Raya and the Last Dragon

Raya and the Last Dragon has built a real following in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Disney Plus among viewers who want their sci-fi to think as hard as it looks. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. Its 8/10 TMDB score, built from 7,343 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Kelly Marie Tran anchors it with a performance that grounds the bigger ideas in something human. Put it on tonight on Disney Plus and see for yourself.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Raya and the Last Dragon earns its spot. Raya and the Last Dragon uses its genre premise as cover for asking bigger questions. Long ago, in the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans and dragons lived together in harmony. But when an evil force threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, that same evil has returned and it’s up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the legendary last dragon to restore the fractured land and its divided people. Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina lead a cast that keeps the bigger ideas grounded in something human. It hit screens in 2021. Raya and the Last Dragon resists the temptation to explain everything, trusting the audience to sit with ambiguity. It rarely drops the ball, and when it does, it recovers fast.

Sci-fi fans who want ideas alongside the spectacle will find Raya and the Last Dragon genuinely rewarding. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Watch for Kelly Marie Tran in particular — the performance elevates the material. Satisfying on multiple levels.