
Megan H. Parent of 11-year-old
February 17, 2024
age 13+

Undermines parental roles- just like most movies these days.

Though I understand the message that was TRYING to be conveyed, what I feel like is more present is the idea that “your parents don’t know better- YOU know what’s best. So ignore your parents because their dumb rules only hold you back”. This message is very prevalent in lots of newer movies and shows, and is so dangerous considering a lot of boundaries set by parents are there for a reason far beyond a child’s comprehension. It was a weird movie in general. Do not recommend.
linda M.
linda M. Adult
July 21, 2023
age 8+

I did not like that Ruby was argumentative with her Mom. Liked the coming together of her grandmother, Mom and Ruby.
See all 14 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In RUBY GILLMAN, TEENAGE KRAKEN, the title character (voiced by Lana Condor) just wants to have a normal high school existence -- and, luckily, no one sees through her human disguise. But when her prom-posal goes haywire, Ruby plunges into the ocean, which has been forbidden by her mother, Agatha (Toni Collette), because of the danger it holds to krakens. In the water, Ruby transforms into a colossal sea creature. Trying to deal with the changes her mother didn't warn her about, she reconnects with her estranged grandmother (Jane Fonda) and learns that her true identity is far more noble than she'd been led to believe. Meanwhile, Ruby's new friend Chelsea (Annie Murphy) has her own secret to reveal.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (14 ):
Kids say (14 ):

A parenting gold mine, this literal fish-out-of-water story is completely entertaining and enjoyable for all ages, with plenty of positive messages. Director Kirk De Micco returns to the fertile ground he previously tilled in The Croods in telling the story of a teen girl who needs to get away from overprotective parents to realize her own capabilities. The message to kids can be applied in a variety of ways: "shine your light," "you have more power than you know," "a hero lies in you just below the surface," etc. There's also a nice nudge for grandparents -- yes, you have much to offer, but you can't force it. And for parents, Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken offers an important reminder of the fact that, sometimes, the rules we put into place to keep our kids safe may be preventing them from realizing their full potential.

Ruby's mom, Agatha, is a fully realized character, a successful realtor with a picture-perfect family -- as long as she can keep the family's secrets hidden. There's a lot of parenting wisdom sprinkled throughout the movie, but two scenes shine as examples of dealing with teen emotions. When Ruby is distressed by her new giant kraken form, Agatha sits with her, distracting her with funny stories, which calms Ruby into returning to her normal self. Agatha literally reduces the problem by being present and offering nonjudgmental support. Later, Agatha and Ruby are arguing, and Agatha digs in to her righteousness, escalating Ruby's rage until the girl is out of control -- in other words, demonstrating that fighting after you've said your piece only makes the problem bigger. These nuggets of wisdom are there for the taking, but the truth is, you don't have to do a deep dive to enjoy this ocean tale: There's plenty of fun floating on the surface.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the mythology of mermaids and krakens. What other movies have you seen these creatures in? How does Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken flip the script?

  • What skills and capabilities make you unique and amazing? What about your friends?

  • How does "omitting the truth" lead to dire consequences? How would the movie's events have transpired differently if Ruby's mother had been open and honest?

  • How does Ruby demonstrate empathy and courage? Why are these important character strengths?

  • How do the movie's female and male characters play against gender stereotypes? Why is it important to show gender expression in a variety of ways?

Movie Details

Inclusion information powered by

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate