Wildwood arrives in theaters on October 23, 2026, marking LAIKA’s return to big-screen stop-motion after a seven-year gap since Missing Link (2019). It’s also one of the five most exciting book adaptations of October 2026 on our list.
Adapting the 2011 fantasy novel written by The Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy and illustrated by Carson Ellis, the film is what LAIKA calls its most ambitious project to date. It is the first film in LAIKA’s history to receive a PG-13 rating from the MPA, and at roughly 2 hours 12 minutes, it’s billed as the longest stop-motion feature ever made.
When Does Wildwood Come Out in Theaters?
Fathom Entertainment is releasing Wildwood in U.S. theaters nationwide on October 23, 2026, with FilmNation Entertainment handling international sales. The film also opens in UK and Irish cinemas on October 23.
The film held its world premiere on October 11, 2026, at the 70th BFI London Film Festival. Fathom and LAIKA followed with “Fan First” premium-format screenings in more than 100 theaters on October 19, and the film is set to open AFI Fest in Hollywood on October 21.
Travis Knight, LAIKA’s President and CEO (Kubo and the Two Strings, Bumblebee), directs from a script by Chris Butler (ParaNorman, Missing Link). Wildwood‘s budget has not been officially disclosed, but it is widely reported to be around $100 million. Dario Marianelli (The Boxtrolls, Kubo, Bumblebee) composed the score.
The Decemberists contributed three new songs to the soundtrack. One of them, “The Better Part of Bravery,” plays over the end credits.
Critical response out of the festival premiere has been largely glowing, with Rotten Tomatoes showing a perfect score on its first batch of 33 reviews alongside a 97% audience score. Critics praised the craft, scale and darker tone, though not every review is a rave, with IndieWire’s David Ehrlich arguing the story doesn’t match the studio’s best work.
Who Is in the Wildwood Voice Cast?
Peyton Elizabeth Lee leads as Prue McKeel, a teenager who must find the courage to rescue her baby brother from a hidden, dangerous forest outside Portland.
Carey Mulligan voices Alexandra, the Dowager Governess, a once-benevolent ruler whose grief over her lost son has turned dangerous. Mahershala Ali plays Brendan, the Bandit King and leader of Wildwood’s bandits. Jacob Tremblay voices Curtis Mehlberg, Prue’s classmate and sidekick.
Angela Bassett voices the General, a giant golden eagle who becomes Prue’s guide. Awkwafina plays Septima, a rat. Jake Johnson and Maya Erskine voice Prue’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. McKeel. Charlie Day plays Dmitri, a coyote, while Tom Waits voices Maksim, one of Alexandra’s most loyal followers.
The ensemble also includes Richard E. Grant as Owl Rex, a wise old owl who was once Crown Prince of the Avian Principality; Amandla Stenberg as Niamh; Tantoo Cardinal as the mystic Iphigenia; Jemaine Clement as Roger Swindon; Marc Evan Jackson as Lars Svik; Len Cariou as Richard; and Arthur Knight as baby Mac McKeel. Rob Delaney, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson and Blythe Danner are also in the cast.
What Is the Plot of Wildwood?
Per LAIKA’s official synopsis, Prue McKeel’s baby brother, Mac, is abducted by a murder of crows and carried into the Impassable Wilderness, a hidden forest just beyond Portland. Prue sets off to bring him home, and her classmate Curtis is pulled into the adventure with her.
Beyond the city limits, they find a hidden world of talking animals, bureaucrats, bandits and mystics, divided into factions and teetering on the edge of war.
Prue and Curtis are separated early. Curtis ends up in the company of Alexandra and her coyote army, while Prue navigates the politics of the woods and meets the mystics. Alexandra’s scheme centers on a powerful, sentient ivy, and Mac is at the heart of it. The two storylines eventually converge for a large-scale battle.
Wildwood Book Ending Explained (Spoilers for the Novel)
This section covers Colin Meloy’s novel. I haven’t confirmed that the film’s ending matches it, so treat any differences as a surprise worth looking for.
In the book, Alexandra’s campaign is rooted in loss. Her son Alexei died in an accident, and she turned to black magic to try to bring him back. She was exiled, and she later struck a deal with the ivy: she would feed it Mac’s blood in exchange for control over it.
Prue allies with the mystics, including Iphigenia, and the Avian Principality, while Brendan’s bandits and Curtis’s allies rally against the Governess. The armies converge on the Plinth of the Ancients, where the sacrifice is meant to take place, and are christened the Wildwood Irregulars.
Alexandra’s plan collapses when Brendan shoots her with an arrow. Her blood feeds the ivy instead, the ivy consumes her, and it transfers its allegiance to Brendan, who commands it to go dormant. Prue does not rescue Mac by pulling him off the altar herself. She is tied down by the ivy during the confrontation.
Curtis stays in Wildwood as a bandit-in-training, setting up the sequels Under Wildwood and Wildwood Imperium.
Where to Watch Wildwood and When Does It Stream?
Wildwood is playing exclusively in theaters beginning October 23, 2026. LAIKA says it will be offered in select premium formats, including 4DX, DBOX and Dolby Cinema where available. No IMAX or 3D release has been announced.
No digital rental or purchase date has been announced. A VOD release usually follows some weeks after the theatrical run, but neither LAIKA nor Fathom has confirmed a window. There is likewise no announced subscription streaming deal, but expect the film to hit streaming by early 2027.
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