Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- gritty
- dark
- propulsive
- action movie night
- fantasy binge
What critics said
Critics broadly found the fantasy buddy-cop premise promising but undermined by a weak screenplay, incoherent action, poor worldbuilding, and heavy-handed social commentary.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Orcs face institutional discrimination and social exclusion while elves occupy an elite position in Los Angeles.
The film places orcs, elves, magic departments, and police patrols within a recognizable modern Los Angeles.
The wand taken from Tikka drives the pursuit by Leilah and the Inferni and forces Ward and Jakoby into protection duty.
Human officer Daryl Ward and orc officer Nick Jakoby must overcome distrust while navigating police scrutiny and magical violence.
Films like Bright, and why
Men in Black
Shares an urban fantasy setting, supernatural policing, racial allegory, and action-driven buddy partnership.
End of Watch
Combines gritty police action, contemporary Los Angeles, occult threats, and a mismatched law-enforcement duo.
Constantine
Blends fantasy mythology with an action thriller structure, prophecies, magical objects, and a battle against dark forces.
The Last Witch Hunter
Uses a contemporary city, magical beings, police conflict, and genre mashup worldbuilding in an accessible action format.
Movie Details
- Director
- David Ayer
- Release Date
- 2017-12-22
- Runtime
- 117 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (6099)
Cast
- Will Smith
- Joel Edgerton
- Lucy Fry
- Noomi Rapace
- Edgar Ramírez
- Ike Barinholtz
- Veronica Ngô
- Alex Meraz
- Happy Anderson
- Dawn Olivieri
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Bright about?
- Two Los Angeles police partners from opposing species become the last barrier between a hunted elf, a powerful wand, and an apocalyptic resurrection plot.
- What is Bright like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Bright as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Bright violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Bright as moderate.
- What did critics think of Bright?
- Critics broadly found the fantasy buddy-cop premise promising but undermined by a weak screenplay, incoherent action, poor worldbuilding, and heavy-handed social commentary.
- Which films are like Bright?
- Films with a similar feel include Men in Black, End of Watch, Constantine, and The Last Witch Hunter.
- How long is Bright?
- Bright runs 117 minutes.
- Where can I watch Bright?
- In United States, Bright streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
