Animation · Adventure · Fantasy · English
Wildwood (2026) Review: Watch & Download Online
★ 8.8 / 10
| Director | Travis Knight |
|---|---|
| Cast | Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Awkwafina, Tom Waits |
| Runtime | 2h 12m |
| Released | 23 October 2026 |
| Music | Dario Marianelli |
| Box office | $18.4 million |
Watch the official trailer
Synopsis (spoiler-free)
Portland teenager Prue McKeel's baby brother Mac is carried off by a murder of crows into the forbidden Impassable Wilderness. Prue and her classmate Curtis follow him into a hidden forest of talking animals, bandits and warring factions, where a grieving, powerful figure named Alexandra holds sway.
Our detailed review
Story — 8.5/10
Adapted from Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis's 2011 novel, Wildwood is a rescue quest that grows into something bigger: a story about grief, power and what a forest does to the people who enter it. Prue's journey through the Impassable Wilderness — bandits, talking animals, warring factions — is episodic by design, and the film trusts its young audience to follow a strange world without hand-holding. The middle act sags slightly under the weight of its own mythology, but the emotional spine, Prue's determination to bring her brother home, never wobbles.
Acting — 9.0/10
Peyton Elizabeth Lee gives Prue a feisty, stubborn heart, and Jacob Tremblay is excellent as Curtis, the classmate who follows her into the unknown. Carey Mulligan is haunting as Alexandra, the grieving power at the forest's centre, while Mahershala Ali brings grave authority to the Bandit King Brendan and Angela Bassett commands every scene as the eagle General. The ensemble — Awkwafina, Tom Waits, Charlie Day and more — is unusually deep for animation, and every voice feels cast, not just hired.
Direction — 9.0/10
Travis Knight directs Laika's most ambitious film with total command: hundreds of sets, nearly 250 practical puppets, and frames so painterly you could hang them on a wall. This is the longest stop-motion film ever made, and the first Laika film rated PG-13 — the darkness is earned, not pasted on. Knight lets scenes breathe, trusts silence, and stages action with a clarity that puts most live-action blockbusters to shame.
Music — 9.0/10
Dario Marianelli's score — his third collaboration with Laika after The Boxtrolls and Kubo and the Two Strings — swells at exactly the right moments, lifting the film's emotional climaxes without ever overpowering them. The soundtrack, released by Decca on the film's opening day, pairs the score with three new songs from The Decemberists, fronted by the novel's own author Colin Meloy — including 'The Better Part of Bravery', which closes the film beautifully.
What works
- Astonishing hand-crafted stop-motion world — Laika's finest work.
- A superb voice cast led by Peyton Elizabeth Lee and Carey Mulligan.
- Dario Marianelli's sweeping score plus new Decemberists songs.
- Critics adored it: near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes scores and an A CinemaScore.
What doesn't work
- At 2h 12m it is long for animation, and the middle act is overstuffed.
- The box office struggled badly against a $100 million budget.
- Some of the forest's mythology is more sketched than explained.
- The PG-13 darkness may surprise families expecting a lighter Laika film.
Final verdict — 8.8/10
A hand-crafted masterpiece — Laika's darkest and most beautiful film yet. See it on the biggest screen you can find.
Rating breakdown
Where to Watch
Currently only in cinemas (US, via Fathom Entertainment, since 23 October 2026). No streaming date has been announced yet.
Streaming details to be updated. Once it reaches streaming, you can download it legally inside that service's official app on your phone or tablet to watch offline — see our guide on how to download movies legally.
Box Office
| Budget | $100 million |
|---|---|
| Opening day | $4.4 million (Friday; $1.3 million Thursday previews separately) |
| Opening weekend | $12.3 million (domestic) |
| Worldwide total | $18.4 million |
| Verdict | Flop |
A painful mismatch between acclaim and commerce: the film opened third domestically with $12.3 million and stood at $18.4 million worldwide days later, against a $100 million budget — trade coverage called it a box office flop, with roughly $250 million needed to break even. The run is still open, so the final total will rise, but the gap is enormous.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wildwood worth watching?
Absolutely — critics called it Laika's magnum opus, with near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes scores and an A CinemaScore. It is the rare animated film adults enjoy as much as kids. Our rating is 8.8/10.
Is Wildwood based on a book?
Yes — Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis's 2011 novel Wildwood, with Meloy's band The Decemberists contributing new songs to the film.
Is Wildwood suitable for kids?
It is Laika's first PG-13 film, so it is darker than Coraline or Kubo — best for older kids and families who like their fantasy with some bite.
How much did Wildwood earn at the box office?
About $18.4 million worldwide in its opening days against a $100 million budget — a flop so far despite the acclaim (The Numbers, Box Office Mojo).
Where can I watch Wildwood (2026) online?
Wildwood is currently only in cinemas. No streaming date or platform has been announced yet.
Can I download Wildwood (2026) legally?
Not yet — there is no legal download or streaming option at the moment. Once it reaches a streaming service, the only legal way to download it will be inside that service's official app.
Hindi FAQs
Wildwood movie kaisi hai?
Wildwood Laika ki sab se behtareen film hai — hand-crafted stop-motion animation, zabardast kahani aur music. Hamari rating 8.8/10 hai.
Wildwood kahan dekh sakte hain?
Wildwood abhi sirf cinemas mein hai — streaming date ka elaan abhi nahi hua.
Wildwood ne kitna kamaya?
Wildwood ne abhi tak duniya bhar mein $18.4 million kamaye, jabke iska budget $100 million tha — box office par ye flop rahi, lekin critics ne ise saraha.
Wildwood download karke dekh sakte hain?
Abhi nahi — film abhi sirf cinemas mein hai. Streaming par aane ke baad sirf us service ki official app mein download karke offline dekh sakenge.