Product Info

Studio

Warner Bros. Pictures

Director

David Robert Mitchell

Genre

Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rated

PG-13

Theatrical Release Date (NA)

Aug 14, 2026

Film Length

1hr 40min

Purchase From

Home » The End of Oak Street (Review)

The End of Oak Street is an original story written and directed by David Robert Mitchell. Taking a jump from suburban life to prehistoric survival that blends ‘80s nostalgia with impressive creatures that deliver thrills but lacks character development.

Welcome to Oak Street

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The End of Oak Street is about a loving nuclear family who appears to have a seemingly perfect life in their suburban, white-picket-fence neighborhood on Oak Street, but we find that despite appearances, everyone seems to have their secrets that they are keeping from each other. The parents of the Platt family, Denise, played by Anne Hathaway (Les Misérables, The Odyssey), and Greg, played by Ewan McGregor (Moulin Rouge!, August: Osage County), have grown so distant in their marriage that they are on the brink of divorce.

All of a sudden, the unthinkable happens to the entire neighborhood… it is transported back into prehistoric times, where dinosaurs roamed the earth. Like any wild animals, these dinosaurs are eager for the newest food source from the Oak Street buffet. As the family fights to survive they discover their strength and grow closer under unimaginable circumstances while trying to find a way back to their modern-day time of 1982.

When Dinosaurs Come a Knocking

© 2026 Warner Bros. Ent. All rights reserved.

The End of Oak Street is billed as a sci-fi adventure, which tracks pretty well. It is a good movie if you enjoy dinosaurs, but outside of that and the wonderful ending (to avoid spoilers, we will leave it at that), it lacks luster for depth. The story and characters fall flat, so the focus is on the well-designed dinosaurs, not the plot.

To note, this movie does have time travel-esque moments, but the reality is that traveling through time is only a catalyst for setting up the plot and not so much a big piece of the movie. If you are hoping for more time travel, this is not it. If you adore dinosaurs in all their splendor, you’ll get that and more in this movie.

The film offers a fresh perspective on dinosaurs, featuring more feathered species, so it won’t include only the typical Jurassic Park-style dinosaurs. The film also features various dinosaurs that inhabit land, air, and water, so you can expect to see new species alongside the familiar ones typical of dinosaur movies, allowing you to enjoy the CGI and the attention to detail of these wild creatures.

1982 Nostalgia

© 2026 Warner Bros. Ent. All rights reserved.

The real showstopper regarding the scenery, aside from the dinosaurs, is that the film is set in 1982. The attention to detail in the clothes, carpet, hair, and electronics (think typewriters) was impressive. Even the cars have a cassette tape player, and at one point, the music plays while the teen daughter, Audrey, played by Maisy Stella (My Old Ass, Nashville), struggles with the challenges of being transported back in time, creating a feeling of being right in 1982. The director doesn’t forget the payphone and calling collect either. Nostalgia permeates every moment for those who fondly recall the era.

The Missing Depth

© 2026 Warner Bros. Ent. All rights reserved.

Though you are introduced to supporting characters early on in the movie, most of these relationships don’t have much depth except one character in particular, and you can see and feel the emotional connection between Denise and this lovely older neighbor. The rest, while introduced to show conflict or friendliness, seem superficial at best. This distance and lack of depth in character development seemed to be a recurring theme with the main characters until near the end, suggesting that it may have been intentional. However, it certainly didn’t enhance the movie when feeling a connection when something negative happened to a neighbor.

The acting in this film was generally lackluster, but Anne Hathaway delivers a fantastic performance that showcases her capabilities, especially early on during the conflict with a neighbor, as she transitions from a friendly, problem-solving, lovable neighbor to a protective mother-bear who will defend her family at any cost, including their dog. Hathaway did an impressive job of showcasing what she could do under the circumstances of this limiting script.

The inclusion of a supporting character who joins the family but has nearly no lines feels awkward in this film. Seeing this character more developed, with more dialogue instead of simply standing around with a blank state on their face, would have added more substance to the film.

Dinner is Served

© 2026 Warner Bros. Ent. All rights reserved.

Though the film is not scary, being rated PG-13, audiences will find the occasional jump-scare as dinosaurs look for their next meal with not only the family but also the entire neighborhood. The dinosaurs follow what any wild animal would do in nature, from a delightful meal on Oak Street to a bit of comedic relief with the mating between a couple of dinosaurs.

The sound effects are effective throughout the film, changing from quiet moments of tension to quick bursts of sound when dinosaurs appear looking for their next meal. As mentioned earlier, Audrey’s emotional breakdown in her car while singing along to the song playing on the cassette tape is another standout moment. The music and her performance work together to make the audience feel connected to what she is experiencing, making it one of the film’s strongest emotional moments.

The Final End

The End of Oak Street delivers an entertaining dinosaur adventure for those looking for prehistoric thrills. Although the film could have offered more depth in its characters, time-travel elements, and supporting cast, there is still plenty to enjoy for dinosaur fans and those looking for a fun adventure.

An early preview was provided for this review. The End of Oak Street arrives in theaters on August 14, 2026. Fans can visit the film’s official website for information and ticket purchasing.