‘In Your Dreams’ Review: Netflix Animated Film Is an Eye-Popping Odyssey

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I just finished watching In Your Dreams on Netflix, and it was such a fun ride! It’s about these two siblings who get swept up in a magical adventure to help their family, and it really blurs the line between what’s real and what’s not. The animation is gorgeous, super colorful, and the movie is set to a really cool soundtrack of popular songs. Honestly, I think a lot of us will relate to the story – it nails those everyday struggles of growing up, like dealing with siblings and seeing your parents work hard. It’s all about facing your fears, which is something we all go through. Okay, the plot does get a little predictable at times, but the characters are so lovable and funny that it didn’t bother me. It’s a really heartwarming movie!

Twelve-year-old Stevie lives in the suburbs of Minnesota and fondly remembers simpler times, like making breakfast with her parents before her younger brother, Elliot, came along. Now, she’s stuck sharing a room with him and all his strange stuffed animals, and she’s longing for some space of her own. But her worries about Elliot take a backseat when she accidentally overhears a serious argument between her mom and dad. Her parents, who used to be musicians, disagree about the future – her mom has a great job offer in another city, while her dad wants them to stay and try to revive their band.

Stevie is overwhelmed with worry that her parents are going to split up. While helping her friend Elliot with a school project at a thrift store, she stumbles upon a peculiar book called The Legend of the Sandman: Giver of Dreams. Stevie gets upset when Elliot takes the book home, but both of them accidentally read a magical spell from it before going to sleep. They suddenly find themselves flying through space towards the Sandman (played by Omid Djalili), who is calling them to come find him. However, their journey is interrupted by Nightmara (Gia Carides), who unleashes terrifying nightmares to wake them up. Stevie is determined to reach the Sandman and make a wish, but she keeps her true intentions a secret from Elliot.


Netflix

In Your Dreams is packed with funny dream scenes that cleverly use Stevie’s fondness for breakfast and Elliot’s unusual stuffed animal as key story elements. Craig Robinson provides the voice for Baloney Tony, a horse with a peculiar smell who shoots spam from his mouth—and even shoots laser beams when stressed, which is consistently funny. The show is full of playful moments until the kids try to move forward, and Nightmara arrives to turn everything fun into something scary. Stevie and Elliot first have to deal with these nightmares to understand their dreams, but finally meeting the Sandman leads to unexpected and serious results.

The problem is that escaping into fantasy doesn’t actually fix real-life problems – it just avoids them. Stevie and Elliott have created a situation that’s putting everything they know at risk. This quick fix will cause lasting harm to a world that was perfectly fine to begin with. Alex Woo, the director and writer (and a visual effects artist on Pixar films like Ratatouille, WALL·E, and Incredibles 2), makes it clear that there are always consequences to wishes, especially when Stevie tries to force her parents to stay together – and this comes at a high cost.

The movie In Your Dreams really shines when it comes to its music. Popular songs like The Pussycat Dolls’ “Don’t Cha” and the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams” are reimagined with fun, animated sequences. The characters in Breakfast Town – including a flying bed and Baloney Toney – are always dancing and having a blast. But things quickly change when the villain, Nightmara, appears, and the music becomes much darker. The score gets even more intense when Woo tries to scare everyone, though what frightens the young characters is sometimes surprisingly silly – like Elliot’s biggest fear, which is a particularly funny moment in the film.


Netflix

While In Your Dreams leans heavily into emotional drama, especially when testing the siblings’ relationship, it’s clear Stevie and Elliot genuinely care for each other, even when things don’t go as planned. The movie spends a little too long resolving their disagreements. Ultimately, it’s a story about the power of family and working together – a bit predictable and heartwarming, with plenty of displays of affection. It’s cheesy at times, but the film emphasizes that expressing your feelings is always a good thing.

Despite some difficulties, Stevie’s parents aren’t actually on the verge of splitting up. It’s understandable why Stevie would worry when things get tough, assuming it will lead to divorce. But relationships can handle challenges and even become stronger because of them. There’s no quick fix for working through hard times, and that’s okay. This is a valuable lesson for kids, and the author, Woo, delivers it well.

The movie In Your Dreams is playing in select theaters now, and will be available to stream on Netflix starting November 14th.

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2025-11-13 20:50