Ray Gunn arrives on Netflix on December 18, 2026, after a short run in select theaters and limited 70mm screenings starting December 4. It is an animated science-fiction detective film from Brad Bird, the director behind The Iron Giant, The Incredibles and Ratatouille.
Sam Rockwell voices a private eye in a retro-futuristic city where humans and aliens share the streets, and Scarlett Johansson plays the pop star who drags him into a case. The new Ray Gunn Netflix trailer, the second one released, leans hard on noir mood and mystery.
Below you will find the release date, cast, story setup, age rating and our early verdict on Ray Gunn on Netflix.
At a glance
- Release date: December 18, 2026 (select theaters and 70mm from December 4)
- Runtime: About 1 hr 59 min
- Age rating: PG (US, MPA); Netflix lists it as PG
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Verdict: Watch it
Table of Contents
Official Trailer Breakdown
Trailer #2 for Ray Gunn plays like a love letter to old detective pictures, only set among flying cars and towering skyscrapers. Brad Bird frames the film as a mystery in which, in the words of the trailer’s own pitch, everyone is a suspect.
The footage moves between sleek upper-city glamour and a grimier underworld, with plenty of jokes landing alongside the shadowy stakeouts. It also gives a first proper sense of the odd partnership at the center of the story.
- Ray, a rumpled private investigator, works a case in a city full of humans and aliens.
- His one-eyed alien partner tags along for the dangerous parts.
- Pop star Venus Nova steps into his life and sets the plot moving.
- Chases and fights play out between glossy towers and back-alley hideouts.
- The closing beats tease that the culprit could be anyone in Venus’s circle.
Ray Gunn Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | Ray Gunn |
| Type | Film (animated) |
| Platform | Netflix |
| Release Date | December 18, 2026 |
| Creator / Director | Brad Bird |
| Episodes / Runtime | About 1 hr 59 min |
| Genres | Animation, sci-fi, noir, mystery, family |
| Language / Country | English / United States |
| Maturity Rating | PG (US) |
| Content Advisory | Action violence, strong-ish language, innuendo and mature themes flagged by the MPA |
Story of Ray Gunn
The story takes place in Metropia, a retro-futuristic metropolis where people and aliens live side by side. The skyline looks hopeful and shiny, yet crime and corruption run underneath it.
Ray Gunn is a detective in a profession that technology has mostly squeezed out. Small automated “pry bots” now handle much of the snooping, which leaves Ray and his partner as some of the last human-scale investigators still pounding the pavement.
Things change when Venus Nova, a controversial megastar, enters his orbit. Ray starts following a trail through her associates, and the case drags him from the penthouses at the top of the city down into its seedy lower levels.
Ray Gunn
Voiced by Sam Rockwell, Ray is the tired but stubborn private eye who anchors the film.
Eye-Ra
Ray’s cyclops alien partner, voiced by Tom Waits, brings a very different view of the city.
Venus Nova
Scarlett Johansson voices the famous singer whose arrival kicks off the mystery.
Meet the Cast
- Sam Rockwell as Ray Gunn
- Scarlett Johansson as Venus Nova
- Tom Waits as Eye-Ra
- Bobby Cannavale
- Alan Tudyk as Barry Vogel
- Matt Berry
- Michelle Rodriguez
- Kether Donohue
- Michael Chernus
- Kathryn Hunter
Behind the Camera
Brad Bird directs. He made The Iron Giant, The Incredibles, Ratatouille and the live-action Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, so he knows both hand-drawn and computer animation well.
Reports say Bird and co-writer Matthew Robbins first wrote the script back in 1996, and the project spent roughly three decades in development before Netflix gave it a home. Bird has described the pitch in his own shorthand as The Maltese Falcon meets Buck Rogers.
Themes Explored
Human work versus machines
Ray’s trade is being taken over by tiny bots, so the film looks set to ask what happens to people whose skills technology has made cheap.
Glamour hiding rot
Bird has spoken about a dark underbelly beneath a hopeful surface, a classic noir idea that suits a city built on fame and money.
