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Animated adventure film

Flow (2024): Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Flow (2024) movie poster

Flow is a 2024 animated adventure film directed by Gints Zilbalodis. It runs 1 hour 24 minutes and earned $30.9 million worldwide on a $3.5 million budget. It won 1 Oscar, including Animated Feature Film, and 4 awards in all. Critics gave it 87 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.8/10.

IMDb rating
7.8/10
worldwide gross
$30.9M
Oscar won
1
Echo Score
80
Flow (2024) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 24m (84 min)
Director
Gints Zilbalodis
Original language
English
Budget
$3.5M
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is Flow About?

The premise of Flow without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

After a devastating flood transforms his world, a brave cat embarks on a remarkable journey. He joins forces with a capybara, a lemur, a bird, and a dog, setting sail in a boat to find dry land. Together, they face the challenges of a planet now covered in water, relying on trust, courage, and ingenuity to survive.

Flow Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • cat
  • no dialogue
  • animals family
  • boat
  • dog
  • rabbit
  • rescue from drowning
  • capybara
  • whale
  • fish
  • cg animation
  • scene after end credits
+38 more
  • mirror
  • water
  • one word title
  • sailboat
  • flow
  • spoon
  • underwater scene
  • dream sequence
  • lemur
  • breaking a mirror
  • flood
  • chase
  • catching a fish
  • sea level rise
  • broken wing
  • fishing
  • swimming
  • windmill
  • flooded town
  • tree
  • basket
  • reflection
  • friendship
  • natural disaster
  • to stay together
  • wave
  • banana
  • float glass
  • painted cgi
  • great flood
  • forest
  • disaster
  • join
  • chased by a dog
  • secretary bird
  • computer animation
  • post apocalypse
  • seafaring
Crew

The Director of Flow

Directed by Gints Zilbalodis.

Ratings

Flow Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Flow 87 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 80/100, strongest in art & craft (90) and weakest in story & flow (65).

80 /100

Flow Echo Score Breakdown

Flow excels in visual storytelling and sensory immersion but its minimal dialogue and sparse plot may limit engagement for some viewers. The film’s strong animation quality and evocative sound design consistently draw praise, and many find its environmental allegory thoughtfully conveyed through imagery. However, the subdued pacing and lack of explicit narrative beats divide opinion on storytelling depth. Ultimately, Flow offers a striking audiovisual experience, even if its understated approach may not resonate equally with all audiences.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 90

    In terms of art and craft, Flow delivers exceptional animation and refined production design that animates its post-apocalyptic world. Critics and viewers note the film’s lush color palette and fluid movements, while some observe a Pixar-like polish in texture. The measured editing reinforces the film’s contemplative rhythm without feeling sluggish. Overall, the craft of Flow stands out as a compelling example of animation that balances technical prowess with visual coherence.

  • Character & Emotion 75

    When it comes to character and emotion, Flow relies on nonverbal cues to foster empathy with its animal protagonists. Observers frequently highlight the nuanced behavior of the cat and companion creatures, noting moments of warmth and tension that convey emotional stakes. Yet a minority find the character interactions diffuse due to the absence of dialogue and explicit backstory. In sum, the film’s emotional resonance succeeds for many, though it may feel distant to some.

  • Story & Flow 65

    In terms of story and flow, Flow employs a minimalist narrative that unfolds through visual allegory rather than dialogue. Supporters praise its originality and the steady revelation of post-cataclysmic survival, while critics point to loose plot structure and occasional pacing lulls. The environmental meditation imbues the film with thoughtful themes, but some may find the understated progression lacking in dramatic tension. Ultimately, the film’s narrative delivers an evocative mood, even if its coherence is uneven.

  • Sensory Experience 85

    When considering sensory experience, Flow excels with an evocative soundtrack and immersive sound design that complement its visual storytelling. Viewers admire the absence of dialogue as a strength, allowing ambient noises and musical cues to heighten emotional beats. The cohesive visual style, marked by organic textures and harmonious color schemes, reinforces the film’s thematic tone. As a result, the sensory elements coalesce into a richly atmospheric journey that resonates long after viewing.

