Image Credit: LAIKA Studios — Official Trailer/Poster via YouTube
The Wildwood movie release date in India is finally here for animation fans. After opening in the United States on 23 October 2026, LAIKA’s long-awaited stop-motion fantasy arrives in Indian cinemas on Friday, 13 November 2026. It is the studio’s first feature in seven years, since Missing Link in 2019, and it is also LAIKA’s most ambitious film ever made. The Wildwood movie release date has been one of the most searched questions among Indian animation lovers ever since the US release won glowing reviews, and now the wait is almost over.
Directed by Travis Knight, the man behind Kubo and the Two Strings and Bumblebee, Wildwood brings Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis’s beloved 2011 novel to life with handmade puppets, miniature sets and a voice cast packed with Oscar winners and nominees. If you love Coraline, ParaNorman or Kubo, this is the November release you should not miss. Here are five exciting details about the Wildwood movie release date, the story, the cast and where to watch it.
Wildwood Movie Release Date in India: When and Where to Watch
The Wildwood movie release date in India is 13 November 2026. The film reaches Indian theatres on Friday, 13 November, just in time for a weekend family outing. International listings had earlier pointed to the same date for India, and Indian movie pages now confirm 13 November 2026 as the theatrical date.
The journey to this date has been a long one. Wildwood held its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on 11 October 2026, then opened in cinemas across the United States and the United Kingdom on 23 October 2026, distributed in the US by Fathom Entertainment. Indian audiences get the film three weeks after the American opening, which means early reviews and reactions are already out — and they are very encouraging. Critics praised the film warmly after its premiere, and as of 20 October it held a 100% score from 29 critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of around 8.7 out of 10.
The film is rated PG-13, making it LAIKA’s first film with that rating. Parents should note that this is a darker, more intense fantasy than the studio’s earlier family films, with real stakes and some frightening moments. The runtime is 131 minutes, which makes Wildwood the longest stop-motion feature film ever made. Bookings for the opening weekend are expected to open in the days just before release, so keep an eye on your usual ticket booking apps if you plan to catch the first shows.
What Is Wildwood About? The Story of Prue McKeel
Wildwood is set just beyond Portland, Oregon, in a hidden forest that does not appear on any map. The story begins when headstrong teenager Prue McKeel, voiced by Peyton Elizabeth Lee, is looking after her baby brother Mac. A murder of crows suddenly swoops down, snatches the baby and carries him into the Impassable Wilderness, a forbidden forest on the edge of the city that nobody is supposed to know exists.
Prue refuses to wait for help. She follows the crows into the forest, joined by her loyal but hapless classmate Curtis Mehlberg, voiced by Jacob Tremblay. Inside the Wildwood, the two teenagers discover a world of talking animals, warring factions and powerful figures driven by grief and ambition. There are bandits led by the Bandit King, mystics in the North Wood, a giant golden eagle who becomes their guide, and Alexandra, the Dowager Governess, a once-kind ruler whose grief over her lost son has pushed her towards dark magic.
The film is based on the 2011 novel Wildwood by Colin Meloy, frontman of the band The Decemberists, and illustrated by Carson Ellis. Chris Butler, who wrote ParaNorman and Missing Link, adapted the book for the screen. LAIKA optioned the novel back in 2011, only weeks after the book came out, and the finished film took years of painstaking handmade work to complete. At its heart, Wildwood is a story about family, courage and loss — a girl who will cross into a dangerous world to bring her little brother home.
Wildwood Voice Cast: A Star-Studded Line-Up
One of the biggest reasons the Wildwood movie release date is drawing so much attention is the extraordinary voice cast. Peyton Elizabeth Lee leads the film as Prue McKeel, the determined teenager at the centre of the adventure. Jacob Tremblay, who won hearts as a child actor in Room and Wonder, voices Curtis, Prue’s classmate and loyal companion.
Carey Mulligan voices Alexandra, the Dowager Governess, the film’s most complex character — a ruler who once governed the South Wood kindly until the death of her son changed everything. Mahershala Ali, a two-time Academy Award winner, plays Brendan, the Bandit King who leads the bandits of the Wildwood. Angela Bassett voices the General, an enormous golden eagle who becomes Prue’s guide through the forest.
The supporting cast is just as impressive. Awkwafina voices Septima, a rat. Jake Johnson and Maya Erskine play Prue’s parents. Charlie Day and Tom Waits both voice coyotes in Alexandra’s army. Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Richard E. Grant, Tantoo Cardinal, Blythe Danner, Rob Delaney and Marc Evan Jackson round out the ensemble. It is one of the strongest voice casts any animated film has assembled in years, and every character feels distinct because of it.
