Wildwood’s Strong Second Weekend Hold Signals Long-Term Success for Laika

Key points

• Wildwood earned approximately $9 million in its second weekend, a 27% decline from its opening, resulting in a 10-day domestic total of $27.4 million.
• Sunday box office sales increased 38% compared to Saturday, making it the film’s strongest day of the weekend and exceeding its opening Sunday by 2%.
• Fathom Entertainment added 150 screens for the second weekend, bringing the total domestic footprint to 3,103 locations.
• PostTrak audience polling showed 96% rated the film excellent or very good, with 87% indicating they would definitely recommend it to others.
• The film’s second-weekend hold is stronger than previous Laika releases, including Kubo and the Two Strings, which fell 37.8% in its second frame.

Background

Wildwood is Laika’s sixth feature film, directed by Travis Knight and adapted from the novel by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis. The studio, based in Oregon and backed by Nike co-founder Phil Knight, has historically faced declining domestic box office returns since Coraline in 2009, with Missing Link in 2019 being the lowest-grossing release. Wildwood’s reported $100 million production budget is significantly higher than previous Laika films, but the studio’s private ownership allows it to absorb financial risks that would be untenable for publicly traded competitors. The film is rated PG-13, a first for Laika, reflecting its darker themes and fantasy violence.

How outlets are covering it

Cartoon Brew emphasizes the film’s strong second-weekend hold and positive audience polling as indicators of long-term theatrical success, noting that the performance exceeds previous Laika releases. Fortune highlights the financial context, pointing out that while Wildwood has not yet reached profitability, its performance is a meaningful rebound for Laika and is made possible by the backing of Nike billionaire Phil Knight. Fortune also contrasts Laika’s independent, creative approach with the franchise-driven model of Skydance, suggesting that Wildwood’s handmade stop-motion craft is a counterpoint to the industry’s shift toward generative AI. BFI’s review praises the film’s visual spectacle and physical labor, noting 230 puppets and over 142,000 3D-printed replacement faces, but criticizes its reliance on familiar fantasy tropes and lack of narrative breathing space compared to Kubo and the Two Strings.

Why it matters

Wildwood’s box office performance demonstrates that stop-motion animation can sustain theatrical interest beyond its opening weekend, challenging the assumption that such films rely solely on initial hype. The strong audience polling and second-weekend hold suggest that positive word of mouth can drive long-term revenue, potentially making the film profitable despite its high production budget. For Laika, this success validates its independent model and creative risks, while for the broader animation industry, it highlights the enduring appeal of handmade, tactile filmmaking in an era dominated by digital and AI-generated content.

What to watch

Fathom Entertainment will continue to monitor Wildwood’s box office performance in the coming weeks, with the strong second-weekend hold suggesting potential for a long theatrical run. The film’s international rollout is ongoing, with global totals already reaching nearly $36 million. Laika is also developing its first live-action series and animation projects, including an adaptation of Piranesi directed by Travis Knight. The film’s performance may influence its Oscar eligibility, as all five of Laika’s previous features earned Best Animated Feature nominations.