Movie · 2020 · Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy · 1h 35m · PG · English
Curator score: 3.1/10 (118.6K ratings)
Believing is Everything
Overview
Fueled by memories of her mother, resourceful Fei Fei builds a rocket to the moon on a mission to prove the existence of a legendary moon goddess.
Ratings
Curator score: 3.1/10
IMDb: 6.3/10
Letterboxd: 3.20/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 81%
Metacritic: 60
TMDB: 7.2/10
Director
Glen Keane
Production
Janet Yang Productions, Glen Keane Productions, Pearl Studio
Cast
Cathy Ang, Phillipa Soo, Robert G. Chiu, Ken Jeong, John Cho, Sandra Oh, Ruthie Ann Miles, Margaret Cho, Kimiko Glenn, Artt Butler, Irene Tsu, Clem Cheung, Conrad Ricamora, Glen Keane, Brycen Taylor Hall, Edie Ichioka, Brittany Ishibashi, Janice Kawaye, Trisha Vo, Greg Watanabe
Where to watch
Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict
A warm, visually ambitious family fantasy with genuine emotional sincerity, but its musical overload and uneven storytelling keep it from fully taking off. Best for viewers who want a grief-centered animated adventure with strong cultural specificity and bright, glossy spectacle.
Best for
families looking for an emotional animated movie
viewers drawn to stories about grief, memory, and letting go
fans of musical fantasy with colorful worldbuilding
audiences interested in Chinese cultural imagery and mythology
Skip if
you dislike frequent songs in animated films
you want tightly paced storytelling
you prefer subtle emotional writing over broad sentiment
you are looking for a purely comedic or action-driven adventure
Overview
Over the Moon is at its strongest when it stays close to Fei Fei’s emotional journey. The film treats grief, loneliness, and the need to hold onto memory with real tenderness, and that gives the story a soft landing even when the plotting gets busy. Its cultural details and family dynamics add a specificity that helps it stand apart from more generic studio fantasy fare.
Worth noting
The animation is often lovely, especially in the moon sequences, which lean into luminous colors and playful invention. There is a clear sense of ambition here, and the movie’s visual imagination is easy to admire even when the script is overstuffed.
Bottom line
The main drawback is the musical approach, which can feel relentless and occasionally works against the drama. Still, for viewers open to a heartfelt, high-gloss animated musical about loss, love, and moving forward, it offers enough charm and sincerity to recommend with reservations.
Top Letterboxd reviews
andrea🌹 (3★) · 1572 likes
cant believe they faked the moon landing just so we wouldn't see the pop girl living in there
🌻 lindsay 🌻 (4★) · 1060 likes
Why did Neil Armstrong hide the existence of the pop singing goddess on the moon from us cause I’ll never forgive him for that
trin (5★) · 769 likes
Over the moon has a heartwarming story that can be so comforting when you’re feeling lost, it deals with grief and loneliness is such a personal way. what stood out to me was how impactful this movie will be for young chinese kids watching it. it depicted chinese culture and chinese people so beautifully. this film would’ve made my world when i was a young chinese girl growing up in america, i got emotional watching it thinking of how many… more Over the moon has a heartwarming story that can be so comforting when you’re feeling lost, it deals with grief and loneliness is such a personal way. what stood out to me was how impactful this movie will be for young chinese kids watching it. it depicted chinese culture and chinese people so beautifully. this film would’ve made my world when i was a young chinese girl growing up in america, i got emotional watching it thinking of how many… more
allain♡ · 467 likes
Animated films hit the hardest when it tackles grief and loneliness, and this one is no different. Over the Moon is an animated musical film that tells the story of a girl named Fei Fei, who used her wits and passion to build a rocket ship, in order to meet the moon goddess, Chang’e. Losing a loved one is a concept that everyone struggles or will struggle at some point and losing that loved one at such a young age… more Animated films hit the hardest when it tackles grief and loneliness, and this one is no different. Over the Moon is an animated musical film that tells the story of a girl named Fei Fei, who used her wits and passion to build a rocket ship, in order to meet the moon goddess, Chang’e. Losing a loved one is a concept that everyone struggles or will struggle at some point and losing that loved one at such a young age… more
davidehrlich (2.5★) · 349 likes
When did American kids movies become so preoccupied with death? When did being a beloved relative in a colorful animated children’s adventure become as much of a death sentence as being a teenager in a “Final Destination” film? Loss and the lessons that come with it are somewhat foundational to a genre that’s still associated with the likes of “Bambi” and — more recently — “The Lion King,” but over the last few years it’s started to feel as if… more When did American kids movies become so preoccupied with death? When did being a beloved relative in a colorful animated children’s adventure become as much of a death sentence as being a teenager in a “Final Destination” film? Loss and the lessons that come with it are somewhat foundational to a genre that’s still associated with the likes of “Bambi” and — more recently — “The Lion King,” but over the last few years it’s started to feel as if… more
2017 · Family, Animation, Music · 1h 45m · PG · Curator 8.9/10 (3.4M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus
A vivid family fantasy built around grief, memory, and the power of honoring loved ones, with similarly strong cultural specificity and emotional catharsis.
2001 · Animation, Family, Fantasy · 2h 5m · PG · Curator 9.8/10 (4.3M ratings) · Where to watch: Max
A richly imaginative fantasy journey that combines wonder, emotional growth, and a distinctive sense of place.
Topics
animated musical, family fantasy, grief and loss, Chinese mythology, mother-daughter relationship, coming-of-age, colorful visuals, emotional, moon adventure, cultural representation