Laika's "Wildwood" opens to $12.2M: acclaimed, but box-office outlook debated
Laika's stop-motion film "Wildwood" opened third with $12.2 million domestically to near-universal praise. Outlets differ on whether that is a disappointment against its reported $100 million budget or an encouraging start.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Laika's stop-motion film "Wildwood", directed by Travis Knight, opened to $12.2 million domestically, placing third for the weekend. /FilmN “"Wildwood" debuted to $12.2 million domestically. That was good enough for the number three spot.” Read at /Film ↗ IndieWireLC “placing it at No. 3 for the weekend behind “Clayface” and “You Can See Everything.” Read at IndieWire ↗ Centre · 1DC's R-rated "Clayface" took first place with $24 million, and "You Can See Everything" made $19.5 million in its second weekend. /FilmN “DC's R-rated "Clayface," which took the number one spot with $24 million.” Read at /Film ↗ Left · 1IndieWire reported a further $2.9 million from a handful of international markets. IndieWireLC “It also added an additional $2.9 million from a handful of international markets and still has a lot to go.” Read at IndieWire ↗
Mixed · 2The film's budget is reportedly around $100 million before marketing, and IndieWire noted some reports that it could be one of the most expensive animated films ever made. /FilmN “With a reported price tag in the $100 million range before marketing” Read at /Film ↗ IndieWireLC “when you hear reports that the budget is around $100 million (with some others suggesting it could be one of the most expensive animated movies ever made)” Read at IndieWire ↗ Mixed · 2Reception has been very strong: a 99% Rotten Tomatoes score, an A CinemaScore, and a 97% audience score according to /Film. IndieWire added near-universal positive PostTrak scores. /FilmN “it holds a 99% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes with 123 reviews counted.”“The stop-motion animated flick also boasts a 97% audience score along with a stellar A CinemaScore.” Read at /Film ↗ IndieWireLC “almost universal positive scores and “recommend” grades from PostTrak” Read at IndieWire ↗ Centre · 1/Film called it arguably the year's biggest box office disappointment, saying an opening of this size is unlikely to cover the budget. It suggested the PG-13 rating and 131-minute runtime may have put off some viewers, and said the film would need record-breaking legs and strong overseas business to become a theatrical hit. /FilmN “With a reported price tag in the $100 million range before marketing, an opening of this size isn't going to get the job done.”“it's rated PG13 and has a 131-minute runtime.”“it would need record-breaking legs and a lot of help from overseas audiences” Read at /Film ↗
Centre · 1/Film also expects VOD and streaming revenue, and growth over time, especially if the film does well at the Oscars. It called the film the front-runner for Best Animated Feature. /FilmN “A lot of folks are going to catch up with it on VOD and streaming”“assuredly the front-runner to win Best Animated Feature at the Oscars” Read at /Film ↗ Left · 1IndieWire framed the result as a much-needed comeback. "Wildwood" is Laika's first release in seven years, and it opened to more than double the $5.9 million of 2019's "Missing Link", which finished with $17 million domestic. IndieWireLC “the first movie released by the studio in seven years”“That film opened to less than half of what “Wildwood” did with just $5.9 million and finished at $17 million domestic” Read at IndieWire ↗ Left · 1IndieWire's closer comparison is "Kubo and the Two Strings", which opened to $12.6 million and finished with $48 million domestic and $76 million worldwide. A 3.8x multiple like Kubo's would give "Wildwood" roughly $46.3 million domestic. IndieWireLC ““Kubo and the Two Strings,” which opened to $12.6 million and finished with $48 million domestic and $76 million worldwide.”“A 3.8 multiple for “Wildwood,” same as “Kubo,” would have it finish with roughly $46.3 million domestic.” Read at IndieWire ↗
Mixed · 2Both outlets note that Laika's films have historically played well over time. /Film says "Coraline" became a hit only in 2024, reaching $188 million worldwide on a $60 million budget, while "The Boxtrolls", "Kubo" and "Missing Link" were disappointments. /FilmN “It has made $188 million worldwide on a $60 million budget, but only $127 million of that came in 2009.” Read at /Film ↗ IndieWireLC “All five of its previous films have had hefty multiples, including “Coraline” (4.5x), “ParaNorman” (4.1x), and “Kubo and the Two Strings” (3.8x).” Read at IndieWire ↗ Left · 1Laika's Chief Marketing Officer Dave Burke told IndieWire that strong per-screen figures could add screens beyond the 2,940 of opening weekend. He said the film drew a strong under-34 audience and tweens with parents, and that the data show "a really compelling business case for exhibition". IndieWireLC “it could even add a few screens beyond the 2,940 it had this first weekend.”“Burke said the film had a strong showing from the under 34 crowd and a good mix of tweens coming along with their parents.”“there's a really compelling business case for exhibition to get on even more robustly” Read at IndieWire ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- IndieWire's analysis treats the opening as a hopeful comeback for a fan-favourite studio, comparing it with Laika's past films.
