Watch Kids' Reviews of
KLARA AND THE SUN

Can a machine love us more deeply than a human? Based on Kazuo Ishiguro's bestselling novel, Klara and the Sun reimagines science fiction by asking whether kindness matters more than being gifted. The timing of this film couldn't be more perfect, since our current world is quickly being taken over by AI and, although the film is depicted as dystopian fiction, it could very well be our reality soon.

In a future where Artificial Friends (human-like robots) accompany youth, solar-powered robot Klara (Jenna Ortega) is chosen by Josie (Mia Tharia), a lonely, sick girl ailing from genetic "lifting." Despite initial skepticism from Josie's busy mother (Amy Adams), Klara becomes a devoted companion. Meanwhile, Josie's unlifted friend Rick (Aran Murphy) uses custom drones to apply to an elite academy. When Josie's health declines, her mother considers a plan by Mr. Capaldi (Steve Buscemi) for Klara to replace Josie if she dies. Devoted to Josie, Klara risks her own life and prays to the Sun to save her.

Klara and the Sun is so emotional and thought-provoking. The cast is phenomenal; Jenna Ortega plays Klara with such optimism that I truly felt her warmth, sincerity, and humor as she wins over Josie's family. It really made me fall in love with the idea of having an AF who is such a loyal friend. We see the world through Klara's pixelated eyes, and see her struggle with even the simplest tasks like climbing stairs. One particularly funny moment is when Klara, despite feeling pain at losing her fellow AF friend, is asked by Rick to say some parting words. Since Klara is a robot, she simply says, "You're dead," which shows us the emotional limitations of being a robot! Aran Murphy plays Rick so genuinely, and the most moving scene is when he is with other lifted children, who are cruel and treat their AFs badly, questioning whether being gifted is worth it if humans lose their basic quality of kindness. The pace of the film is perfect, giving us enough time to let the plot sink in while still enjoying the characters' growth throughout the film, especially Klara's.

This film questions whether being lifted is worth it if someone loses their kindness in the process. The finale is both heartbreaking and beautiful, and it left me with a huge question: can an AI actually love, or is it just sophisticated programming?

I rate Klara and the Sun 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It releases in cinemas on October 23, 2026.

Raasti K., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 14

Klara and The Sun is a beautiful film! It is visually stunning, has relatable characters, relevant themes and a powerful message that make the film unforgettable.

In a dystopian future, an older model of a solar-powered Artificial Friend, aka AF, named Klara (Jenna Ortega) is waiting to be purchased. She believes the Sun has godlike powers and can grant wishes. Eventually, a sickly teenage girl named Josie (Mia Tharia) and her hesitant mother Chrissie (Amy Adams) buy Klara to take care of Josie. As Klara learns about Josie and her health, she starts to look for ways to get her wish to save Josie to the sun.

I love Klara. She is a fun, relatable character that gives the film an interesting perspective. Watching Klara explore her new world as she moves into the house, was like watching a young child learning about the world and being hopeful of all the good that can come from it. Speaking of the world, the scenery and visual design of the sets are amazing. The bright city streets, retro interiors of the house, and surrounding vast fields enhance the story. I like how the use of special effects, like glitches in her eyes as Klara takes in new spaces, helped me see the world from Klara's point of view. It gives the film more depth without being overstated. The build-up and reveal was shocking. At first, I was just enjoying the little adventures Josey and Klara were on. But when all the little pieces clicked into place, and I saw the whole picture, the emotional payoff was surprising. While I love this film, it is certainly not perfect. First, the pacing is a bit off in the beginning, with some scenes feeling undercooked. The film also condenses a lot of information into explanatory monologues which made me feel like I was being talked at. It's important to note that this film is not a faithful adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's original novel of the same name. However, even with its faults, I still love the film.

The film's message is that true love is not something that can be manufactured, and sometimes people can be so heartless they act like robots. Note that there are themes and visuals of death, blood, explosions, abuse and self-harm.

give Klara and The Sun 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theaters on October 23, 2026.

By Valerie M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic age 13

I absolutely love the beautiful film, Klara and the Sun. It is an exciting futuristic sci-fi drama that emphasizes the power of love, friendship, and coping with grief.

The storyline follows Klara (Jenny Ortega), an AF (Artificial Friend) robot, that was designed to be a friend to a teenager to help them through their lonely awkward teen years. She spends years waiting to be selected until one day a girl, Josie (Mia Tharia) picks her to be her AF. Josie and her mom, Chrissy (Amy Adams) are still dealing with the death of Josie's older sister. As Klara adapts to life in the real world she learns about love, friendship, and loss.

Klara and the Sun takes place in the future and I like that much of the futuristic technology is only slightly more advanced from the technology we have today which makes the film feel relatable. For example, every car is self-driving. The imagery in the movie is really beautiful and adds to the overall beauty of the film. I especially love the scenes where Klara explores nature. I also love that the camera angle switches to first person when Klara is calibrating her new surroundings and we get to experience what she sees and how she adapts. I really like the storyline of the store manager (Natasha Lyonne). She adds a lot of humor and sweetness. I love how she has so much compassion for the B1 model AF's she sells and how she cares for them. I genuinely love every part of this film but my favorite part of the movie is how Klara interprets and experiences love.

The film's message is about how grief can change people and the importance of relying on others to get through difficult times. Parents should be advised that this film deals with death, sickness, and loss as well as mild violence and injury.

I give Klara and the Sun 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. Klara and the Sun releases in theaters on Friday, October 23, 2026.

By Julie O. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

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Based on the bestselling novel from Nobel Prize-winner Kazuo Ishiguro and written and directed by Academy-Award® winner Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit), Klara and the Sun introduces audiences to Klara (Jenna Ortega), an Artificial Friend who wants nothing more than to find the perfect home. When Klara meets Josie (Mia Tharia), each immediately senses a kindred spirit in the other. Josie has a fraught relationship with her mother (Amy Adams) and they've suffered great loss, but Klara's innocent wonder and unwavering loyalty begin to heal the family and bring light to Josie's complicated world.