Laika’s first movie since 2019 opens Oct. 23, with Andi Mack star Peyton Elizabeth Lee voicing its lead. Early tracking has slipped. See how it compares to Coraline and Kubo.
Laika’s long-awaited stop-motion movie may be headed for a quiet first weekend.
Wildwood is tracking for a $6 million to $10 million domestic opening, according to Boxoffice Pro’s long-range forecast, published Oct. 9. A week earlier, the same outlet had it at $10 million to $15 million.
The movie opens nationwide Friday, Oct. 23, through Fathom Entertainment. It’s Laika’s first feature since “Missing Link” in 2019, TheWrap noted.
How much will Wildwood make on opening weekend?
Somewhere between $6 million and $10 million, if the tracking holds.
That would put it near the bottom of Laika’s list. The studio’s lowest opener so far is “Missing Link,” at $5.9 million, Boxoffice Pro noted.
Tracking can move, though. Boxoffice Pro also said Wildwood’s screen count would be hard to pin down until closer to release, and a wider or narrower rollout changes the math.
How have Laika’s other movies done at the box office?
Here’s how Laika’s openings stack up, according to Box Office Mojo:
“Coraline” (2009): $16.8 million
“ParaNorman” (2012): $14.1 million
“The Boxtrolls” (2014): $17.3 million
“Kubo and the Two Strings” (2016): $12.6 million
“Missing Link” (2019): $5.9 million
Box Office Mojo lists a $60 million budget for each of the first four.
“Missing Link” finished with about $26.6 million worldwide.
What is Wildwood’s budget?
That part is fuzzy.
A widely shared post from The Hollywood Handle on X put the budget at around $100 million. We couldn’t confirm that number. Boxoffice Pro’s forecasts don’t list a budget, and we didn’t find one from Laika or a trade outlet.
So treat the $100 million figure with caution for now.
What is Wildwood about?
It’s based on the novel by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis.
Prue, voiced by Peyton Elizabeth Lee, heads into a strange, magical world after a flock of ravens carries off her baby brother, according to TheWrap.
Travis Knight, Laika’s CEO and lead animator, produced and directed it. Chris Butler wrote it, Caleb Deschanel shot it and Dario Marianelli wrote the score, TheWrap reported.
Laika doesn’t rush. “Sixteen years is a long time to carry a story with you,” Knight said in a statement, as TheWrap reported.
Is Wildwood based on a book?
Yes. Colin Meloy, best known as the frontman of the Decemberists, wrote the Wildwood Chronicles with his wife, illustrator Carson Ellis, NPR reported.
In the first book, seventh-grader Prue McKeel of Portland, Oregon, goes after her baby brother when a flock of crows carries him into the Impassable Wilderness, the forest locals call Wildwood.
That’s Laika’s hometown, too. The studio is based in Portland, TheWrap noted.
Who is in the Wildwood cast?
Lee leads it. Disney fans know her as the star of Disney Channel’s “Andi Mack,” according to D23.
The voice cast also includes Carey Mulligan, Jacob Tremblay, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Awkwafina, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine, Tantoo Cardinal, Tom Waits and Richard E. Grant, TheWrap reported.
There are a couple more Disney links in there. Tremblay voiced Luca in Pixar’s “Luca,” and Awkwafina voiced Sisu in “Raya and the Last Dragon,” D23 says.
Here’s Laika’s final trailer:
When does Wildwood come out?
It hits theaters nationwide Friday, Oct. 23, through Fathom.
Before that, its U.S. premiere opens AFI Fest, the American Film Institute’s festival in Hollywood, on Wednesday, Oct. 21, TheWrap reported.
As of Oct. 11, Rotten Tomatoes had no reviews posted.
What else opens against Wildwood?
It’s a crowded weekend. Boxoffice Pro’s tracking has Warner Bros.’ “Clayface” at $23 million to $33 million for Oct. 23.
Sony’s “Klara and the Sun” and Amazon MGM’s “Ali G: Who Iz I?” are both at $6 million to $10 million.
The weekend before, on Oct. 16, Disney’s 20th Century Studios opens “Whalefall,” tracking at $10 million to $15 million. Paramount’s “Street Fighter” opens that day, too, at $25 million to $35 million.
First weekend estimates for Wildwood should come in Sunday, Oct. 25.
Where can you stream Laika’s other movies?
Mostly on Hulu, which Disney owns.
“Coraline,” “ParaNorman,” “The Boxtrolls” and “Kubo and the Two Strings” are all streaming on Hulu, HBO Max and Peacock, according to JustWatch.
“Missing Link” is free with ads on Tubi.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
Boxoffice Pro, Oct. 9, 2026: Long Range Forecast (tracking table); and Oct. 2, 2026: Long Range Forecast: October Marches On With Wildwood, Clayface, Klara and the Sun, and Ali G: Who Iz I?
TheWrap, Jan. 20, 2026: Laika Partners With Fathom Entertainment to Release Next Stop-Motion Film ‘Wildwood’; and Sept. 9, 2026: ‘Wildwood’ Will Open 2026 AFI Fest
Box Office Mojo: Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, Kubo and the Two Strings and Missing Link
D23 Disney A to Z: Andi Mack (television), Luca (film) and Raya and the Last Dragon (film) entries
NPR, Oct. 7, 2012: The Wild Adventure Continues In “Under Wildwood”
JustWatch: Laika film U.S. listings, checked Oct. 11, 2026
Rotten Tomatoes: Wildwood, checked Oct. 11, 2026
The Hollywood Handle on X, Oct. 10, 2026
LAIKA Studios on YouTube: Wildwood, Final Trailer
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