Wildwood Sets Record With Perfect Critics Score
The latest Laika Studios film achieves unprecedented critical and audience approval ratings.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Animation
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The animated feature Wildwood has earned a 100% critics' score and a 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. This performance sets a new studio record for Laika, surpassing their previous high water mark.
Why it matters
These record-breaking scores highlight the sustained interest in meticulous stop-motion animation. The film's critical reception cements its standing as a major awards contender for the upcoming season.
Wildwood holds a 100% score from 107 critical reviews and a 97% rating from over 500 verified audience members. The film features a 130-minute runtime and consists of 2,900 individual shots.
The players
Laika Studios
An animation studio based in Oregon that is known for its pioneering work in stop-motion feature films.
The details
The production process spanned 16 years, with five years dedicated to active production on the stop-motion film. It features 2,900 shots, including 900 shots that last one second or less, produced using handcrafted models and sets.
Timeline
Laika Studios optioned the rights to the novel Wildwood in 2010.
Active production on the film adaptation began in 2021.
The film was released in theaters in 2026.
The 2027 Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for the upcoming year.
Industry Dynamics
Wildwood follows in the path of past Laika projects like Kubo and the Two Strings by pushing technical boundaries in stop-motion animation. The record-setting reception signals a potential shift in how audiences value traditional, labor-intensive craft over digital-only productions.
Viewers can currently see the 130-minute film in theaters. The PG-13 rating suggests the film is intended for a mature adolescent and adult audience rather than young children.
The takeaway
The success of the project underscores the longevity of the stop-motion medium in a modern film landscape. Moviegoers interested in the technical aspects of filmmaking should note the film features nearly triple the shot density of previous studio entries.
What happens next
Wildwood is expected to receive a nomination for Best Animated Feature at the 2027 Academy Awards.
Further reading
For more on the latest developments in the field, explore the Animation section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ScreenRant.
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