Is Mary Anning Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (2025)

The Narrative Arc & Core Premise

In the evolving tapestry of Animation, Family, Adventure cinema, the 2025 release of Mary Anning stands as a landmark endeavor that pushes the boundaries of conventional storytelling. The primary thematic concern of the film is an investigation into England, 19th century. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to a world where the traditional boundaries of Animation, Family, Adventure are tested.

The screenplay takes its time to establish the stakes, ensuring that every character motivation is grounded in a psychological reality. The synopsis only hints at the depth: "England, 19th century. 12-year-old Mary is passionate about the fossils that she collects and sells with her father. When he accidentally dies near the fossil cliffs, Mary, her brother and her mother struggle to make the payments for the family house, meaning they will probably have to leave the seaside that Maëlys loves so much. But her father left a mysterious message: what was it that he saw on the cliffs before he died? With some help from her friends, Mary will fight to save her home and continue to do what she loves, searching for fossils, in the midst of a society where girls should not ​“behave like men”. Mary doesn’t know it yet, but she’s going to go down in history…"

Artistic Execution & Performance Study

A film's resonance is often dictated by the strength of its execution, both in front of and behind the camera. Camille D'Hainaut does an admirable job with the material provided, but one can't help but feel that a more daring directorial approach would have yielded a more impactful result. It is a competent but ultimately standard genre performance.

The direction by Marcel Barelli is marked by a steady and professional hand. From a production standpoint, the film meets the high standards of modern industrial filmmaking. The sets are well-crafted, and the visual effects are integrated with a level of polish that ensures the viewer matches the director's intended level of immersion. While perhaps not groundbreaking, the execution is flawless. The pacing, over its 70 minute runtime, allows the audience to fully inhabit the space the director has created, making the eventual resolution feel deeply earned.

Critical Assessment: Why You Should Watch

Is Mary Anning truly worth your investment of time and attention? In an era of disposable content, this film makes a strong case for its existence. If you are a connoisseur of Animation, Family, Adventure, then this is a worthwhile watch if you have a specific interest in the themes or the performers involved.

The film's ability to perfectly execute its genre requirements is why it has earned its 0/10 score. It speaks to a global audience while maintaining a distinct and unique voice, a balance that is notoriously difficult to achieve in the modern marketplace.

Philosophical Subtext & Directorial Vision

At a deeper level, Mary Anning explores the dichotomy of truth and perception. The 2025 audience is increasingly sophisticated, and Marcel Barelli respects this by refusing to provide easy answers to the story's complex questions.

The philosophical underpinnings of the second and third acts suggest a narrative that is interested in more than just entertainment. It is an exploration of what it means to be human in an increasingly complex world.

Final Editorial Recommendation

Ultimately, Mary Anning is an interesting experiment that, while flawed, offers enough moments of creative spark to be worth a casual glance for the curious. Whether you are drawn to it by the star power of Camille D'Hainaut or the critical acclaim surrounding its release, Mary Anning is a film that demands to be seen on the largest screen possible.