  • Rewatch Factor 80

    Regarding rewatch factor, Flow offers ample visual detail and thematic layers that invite repeat viewing. Many find new emotional nuances and environmental motifs emerge on subsequent watches, deepening appreciation for its allegorical framing. However, some viewers note that the deliberate pacing and sparse plot may lessen enthusiasm for multiple viewings. Overall, Flow presents sufficient aesthetic and narrative depth to reward a second or third viewing, though its appeal may be selective.

Plot

Flow Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Flow from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

A black cat embarks on an extraordinary adventure through a perilous forest, encountering an unexpected turn of events. As this agile creature wanders, a pack of dogs descends upon a riverbank, intent on catching fish. In the midst of their chaotic commotion, when two dogs quarrel over their catch, the clever cat seizes the opportunity to snatch the fish, prompting a frantic chase. Amidst the chaos, the cat cleverly eludes the dogs, only to witness a dramatic deer stampede. Suddenly, the tranquility shatters as an imposing tsunami crashes through the landscape. Luckily, the resourceful cat and the determined dogs manage to escape to safety on higher ground.

Full summary

The whole story of Flow, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Flow Box Office & Budget

Flow grossed $30.9 million worldwide on a $3.5 million budget, 8.8 times what it cost. $4.8 million came from the US and Canada and $26.1 million (84%) from the rest of the world.

2024 box office

Worldwide gross

$30.9M

8.8× its budget

US & Canada
$4.8M
International
$26.1M
Budget
$3.5M
US & Canada 16% Rest of the world 84%
Awards

Flow Awards & Nominations

Flow won 1 Oscar, including Animated Feature Film, and 4 awards in all. Its biggest night was the Oscars 2025, with 1 win from 2 nominations.

4 wins14 nominations10 ceremonies

Show all 10 ceremonies
Videos

Flow Trailers & Videos

12 videos: 3 trailers, 2 teasers, 1 clip, 5 featurettes and 1 behind-the-scenes video.

All 12 videos
Official Trailer
  • Trailer Official US Trailer
  • Trailer Oscar Winner | UK Trailer
  • Teaser Director Teaser
  • Teaser In UK Cinemas 21 March
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Flow?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What animal does the story primarily follow?

Details

Flow Also Known As

30 alternative titles, including “猫猫的奇幻漂流” and “جریان”.

Also known as
  • 猫猫的奇幻漂流
  • جریان
  • 喵的奇幻漂流
  • Vooluga kaasa
  • Áradás
  • Течение
  • 플로우
  • Flow, un mundo que salvar
  • Потік. Останній кіт на Землі
  • ผจญภัยน้ำท่วมโลก
  • 貓貓的奇幻漂流
  • الانسياب
+18 more
  • Flow, le chat qui n'avait plus peur de l'eau, დინება
  • Flow - Un mondo da salvare
  • Kočičí odysea
  • Поток
  • עם הזרם
  • Poplava
  • มีเหมียว มีกัน วันน้ำท่วมโลก
  • Flow - katten som slutade vara rädd för vatten
  • Flow - À Deriva
  • Valovanje
  • Поплава
  • Mačacia odysea
  • Flow: Bir Kedinin Yolculuğu
  • Potvynis
  • Потоп
  • Lạc Trôi
  • Плынь
  • Flow: Η Γάτα που δεν Φοβόταν το Νερό

Seen Flow?

FAQ

Flow FAQ: Box Office, Awards & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Flow, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Flow?

Flow runs 1 hour 24 minutes (84 minutes).

When was Flow released?

Flow was released on November 22, 2024.

Who directed Flow?

Flow was directed by Gints Zilbalodis.

More films by Gints Zilbalodis

How much did Flow make at the box office?

Flow grossed $30.9 million worldwide ($4.8 million domestic, $26.1 million international) on a budget of $3.5 million.

How is Flow rated?

Flow has 7.8/10 on IMDb, 87 on Metacritic and 81% on TMDB.

What awards did Flow win?

Flow won 4 awards from 14 nominations, including Animated Feature Film at the Oscars 2025.

Does Flow have a post-credit scene?

Yes. Flow has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.

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