Wildwood: The Popgeeks Review

[PopGeeks]

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We’ve got two months left in it, but I feel confident in saying Laika’s Wildwood is probably the best animated film of 2026, and if the Oscars give the award […]
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Wildwood: The Popgeeks Review

We've got two months left in it, but I feel confident in saying Laika's Wildwood is probably the best animated film of 2026, and if the Oscars give the

popgeeks.com

 

[ScotL544851]

Movies where family members get taken and the main character has to chase them into a hidden world always hit different for me, there is something about that setup that creates instant urgency. Adding talking animals in actual political conflict instead of just comic relief roles makes we think the world building goes deeper than usual. I also like that the protagonist starts out cynical instead of already loving magic, that gives her an actual arc to go through instead of just reacting to events. The villain concept sounds genuinely disturbing in a good way, someone so unable to accept loss that she rebuilds her child through dark magic, that is proper tragic villain material, not just generic evil for the sake of it. I am intrigued enough to look up showtimes near me after reading this.

 

[Freeda]

I will be honest, the writer sounds way too emotionally attached to this city and that makes me trust the review less, not more. Saying critics outside Portland also love it as proof of quality does not really mean much, critics agree on lots of films for different reasons and that is not some special confirmation. That said, the actual content described, talking animals at war, a strict bureaucracy, a grieving woman turned into a villain through dark magic, sounds genuinely layered for an animated film. I just wish the praise came with more balance instead of constant hype language. No movie is flawless and acting like disagreement makes someone a fraud is a strange way to convince people to watch something. I still might give it a chance based on the story elements alone, not because of the hometown pride angle.

 

[Jae]

I love that Laika is still making movies like this instead of playing it safe. Stop-motion takes so much time and effort, and I respect any studio willing to spend seven years on a project like this. The PG-13 rating also makes me curious because animated movies rarely get that kind of treatment. I grew up watching animated films, but I wish more studios would remember that animation does not always have to be made for small children. Sometimes a story needs to be dark, and the characters should face real danger. I hope Wildwood does well enough to encourage more filmmakers to take similar risks. Hollywood needs more original projects instead of another sequel every few months.

 

[pinkninjetti]

I haven't watched Wildwood yet, but the description already has my attention. A girl chasing crows into a dangerous forest to save her baby brother sounds like a solid fantasy adventure. What interests me most is the Dowager Governess. Her attempt to rebuild her dead son as a clockwork robot sounds tragic, especially if grief is what pushes her into becoming a villain. I usually enjoy villains who have understandable reasons for their actions, even when those actions are terrible. I also appreciate that the story seems willing to put its characters in real danger. I might have to find a theater showing this one because the stop-motion animation deserves to be seen on a big screen.

 

[Bruno]

I like that the review admits the director has advantages that most filmmakers can only dream about. Having a wealthy family behind you makes it easier to take financial risks, even when the movie does not open at number one. That does not make the finished work less impressive, though. Both things can be true. Laika has the resources to produce something this ambitious, and the artists still have to do the actual creative work. I just hope smaller studios and independent animators can find ways to make their own unusual projects without needing a rich person to protect them from failure. Talent should have more opportunities than it currently gets.

 

[Capdoggy]

I watched Wildwood last weekend and I am still thinking about it. The stop motion work is next level, you can tell every frame was made by hand and that effort shows in a way CGI movies never manage. Prue as a character felt real to me, not some perfect hero, just a normal kid dealing with something way bigger than her. The part with the crows taking her brother hit hard and set the tone early that this story is not playing safe. I went in not knowing much about the book and I still followed everything fine. The Dowager Governess is one of the better animated villains in recent memory, her motivation actually makes sense which is rare. If you have any love for practical effects or stop motion in general, this is required viewing on a big screen.

 

[Kurapikachu]

not gonna lie the pacing lost me a few times in the second act, felt like it needed a trim somewhere around the forty minute mark. but then it pulls you back in right when you start checking your phone. animation is gorgeous though, no complaints there, some shots look like paintings. the villain design especially the clockwork son thing is creepy in a good way. worth watching once for sure, not sure id rewatch it soon though.

 

[tiffanyfcollins]

People need to stop comparing every animated movie to Disney and Pixar. This is its own thing with its own rules and tone, judge it on that. The world building around the talking animals and their political conflict was more interesting to me than the human side of the story if I am being honest. Takes real confidence to make something this strange looking and stick with it fully without softening the edges for a wider audience. Respect for that alone even if parts of the middle dragged a little for me personally.

 

[Vaccine Vaccine Vaccine]

I am interested in the darker side of this story. The idea of a grieving mother figure using dark magic to recreate her son sounds genuinely unsettling. I wonder how much sympathy the movie gives her before showing the full extent of what she has done. A villain does not need to be right, but understanding what broke them can make the conflict more meaningful. I also like that Prue starts out cynical and has to deal with something far beyond her understanding. That is a good starting point for a coming-of-age story. I hope the film balances the emotional parts with the fantasy elements, because both sound important to making this adventure work.