<P> The film premiered at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on June 8, 2016, and was released in the United States on June 17, 2016 . Upon release, the film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $1 billion worldwide, becoming the second Pixar film to cross this mark after 2010's Toy Story 3 and making it the third - highest - grossing film of 2016 and the 25th - highest - grossing of all - time . The film set numerous records, including the highest - grossing animated film opening of all time in North America . </P> <P> Dory, a regal blue tang, gets separated from her parents as a child . As she grows up, Dory attempts to search for them, but gradually forgets them due to her short - term memory loss . In the flashback of the previous film, Finding Nemo, she joins Marlin--a clownfish looking for his missing son Nemo--after accidentally swimming into him . </P> <P> One year later, Dory is living with Marlin and Nemo on their reef . One day, Dory has a flashback and remembers that she has parents . She decides to look for them, but her memory problem is an obstacle . She eventually remembers that they lived at the Jewel of Morro Bay across the ocean in California, thanks to Nemo mentioning its name . </P> <P> Marlin and Nemo accompany Dory . With the help of Crush, a sea turtle friend, they ride a water current to California . Upon arrival, they explore a shipwreck full of destroyed cargo, where Dory accidentally awakens a squid, who immediately pursues them and almost devours Nemo . Marlin berates Dory for endangering them . Her feelings hurt, Dory travels to the surface to seek help and is captured by staff members from the nearby Marine Life Institute after getting entangled in six pack rings . </P>

Where is finding dory supposed to take place