Wildwood Review: Laika’s breathtaking fantasy epic is the best film of 2026

Laika reaches new heights with Wildwood, a breathtaking fantasy epic and 2026’s best film. The studio’s extraordinary stop-motion animation brings a richly imagined world to life, while its compelling characters and emotional storytelling give the adventure tremendous depth. Director Travis Knight balances the film’s darker elements with thrilling action and genuine wonder. The result is a visually stunning, emotionally satisfying masterpiece that ranks among the decade’s finest animated films.

Wildwood Overview

Based on Colin Meloy‘s novel, Wildwood follows Prue McKeel (Peyton Elizabeth Lee), a Portland teenager whose baby brother Mac is abducted by a murder of crows. Determined to rescue him, Prue enters the Impassable Wilderness, a mysterious forest bordering the city. Her classmate Curtis (Jacob Tremblay) accompanies her, but the two become separated after encountering a dangerous pack of coyotes.

Curtis finds himself under the protection of Alexandra (Carey Mulligan), a powerful governess engaged in a bitter conflict with the forest’s bandits. Alexandra takes Curtis under her wing and introduces him to a society where humans and talking animals coexist amid escalating tensions. However, he soon discovers that the struggle is more complicated than Alexandra initially suggests.

Meanwhile, Prue encounters a divided society where powerful figures guard dangerous secrets and outsiders are treated with suspicion. Her search takes her through unfamiliar territory as she struggles to determine whom she can trust. With Mac’s whereabouts unknown, Prue must navigate an increasingly hostile environment while uncovering the forces threatening its inhabitants.

Their separate journeys let director Travis Knight explore the forest from different perspectives, gradually revealing the political divisions that shape its inhabitants. As competing interests collide, Prue and Curtis find themselves drawn into a conflict that extends far beyond their original mission. Escalating tensions put both characters in danger and raise the stakes of Prue’s desperate search.

What begins as a seemingly straightforward rescue mission evolves into a sweeping fantasy epic with surprisingly mature themes. Beneath its magical landscapes and extraordinary creatures lies a deeply affecting story about grief, family and the devastating consequences of refusing to accept loss. Knight balances these darker elements with thrilling action and moments of wonder, ensuring the emotional stakes remain central to the adventure.

Wilderness of Beauty and Brutality

Director Travis Knight creates a breathtaking fantasy world in Wildwood, blending Oregon’s natural beauty with Laika’s extraordinary stop-motion animation. The Pacific Northwest’s lush forests form the foundation of an enchanting world where nature and supernatural forces coexist. The film’s Tolkien-like approach to magic gives the wilderness a sense of wonder while establishing an undercurrent of danger.

Every frame is a visual masterpiece. From the intricately crafted landscapes to the remarkably expressive characters, Laika’s attention to detail is staggering. The animation gives the sprawling wilderness an incredible sense of scale, creating a fully realized world that feels alive.

Knight never allows the film’s beauty to overshadow its brutality. The action sequences are thrilling and surprisingly violent, with several confrontations carrying genuine consequences. Knight stages these moments with tremendous energy, showcasing the studio’s technical capabilities without sacrificing the emotional stakes.

The film’s darker elements also distinguish it from conventional family-oriented animation. Knight refuses to soften the violence, allowing the consequences of the characters’ decisions to resonate throughout the adventure. While this approach could limit the film’s commercial appeal among younger audiences, compromising its mature tone would diminish its impact.

Dario Marianelli‘s magnificent score further elevates the experience. His sweeping compositions capture the wonder of the wilderness while shifting effortlessly into haunting passages that reinforce its darker atmosphere. The music and animation combine to create an immersive cinematic experience that ranks among Laika’s finest achievements.

Heart of the Wilderness

For all its technical achievements, Wildwood reaches its greatest heights through Prue and Alexandra’s emotional journeys. Their contrasting motivations transform a seemingly straightforward rescue mission into a powerful examination of love, grief and the lengths people will go to protect their families.

Lee delivers a stunning breakout performance as Prue, capturing the teenager’s determination without sacrificing her vulnerability. Lee’s performance echoes Hailee Steinfeld, particularly in her ability to convey strength and emotional complexity. Prue is far from a conventional fantasy heroine. Her courage comes from her love for Mac, while her connection to the wilderness makes her increasingly important to its future.

Mulligan is as remarkable as Alexandra, delivering a terrifying performance that never reduces the character to a conventional villain. Her inability to move beyond a devastating personal loss informs her increasingly desperate decisions. Mulligan captures the character’s anguish and cruelty, creating an antagonist whose motivations are understandable even when her actions become indefensible.

The revelation about Prue’s parents adds another emotional dimension to the story, challenging everything she thought she knew about her family. Although her brief return home interrupts the narrative’s momentum, the discovery deepens her determination and establishes a compelling connection between the two central characters.

What makes Wildwood extraordinary is how these personal struggles drive the larger conflict. Prue and Alexandra are both motivated by love, but their opposing responses to loss ultimately define their journeys. This emotional complexity elevates Laika’s latest adventure beyond its previous achievements.

Wildwood Final Thoughts

Wildwood is Laika’s crowning achievement and the best film of 2026. Knight delivers a fantasy epic that exceeds the studio’s previous efforts, combining breathtaking craftsmanship with its most emotionally compelling story to date.

The film isn’t entirely without flaws. Prue’s brief return home disrupts the otherwise excellent pacing, and the bandits could have used more development. However, these minor shortcomings barely register against the overall experience’s extraordinary quality.

Lee announces herself as a major talent. Mulligan delivers one of the year’s most memorable villainous performances. Their contrasting characters provide the emotional foundation for a story that refuses to compromise its darker themes.

Laika has long led stop-motion animation, but Wildwood is something more. It’s a rare cinematic achievement where the technical artistry and storytelling are equally exceptional. An unforgettable masterpiece that sets a new standard for animated fantasy and deserves recognition as one of the decade’s finest films.