‘The Legend of Ochi’ Proves A24 Still Has Some New Avenues To Explore

In a little over a decade, A24 has become one of the most powerful production companies in Hollywood, as it is often associated with the type of groundbreaking, experimental storytelling that is no longer seen from the major studios. Without A24, it is unlikely that a film like The Legend of Ochi would exist; Isaiah Saxon’s debut feature is a fantasy adventure in the vein of Willow, Gremlins, and The Dark Crystal, and has been noted for its use of practical puppetry. Although A24 has previously made films like Marcel the Shell with Shoes On and After Yang that are appropriate for families, The Legend of Ochi is specifically aimed at kids, as it focuses on the young girl Yuri (Helena Zengel) as she defies her parents to save a magical creature. A24 has the potential to tap into a different audience by making family films, as The Legend of Ochi is the type of original, inspiring story for kids that the industry needs more of.

A24 Needs To Expand Its Audience

A24 has shown an ability to connect with young people, as it has found great success with films aimed at an adolescent audience, such as Lady Bird, Moonlight, Eighth Grade, or Never Goin’ Back. However, the success of A24 has made the studio take bigger swings on more expensive projects, as films like Warfare and Civil War required IMAX distribution in order to be seen in the best possible format. There’s also been an indication that audiences have grown tired of the “quirky horror-comedy” genre that once proved successful with Bodies Bodies Bodies and Pearl, as the recent run of Y2K, Death of a Unicorn, and Opus was among the least successful in A24’s history. By tapping into an even younger audience than what they’ve previously targeted, A24 would be able to develop a new fandom, and set up the next generation of cinephiles who can grow up with the films it produces.

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A new kind of creature feature.

Family-oriented films are highly needed right now, as they are among the few demographics that have been starved of diverse options within the past few years. One of the main reasons that carryovers from the holiday season, such as Mufasa: The Lion King and Sonic the Hedgehog 3, have done so well is because of the relative lack of competition from other PG films. What’s most interesting about The Legend of Ochi is that, despite its stylistic idiosyncrasies, the film is a very classical “hero’s journey” adventure that presents young viewers with a character that they can relate to. A24 certainly has several films like Hereditary and Queer that may only appeal to an audience of arthouse fans, but The Legend of Ochi in particular has significant crossover potential.

The Film Industry Needs Original Family Films

A24 has the potential to educate a new generation of film fans, and provide a better option to kids than what is currently available to them. A film like A Minecraft Movie is only interested in treating its audience like consumers, but that may be because kids aren’t taught that they should have higher standards when it comes to entertainment. Films like Despicable Me 4 or the pending reboot of The Smurfs might be content with talking down to kids, but The Legend of Ochi offers an opportunity for film to serve as an instructive medium. One of the biggest issues facing Hollywood is ensuring that a new generation will continue to show interest in going to theaters to see original films; it would be far smarter for Hollywood to provide exciting projects like The Legend of Ochi, as nostalgic legacy sequels and films based on established intellectual property have less opportunities to attract new fans.

A24’s slant towards family films could help the studio spread positive messages to an impressionable audience. The Legend of Ochi has strong environmentalist themes about the importance of protecting the natural world, but it also shows the merit of detail-oriented worldbuilding created through practical methods. While The Legend of Ochi may feel like an anomaly when compared to the rest of A24’s slate for 2025, it would be in the company’s best interest to make it a trend-setter.

The Legend of Ochi is now playing in theaters.

The Legend of Ochi

Release Date

April 25, 2025

Runtime

96 minutes

Director

Isaiah Saxon

Writers

Isaiah Saxon

Producers

Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Louise Lovegrove, Mike LaRocca, Richard Peete, Jonathan Wang, Traci Carlson, Angela Russo-Otstot