Laika’s latest animated film, Wildwood, has made a promising start at the North American box office. The fantasy adventure earned approximately $12.27 million during its opening weekend, finishing third among domestic releases. Strong audience reactions have also given the film a positive start as it begins its theatrical run.
The movie arrived in theaters on October 23, 2026, marking Laika’s first new feature in seven years. The studio is known for its detailed stop-motion animation and imaginative storytelling, with popular titles such as Coraline, ParaNorman, and Kubo and the Two Strings.
Unlike many recent animated releases based on established franchises, Wildwood introduces audiences to a new fantasy world. Its opening performance suggests that some moviegoers are willing to give original animated stories a chance, even when they take a different approach from traditional family films.
However, the film still has a long road ahead. Its future box office performance will depend on audience interest, word of mouth, and ticket sales over the coming weeks.
Wildwood Makes a Promising Box Office Debut
Wildwood earned $12.27 million in North American theaters during its opening weekend, according to Box Office Mojo. The film placed third at the domestic box office, behind Clayface and You Can See Everything.
The opening was a welcome result for Laika, particularly because the movie is an original animated feature rather than a sequel to an established hit.
It also performed better than Missing Link, another Laika production that opened with approximately $5.9 million in 2019. Wildwood came close to the $12.6 million opening of Kubo and the Two Strings, released in 2016.
These comparisons offer useful context for understanding the film’s debut. Still, a strong opening does not automatically mean a movie will become a financial success.
The film’s reported worldwide box office total reached approximately $15.17 million in early figures, including $2.9 million from international markets. Additional international releases may help increase that figure as the movie reaches more audiences.
For Laika, the next challenge is keeping people interested after the opening weekend. Positive reviews and recommendations could help bring more viewers into theaters, especially those who enjoy fantasy adventures with a different visual style.
Strong Audience Reviews Give the Film a Boost
One of the most encouraging signs for Wildwood is the response from people who have already watched it. The film received an A CinemaScore and five-star ratings in Rentrak exit polling, according to reporting by Cartoon Brew. Its Sunday earnings also fell by only around 13% compared with Saturday.
These early results suggest that many opening-weekend viewers left the theater satisfied. Positive reactions can help a film attract additional audiences through personal recommendations and online conversations.
That support may be especially helpful for a movie that does not have a familiar franchise behind it. Viewers who enjoy the film may encourage friends and family members to see it, giving the release a better chance of maintaining ticket sales.
However, audience scores should be viewed as an early sign rather than a guarantee of future success. The number of people who attend screenings, the timing of competing releases, and local theater availability can all affect a film’s performance.
Wildwood also faces a different challenge from many animated movies aimed at younger audiences. It carries a PG-13 rating, reflecting its darker themes and fantasy violence. That rating may attract older teenagers and adults while making some parents more careful about choosing it for younger children.
Even so, the encouraging audience response gives the film a useful starting point. If viewers continue recommending it, the movie could enjoy a longer theatrical run.
What Makes Laika’s Wildwood Different?
Directed by Travis Knight, Wildwood is based on the fantasy novel by Colin Meloy, with illustrations by Carson Ellis. The story follows Prue, a young girl who enters an enchanted forest to rescue her kidnapped little brother. Her journey takes her into an unfamiliar world filled with strange characters, danger, and unexpected discoveries.
The film’s biggest attraction is its stop-motion animation. Instead of creating every character and setting entirely through computer graphics, stop-motion filmmakers use physical models and sets, photographing them one frame at a time to create movement.
This approach requires patience, careful planning, and detailed work from a large team of artists. Small movements must be captured frame by frame, making the process demanding but visually distinctive.
Laika has developed a strong identity through this style of filmmaking. Movies such as Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings have helped the studio earn recognition for combining unusual visuals with emotional storytelling.
Wildwood continues that tradition with detailed environments and a fantasy setting that gives the artists plenty of room to create something memorable.
The film also represents a major production effort. According to the Los Angeles Times, more than 1,000 people worked on the project, which had been in development since 2011. Its running time is just over two hours, making it a substantial cinematic adventure.
For audiences who enjoy imaginative stories and handcrafted animation, these qualities may be a strong reason to watch the film in theaters.
Can Wildwood Keep Its Box Office Momentum?
Although Wildwood has received encouraging audience feedback, its financial future remains uncertain. Industry coverage has placed its production budget at around $100 million, although Laika has not publicly disclosed the exact figure.
A movie’s opening-weekend earnings represent only part of its financial picture. Theaters retain a share of ticket revenue, while marketing, distribution, and other expenses also affect the final result.
That means Wildwood will need to attract more moviegoers if it hopes to build a stronger box office performance. International releases could help, particularly if the film connects with viewers outside North America.
Laika’s earlier films also provide some reason for hope. The studio’s movies have often developed an audience beyond their initial releases, and the 2024 rerelease of Coraline brought in substantial additional revenue. That history shows how interest in distinctive animated films can last, though it does not guarantee the same result for Wildwood.
The coming weeks will reveal whether the film can turn positive reactions into steady ticket sales. Its original story and unusual animation style may help it stand apart from competing releases.
For now, Wildwood has delivered a respectable opening and earned encouraging feedback from early viewers. Its next challenge is reaching people who have not yet discovered its fantasy world.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much did Wildwood earn in its opening weekend?
Wildwood earned approximately $12.27 million in North American theaters during its October 23–25, 2026, opening weekend. It finished third at the domestic box office.
2. Who directed Wildwood?
Travis Knight directed the animated fantasy. The film is based on the novel by Colin Meloy, illustrated by Carson Ellis, and follows a young girl who enters an enchanted forest to rescue her brother.
3. Is Wildwood expected to become a box office hit?
It is too early to know. Strong audience scores and a promising opening are encouraging, but the film’s final performance will depend on future ticket sales, international earnings, and its overall costs.
Wildwood has given Laika a promising start with its latest animated adventure. Strong audience reactions could help the film find more viewers, but its long-term box office performance will become clearer as the theatrical run continues.
