Travis Knight Wildwood opened with $12.2 million domestically over the weekend of October 23-25, according to distributor Fathom Entertainment. That total, while not a blockbuster deal, exceeded many of the industry’s most conservative estimates.
Laika’s PG-13 stop-motion feature ranked third behind clay face ($24 million) and You can see everything ($19.5 million), averaging $4,162 per theater across the 2,942 locations reported by Fathom.
For context, among the studio’s previous domestic releases, Wildwood more than doubled Missing linkOpened $5.9 million in 2019 and came close to Kubo and the two strings‘ $12.6 million debut in 2016. In its box office report, Fathom also highlights similar debuts for Migration ($12.5 million) and PG-13 Bob’s Burgers movie ($12.4 million), although comparable openings alone say little about eventual profitability. Some films have better legs than others, and Laika’s films have often benefited from extended runs.
Worldwide, Rentrak estimates place Wildwood at $14.7 million, placing fourth this weekend. This figure includes a national estimate of $11.8 million rather than Fathom’s revised total. Substituting the updated national figure would bring the global total to approximately $15.2 million, assuming the international estimate remains unchanged. Other international markets will receive the film in the coming weeks.
Public reaction in exit polls gives reason for optimism. Fathom reports a five-star A CinemaScore and Rentrak exit poll, as well as a Sunday drop of just 13% from Saturday. These are promising early indicators, but one weekend is not enough to establish the longevity of a film. Against an announced production budget of 100 million dollars, Wildwood has a long way to go towards theatrical profitability.
That said, Laika has more room than many producers to take a long-term view. Backed by the biollionaire Knight family, the studio has built a lasting audience for its films. Merchandise, licensing, events and theatrical re-releases provide opportunities to continue earning well beyond a first release, even if their contribution to the profitability of individual films is not publicly known.
The clearest example is Coralinewhose re-release in 2024 generated $52.4 million worldwide, 15 years after its original debut. This does not guarantee a similar future for Wildwoodbut it shows why opening weekend revenue only tells part of the Laika story.
Gn entert
