There’s a Pixar-like wonder to In Your Dreams that helps this particularly sweet family adventure film feel like it’s somewhat of a classic – despite the fact that it’s freshly releasing on Netflix as perfect programming for the impending holiday season.
Embracing a mentality that likens it to the types of family films we saw in the 80s and 90s, In Your Dreams follows the tried and true sibling relationship of a tween (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport‘s Stevie) and her annoying little brother (Elias Janssen‘s Elliot), navigating a dreamscape as they hope to retain the strength of their family; mom (Cristin Milioti) and dad (Simu Liu) are seemingly not in synch, and they believe they have found an otherworldly solution.
Embracing the classic characterization of The Sandman, a mythical folklore creation who brings children their dreams, co-writer and director Alex Woo (a story artist on such Pixar titles as WALL-E, Finding Dory, and The Incredibles 2, which would explain why this film has an air of the studio about it) delights in the imaginative possibilities of what a child’s dreamscape could look like; stuffed animals, zombie breakfast foods, and even the queen of nightmares all peppered throughout the brisk 91 minute runtime.
Just why Stevie and Elliot are exploring their dreams in a more physical capacity comes about from an old book Elliot finds when Stevie is tasked to help him pick out an appropriate title for his school book report. He’d much rather something with pictures, but they’re both intrigued by the Sandman scribbles they uncover, and when they wake the following morning having both experienced the exact same dream, it becomes all too clear that this is more than just a fantastical coincidence.
It’s also how they come to utilise the Sandman (Omid Djalili) in their efforts to be granted the dream they desire the most – that of the perfect family. Now, we all know that perfection is ultimately the family dynamic Stevie already has – her parents arguing doesn’t mean they love each other any less, and as annoying as she finds her brother she doesn’t want to know a world without him – but the film drives home such a message with expected emotional consequences. It does so with just enough heart to not feel overtly melodramatic and to take away so much of the film’s overall magic.
Whilst the mom and dad characters are voiced by two of the cast’s biggest names, they’re perhaps the most underwritten. By no means do they fail to make an impact, but there’s so much more to them what the film affords us. Thankfully, Hoang-Rappaport and Janssen infuse Stevie and Elliot with such enthusiasm and naivety that their parents’ plight becomes as important as it does because we see it through the eyes of their children. Djalili and Gia Carides as the aforementioned queen of nightmares (the appropriately named Nightmara) make an impact, enough that if a sequel is granted you could see their presence carrying over, with Craig Robinson emerging as the film’s biggest standout, injecting his usual brash charm into proceedings as Baloney Tony, one of Elliot’s favourite creations come to life.
With its nostalgic feeling and a gorgeous visual rendering, In Your Dreams overcomes any of its minor shortcomings. It’s familiar, sure, but that doesn’t take away from just how special it all proves to be. With families a little starved for attention in the current cineplex market, In Your Dreams is perfect streaming value; and will serve as a welcome respite from another rewatch of KPop Demon Hunters.
THREE AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
In Your Dreams is available to stream on Netflix from November 14th, 2025.
