Forget 'Coraline,' 'Wildwood' Is Laika's Masterpiece | Review

Published Oct 11, 2026, 9:15 AM EDT

In addition to being a die-hard fan of filmmaking, television, video gaming, and anything else with a gripping narrative, Aidan Kelley is also a passionate and detail-oriented writer and journalist at Collider.com. In addition to his work as a Senior Resource Writer, Aidan has also contributed to Collider's features and news reporting sections. He has covered major industry events, such as San Diego Comic-Con and the D23 Expo, and has had the privelege of interviewing industry stars like Bruce Campbell, Maggie Q, Chad Stahelski, and more. This sincere love for the art of storytelling began at a young age, with Aidan making video movie reviews for the news program at his local high school. That love only increased over the years, with an ongoing career in independent filmmaking and screenwriting after graduating with a degree in Film and television from DePaul University.

In the world of stop-motion animation, there are many reputable names, but easily one of the most recognizable is Laika. With just five movies under their belts, the studio has hand-crafted some of the most stunning animated features of the last few decades. This includes the deliciously macabre Coraline, the frightening but heartfelt Paranorman, the charmingly simple The Boxtrolls, the epic and awe-inspiring Kubo and the Two Strings, and the hilarious and earnest Missing Link.

Those movies alone have done enough to give Laika one of the best track records in the business, but their latest venture might be their most ambitious project yet. In fact, it almost feels like a greatest hits playlist of the studio, incorporating the dark family themes of Coraline, the mature emotional core of Paranorman, the inventive fantasy world of The Boxtrolls, the epic sense of scale of Kubo and the Two Strings, and the sweet sense of humor of Missing Link. All of these elements and more are the genetic makeup of Wildwood, which could easily be considered Laika's technical masterpiece.

What Is 'Wildwood' About?

Wildwood's fantasy tale first begins in the real world of modern-day Portland, Oregon, where a charismatic young woman named Prue McKeel (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) lives with her two parents and baby brother Mac (Arthur Knight). After taking Mac on a little excursion through town, disaster strikes when Mac is kidnapped by a murder of crows, leading Prue and her sort-of-friend Curtis (Jacob Tremblay) to give chase. Their adventure takes them to the mysterious Impassable Forest, which is filled with talking animals, fearsome bandits, and an evil queen who will stop at nothing to achieve her nefarious goals.

Wildwood became a first for Laika when the film received a somewhat surprising PG-13 rating, though perhaps it's more of a surprise that the studio didn't get that rating sooner, considering how famously dark their movies are. The film does earn that rating, as Wildwood is unequivocally on the violent side. There's nothing in it that one wouldn't expect from the average Marvel movie, for example, but those with younger children might want to stay home and watch Toy Story 5 instead. Older pre-teens and teenagers, though, should be thoroughly entertained by the film's impressive spectacle and action sequences. That mature tone also extends to a refreshing level of high stakes for a movie still generally geared towards younger audiences. Wildwood isn't afraid to put its characters in harm's way, and it makes for some pretty shocking moments that will stick with viewers long after the credits role.

Wildwood's story is solid overall, but its world is even more fascinating. It has the fantasy elements one would expect, like anthropomorphic creatures and magic-wielding druids, but there's also something refreshingly modern about Wildwood's world. On the flip side, the film is certainly at its weakest when it moves away from those innovations into more cliché territory. For example, there's one moment where it looks like Wildwood is going to playfully circumvent a classic fantasy movie trope, only to then fall into that exact trope. Plus, at nearly two-and-a-half hours (a record for a stop-motion animated movie), the film is also just a hair too long. But these are issues that pale in comparison to the visual splendor Wildwood has to offer.

'Wildwood' Is One of the Most Breathtaking Stop-Motion Movies Ever Made

Since its inception, Laika has boasted some of the smoothest animation in the business, but Wildwood ratchets things up to another level. There is not a single stutter to be found in Wildwood's entire runtime, and it's almost hard to believe that what you're watching are opposable figures and not CGI creations. What makes that feat even more impressive is the simply unheard of sense of scale that Wildwood boasts. We're talking about literally dozens upon dozens of figures on screen at the same time, and moving at a high rate of speed that would have even the most die-hard fans of stop-motion utterly dumbfounded.

One place where that is especially apparent is in the movie's final battle, which is so impressive that it gives The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings a run for their money. Director Travis Knight, after releasing Masters of the Universe earlier this year, once again proves that he has an incredible eye for action cinematography, with some visceral and sometimes even brutal moments. Knight's skill as a filmmaker also extends to Wildwood's smaller character moments, with Carey Mulligan's Dowager Governess and Mahershala Ali's Bandit King each getting just enough dynamic dimension to be standout characters.

But again, the visuals of Wildwood simply cannot be understated. The actual artistry on display, plus the scale that the movie is aiming for, make for a combination that really hasn't been seen in a stop-motion movie before. Everything from the character designs, to the art direction, to the cinematography is just masterfully done, and it absolutely deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible.

There are a few teeny tiny story decisions here and there that prevent Wildwood's plot from being on par with its 10/10 looks. But the tale Knight's movie weaves overall is one that harkens back to a simpler and nicer time of fantasy filmmaking — one where Willow and The Secret of NIMH reigned supreme and weren't afraid to go to dark places to tell a compelling story with well-developed characters. In more ways than one, Wildwood's marvelous ambition and scale makes it the Narnia of a new generation, and its status as an instant cult classic is all but guaranteed. Laika has made many visually striking movies in their nearly two-decade career, but Wildwood soars above them all with some of the most breathtaking sequences of the year.

Wildwood flies into theaters on October 23, 2026.

Cast

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  Peyton Elizabeth Lee

  Prue McKeel (voice)

• 

  Curtis Mehlberg (voice)

Pros & Cons

• Some of the best stop-motion animation ever put to screen.
• A marvelous sense of scale, especially in the final battle.
• Each of the central characters has an impressive level of depth and dimension.
• Not afraid to go to dark and gritty places.