LONG AGO, THE IVY WAS THE RUIN OF A GREAT CIVILIZATION.

When a Portland teenager’s baby brother is abducted by crows, she ventures into a forest known as ”Wildwood” at the edge of town, hoping to rescue him.

Laika’s most ambitious stop-motion adventure to date is a majestic fairy tale set in modern times, blending contemporary details and sentiments with traditional elements. Family audiences looking to kick back with Minions might struggle with a long story that requires more patience (and the dark ingredients are not for young kids) – but the quality of storytelling, music, visual prowess and voice work is undeniable.

Thrilling climax, involving a beautifully conceived tornado of ivy.

2026-U.S. Animated. 132 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Travis Knight. Screenplay: Chris Butler. Novel: Colin Meloy, Carson Ellis. Cinematography: Caleb Deschanel. Music: Dario Marianelli. Song: ”The Better Part of Bravery” (performed by The Decemberists). Voices of Peyton Elizabeth Lee (Prue McKeel), Jacob Tremblay (Curtis Mehlberg), Carey Mulligan (Alexandra), Mahershala Ali, Richard E. Grant, Angela Bassett, Awkwafina, Tom Waits, Blythe Danner, Jemaine Clement. 

Trivia: Co-produced by Knight.

Last word: “Making a film and living a life for over 16 years teaches you many things. The world is certainly in a different place now than it was. I am, in many ways, a different man than I was 16 years ago [when work on Wildwood began]. I’ve had a lot of experiences I couldn’t have anticipated, many joyful, many heartbreaking, and some I wish hadn’t happened. But if you’re a storyteller, if you’re an artist, if you’re a filmmaker, these are the types of things that you pour into your work.” (Knight, RogerEbert.com)