Why Wildwood Is Special: LAIKA’s Biggest Film Ever
Wildwood is not just another animated release. It is LAIKA’s most ambitious project to date, and the numbers behind it explain why the studio spent so many years on it. The film runs 131 minutes, making it the longest stop-motion feature ever released. Around 140,000 printed faces were made for the puppets, and the production took five years of painstaking work from the Portland-based studio.
LAIKA is the studio behind Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, Kubo and the Two Strings and Missing Link — films famous for their handmade look and emotional depth. Wildwood continues that tradition but goes further. The miniature sets are richer, the forest feels alive, and the film mixes wonder with real darkness in a way that few animated films attempt. The score comes from Dario Marianelli, the Oscar-winning composer behind Atonement, adding to the film’s epic feel.
Early reactions from the London premiere and the US release have called it a handmade marvel and a landmark in animation. For Indian audiences who grew up watching LAIKA’s films on home video and streaming, the Wildwood movie release date in India is a rare chance to experience the studio’s craft on the big screen, where the detail of every puppet and set deserves to be seen.
Wildwood Trailer: Watch the Official Trailer
The official trailer for Wildwood gives a beautiful first look at the Impassable Wilderness. It opens with Prue’s ordinary life in Portland before the crows arrive, then plunges into the forest with its bandits, talking animals and towering eagle. The trailer shows off the film’s lush, handcrafted look — every leaf, feather and puppet built by hand.
The final trailer, released shortly before the US opening, leans further into the war-in-the-woods side of the story, with trebuchets, armies and the conflict between the forest’s factions. Both trailers are available on LAIKA’s official YouTube channel. Watching the trailer is the best way to understand what makes this film different from other animated releases this year: it looks like nothing else in cinemas right now.
Wildwood Box Office and Reviews So Far
Wildwood opened in the United States on 23 October 2026, and the early box office and review response has been strong for a stop-motion release. The film earned around $12 million in its opening weekend in the US, a solid start for a handmade animated feature from a specialist studio. Critics have been kinder still, with the film holding a perfect score from early reviews and drawing praise for its ambition, its visuals and its emotional core.
The film’s reception matters for Indian audiences too, because it confirms that Wildwood is not a routine family film. Reviewers have noted that it earns its PG-13 rating, that it treats its young heroine seriously, and that it is as much about grief and family as it is about adventure. If you are planning a family trip to the cinema, the film works best for older children and adults who enjoy fantasy with real stakes. For more on the film’s theatrical run, you can also read our earlier coverage of the Wildwood box office opening on filmyyfly, and for the latest big Indian release, see our report on the Ramayana Hong Kong release.
Will Wildwood Stream on OTT? What We Know
No OTT release date or streaming platform has been announced for Wildwood yet. The film is playing exclusively in theatres for now, and neither LAIKA nor its distributors have confirmed a digital rental or streaming window. A video-on-demand release usually follows a few weeks after the theatrical run, but no date has been confirmed, and there is no announced subscription streaming deal at the time of writing.
That means the cinema is the only place to watch Wildwood in India for now. Given the film’s handmade detail and its 131-minute scale, the big screen is the right way to see it first. We will update this article when an OTT date or platform is officially announced.
Wildwood Movie Release Date: Final Thoughts
The Wildwood movie release date in India, 13 November 2026, brings one of the year’s most special films to Indian cinemas. With Travis Knight directing, a dream voice cast led by Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali and Angela Bassett, and LAIKA’s handmade stop-motion craft at its most ambitious, Wildwood is the kind of film that reminds you why animation belongs on the big screen.
Whether you are a longtime LAIKA fan, a parent looking for a meaningful family film, or simply someone who loves fantasy adventures, this is a release worth planning for. Book your tickets for the opening weekend, watch the official trailer above, and step into the Wildwood on 13 November.
Image Credit: LAIKA Studios — Official Trailer/Poster via YouTube
FAQs About Wildwood Movie Release Date
When is the Wildwood movie release date in India?
The Wildwood movie release date in India is 13 November 2026. The film arrives in Indian cinemas on Friday, 13 November 2026.
When did Wildwood release in the US?
Wildwood released in the United States on 23 October 2026, after its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on 11 October 2026.
Who directs Wildwood?
Travis Knight directs Wildwood. Chris Butler wrote the screenplay, based on the 2011 novel by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis. LAIKA Studios produced the film.
Who are the main voice actors in Wildwood?
Peyton Elizabeth Lee voices Prue McKeel, Jacob Tremblay voices Curtis Mehlberg, Carey Mulligan voices Alexandra, Mahershala Ali voices Brendan the Bandit King, and Angela Bassett voices the General, the giant golden eagle.
What is the runtime of Wildwood?
Wildwood runs for 131 minutes, making it the longest stop-motion feature film ever made. It is rated PG-13, LAIKA’s first film with that rating.
Is Wildwood available on OTT?
No. Wildwood has no announced OTT release date or streaming platform yet. It is currently playing only in theatres, and a digital release is expected to follow after the theatrical run.
