Wildwood (2026)

Strong calls the film a spellbinding triumph and Laika’s most mature outing. She especially praises the intricate stop-motion craft and the climactic battle’s exhilarating scale.

The review presents the film as an exhilaratingly brilliant fantasy adventure. It singles out the stop-motion epic’s rapturous scale as its appeal.

Nugent calls the film an astonishing, ambitious ode to outsiders and weirdos. He particularly praises its painstaking stop-motion animation and expansive production design.

The critic calls Wildwood an enthralling, ambitious achievement and suggests it may be Laika’s masterpiece. They single out its genuine emotional storytelling and the lifelike, elaborate stop-motion world.

The critic calls the film a technical marvel and a triumph on several levels. They praise its richly imagined world and its mature, moving coming-of-age story.

Lodge finds the film a spectacular success and an entrancing, if occasionally overlong, fantasy epic. He especially praises its lavish, tactile stop-motion artistry and richly detailed world.

The critic presents the film as an enchanting, intelligent fable with a positive verdict. They single out its feast for the eyes, mind and heart, and its affirmation of outsiders.

The headline signals a strongly positive verdict, presenting the film as a dazzling adventure. It singles out Laika’s stop-motion animation as breaking new ground.

Castillo praises the film as an ambitious, emotionally resonant fantasy that shows Laika continuing to advance stop-motion animation. She singles out the richly detailed handcrafted visuals and the film’s affectionate portrait of Portland.

Goldstein finds the film a spectacularly immersive adventure, despite a busy story whose lessons and connective tissue sometimes fall short. He especially praises Laika’s dazzling stop-motion artistry and richly crafted visual world.

Ehrlich finds the film a rare, worthwhile spectacle, but says its story lacks the enchantment of Laika’s best work. He praises the painstaking stop-motion world-building while faulting the ordinary storytelling and conspicuous CGI.

Bradshaw finds it an engaging, good-natured family adventure, though its story lacks a clear motive for the governess’s plan. He praises the stop-motion animation for its organic character and physical immediacy.

Willmore finds the film’s fantasy world disappointingly generic and its central ideas underdeveloped. She praises the spectacular stop-motion craft but says the story’s final battle is forgettable.

Aguilar calls the film a profoundly moving, visually stunning achievement. He especially praises its handcrafted stop-motion artistry and emotionally rich story about grief and growing up.

The critic calls Wildwood a near-magical, thrilling fantasy epic and one of the best fantasy blockbusters in years. They single out Laika’s astonishing stop-motion detail and kinetically staged action for praise.

The critic calls Wildwood a rapturous, astonishing achievement and one of the year’s best films. They especially praise the meticulous stop-motion craft and the emotionally rich story it brings to life.

Kelley calls Wildwood a breathtaking technical achievement, though its story has a few shortcomings and runs slightly too long. He especially praises the stop-motion animation’s extraordinary scale, particularly in the final battle.

The critic calls Wildwood breathtaking and among the year’s best, despite a familiar fantasy script. They especially praise its vivid, tactile stop-motion animation and expressive characterization.

Hammond calls the film an ambitious, emotionally resonant Laika gem that could continue the studio’s Oscar-nomination streak. He particularly praises the stop-motion visuals, saying Caleb Deschanel’s cinematography makes them feel like live action without overwhelming the story.