Natalie Portman’s New 90-Minute Sci-Fi Fantasy Movie Finally Releases On Streaming Next Month

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A delightful and often overlooked sci-fi fantasy film featuring Natalie Portman and other well-known actors from the genre is headed to streaming services soon.

Ugo Bienvenu’s animated film, Arco, has been praised for its style, which many compare to the work of Studio Ghibli. It first premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025 and was released in French cinemas in October before becoming available in the U.S. While it was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 2026 Oscars – ultimately losing to K-Pop Demon Hunters – Arco is now set to gain wider recognition with its upcoming release on streaming platforms.

Hulu announced that the show Arco will be available to stream starting May 22nd. While Hulu and Disney+ are eventually combining into a single service by 2026, viewers can currently watch Arco on either platform. The English dub features a star-studded cast including Mark Ruffalo, Will Ferrell, Andy Samberg, Flea, Roeg Sutherland, Wyatt Danieluk, and America Ferrera.

The film Arco presents two possible futures. One follows Iris (Romy Fay) in the year 2075, a world where automation has created a sleek society, but faces a looming environmental crisis. Iris and her younger brother are largely cared for by a robot named Mikki, as their parents are frequently occupied with work. Natalie Portman and Mark Ruffalo play the parents, and their voices are combined to create Mikki’s voice.

When a boy named Arco, from a far-off future, accidentally travels back in time, Iris’ life takes an unexpected turn. Arco broke the rules and experimented with his family’s time machine, landing him in Iris’s era. Together, they work to find a way for Arco to return home, and the film looks at how children can find hope and face challenges, even when the future seems uncertain.

In a review for Arco, Gregory Nussen of ScreenRant describes the film as a hopeful story about young love and finding yourself, even though it touches on complex themes. He also notes that the animation style feels reminiscent of a time when people were excited about scientific progress, like when the first humans walked on the moon.

I was really excited to see Natalie Portman in Fountain of Youth and The Twits back in 2025, but her 2026 Sundance film, The Gallerist, didn’t quite hit the mark. Honestly, though, Arco feels like her best movie in years – definitely since she was nominated for an Oscar for May December in 2023. And I’m really intrigued by Ugo Bienvenu, the director of Arco; this is his first feature film, and it’s got me eager to see what he does next!

Beyond its Academy Award nomination, Arco also received a BAFTA nomination for Best Children’s & Family Film and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Animated Motion Picture. It won Best Feature – Independent at the 2026 Annie Awards. Now, Arco will be easier to access for those who missed it in theaters, anyone looking for a heartwarming and hopeful story about the world, or those who enjoy watching top-rated animated films.

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2026-04-22 20:41