Unlikely partnerships
A human detective and an alien sidekick is a familiar buddy setup, and the trailer suggests the jokes come from how differently they see things.
Trust and suspicion
With everyone treated as a suspect, the mystery is about whom Ray can believe.
Ray Gunn Age Rating & Parents Guide
In the US, the MPA has rated Ray Gunn PG, which means some material may not suit younger children and parents are urged to look closer. The board points to action violence, some bad language, a little innuendo and heavier themes. We could not find a rating from Netflix India or other countries, so treat PG as the US rating only.
| Content | Level | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Violence | Mild | Action and fight scenes in a noir setting, reported by the MPA; no graphic detail is known. |
| Language | Mild | The MPA cites language, but the specific words are not yet known. |
| Sex & nudity | Mild | The MPA mentions some suggestive material, likely innuendo in the noir tradition. |
| Drugs & alcohol | None | Not yet known, nothing reported; noir stories often include bars and drinking. |
| Frightening scenes | Mild | Chases, danger and a menacing underworld; thematic elements are flagged by the MPA. |
Is Ray Gunn OK for kids?
| Age | Suitable? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | With a parent | Animation draws kids in, but the noir tone and suggestive jokes may go over their heads. |
| 10–12 | Yes | PG fits this age with the usual caution about action and language. |
| 13–15 | Yes | Should be fine for most teens. |
| 16–17 | Yes | No concerns expected. |
| Adults | Yes | Aimed at fans of detective stories as much as families. |
Suitable for ages 10+ (with parental guidance for younger viewers).
Release Date & Where to Watch
Ray Gunn starts streaming on Netflix on December 18, 2026. Before that, it plays in select theaters and in limited 70mm showings from December 4. Netflix has not published an exact streaming time in the sources we checked.
If you are new to the director’s work, you may also enjoy our coverage of other animated releases such as Blue Eye Samurai Season 2 and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2, though both are far more adult than this film.
Should You Watch It? Our Verdict
Verdict: Watch it. Brad Bird’s track record and a very strong voice cast make this an easy yes.
This verdict is based on the trailers, the makers’ earlier films and the cast, since no critic reviews are out yet. Bird has a long history of making animation that works for both kids and adults, and the noir-meets-sci-fi mix looks distinctive.
The risk is familiarity: a detective and an alien partner on a case is a well-worn setup, so the story will have to match the look. We will update this page once reviews arrive.
Watch it if you like:
- The Incredibles and The Iron Giant
- classic detective stories with a sci-fi twist
- stylish adult-friendly animation
Skip it if:
- you want something very fast and broad for small children
- you dislike mystery stories that move at a measured pace
Final Thoughts
Ray Gunn Netflix looks like a rare big-name original animation made with obvious love for old movies. Mark December 18, and catch the 70mm run on December 4 if you live near a participating theater.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Ray Gunn coming to Netflix?
Ray Gunn streams on Netflix on December 18, 2026. It also opens in select theaters and limited 70mm showings on December 4, 2026, two weeks earlier.
What is the age rating of Ray Gunn?
Ray Gunn is rated PG in the US by the MPA. The board cites action violence, some language, mild innuendo and heavier themes. Other countries’ ratings are not yet known.
Who is in the cast of Ray Gunn?
Sam Rockwell voices Ray Gunn, Scarlett Johansson voices Venus Nova and Tom Waits voices Eye-Ra. The supporting voices include Bobby Cannavale and Alan Tudyk, plus Matt Berry and Michelle Rodriguez.
Who directed Ray Gunn?
Brad Bird directed Ray Gunn. He is known for The Iron Giant, The Incredibles and Ratatouille, and reportedly wrote the original script with Matthew Robbins in 1996.
How long is Ray Gunn?
Ray Gunn runs about 1 hour 59 minutes, according to Netflix’s Tudum article, so it is just under two hours.
Sources: Netflix, Netflix Tudum, Official trailer (YouTube).