- Emphasis
- Comparisons with "Kubo" and "Missing Link", expected multiples, exit polls, and comments from Laika's marketing chief.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives less weight to the budget gap than /Film. It does not discuss the PG-13 rating as a possible barrier.
- Charged language
- “Much-Needed Comeback”“not the let down”
- For example
-
“it’s clear after one weekend that “Wildwood” is not the let down its previous feature, 2019’s “Missing Link,” turned out to be.” — IndieWire
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- /Film leads with the contrast between the film's acclaim and its weak opening against its budget.
- Emphasis
- The budget gap, the PG-13 rating and runtime, and Laika's history of box-office disappointments. It also stresses the film's Oscar prospects and later streaming revenue.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the international gross, the screen count, or the audience breakdown that IndieWire reports.
- Charged language
- “Biggest Box Office Disappointment”“a real shame”
- For example
-
“One of the most acclaimed movies of 2026 so far has also become arguably the biggest box office disappointment of the year.” — /Film
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- "Wildwood" opened to $12.2 million domestically and placed third.
- Its reported budget is about $100 million.
- It has a 99% Rotten Tomatoes score and an A CinemaScore.
- It is PG-13 and based on Colin Meloy's novel.
Where accounts differ
-
Whether the opening is a disappointment
- Left
- IndieWire says it is a much-needed comeback, on par with "Kubo" and well above "Missing Link". It acknowledges that headlines say it could lose money.
- Centre
- /Film calls it arguably the year's biggest box office disappointment, unlikely to cover its budget.
-
Effect of PG-13 rating and length
- Left
- IndieWire says Laika marketed the PG-13 film to a general audience, and reports a strong under-34 and tween-with-parents turnout.
- Centre
- /Film suggests the rating and 131-minute runtime may have turned off some viewers.
Laika organisation
Laika's marketing chief Dave Burke says the numbers show a compelling business case for more exhibition support, and that the studio must get the film seen as widely as possible.
“We have a responsibility to make sure that this film gets seen by the widest possible audience” — IndieWire
Left1 article
-
‘Wildwood’ Sparked a Much-Needed Comeback for Laika at the Box Office
Sympathetic Presents the opening as an encouraging return for Laika, rebutting the "money loser" narrative with comparable films and tracking data.
Centre1 article
-
/FilmN ·
The Biggest Box Office Disappointment Of 2026 Is The Year's Most Acclaimed Animated Movie
Sympathetic Laments that a masterwork is likely to underperform financially, while holding out hope for long-term growth.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 26 Oct 19:00 First /FilmN The Biggest Box Office Disappointment Of 2026 Is The Year's Most Acclaimed Animated Movie
- 26 Oct 22:09 +3h 10m IndieWireLC ‘Wildwood’ Sparked a Much-Needed Comeback for Laika at the Box Office
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
Ask about this story
Loading…