Wildwood is a 2026 American stop-motion animated fantasy adventure film directed by Travis Knight. The movie is produced by LAIKA and combines dark fantasy, adventure, action, and coming-of-age elements.
The screenplay is written by Chris Butler and adapted from Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis’s bestselling 2011 middle-grade novel. The voice cast includes Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Awkwafina, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine, and Tom Waits.
The story follows Prue McKeel, a young girl whose baby brother Mac is abducted by a flock of crows. Prue and her classmate Curtis follow the birds into the forbidden wilderness outside Portland, Oregon.
Inside Wildwood, they discover a dangerous magical world filled with talking animals, rival armies, mystical outlaws, and dark magic. Their rescue mission becomes connected to a larger conflict threatening both the forest and the world beyond it.
Wildwood is based on a book and marks another ambitious stop-motion production from LAIKA. The studio combines handcrafted puppets and miniature environments with extensive visual effects to create its large fantasy world.
The film is scheduled for a U.S. theatrical release on October 23, 2026, with domestic distribution handled in partnership with Fathom Entertainment.
Wildwood Age Rating
Wildwood is officially rated PG-13 by the MPA for strong fantasy violence/bloody images, thematic material, suicide-related material, brief partial nudity, and language.
The PG-13 rating makes Wildwood considerably darker than many animated family adventures. Although the main characters are children, the story places them in genuine danger throughout their journey.
Parents should expect bloody fantasy violence, frightening creatures, child abduction, political oppression, death-related themes, and suicide-related material. The film also contains brief partial nudity and some coarse language.
The stop-motion style does not make the content automatically suitable for young children. Some scenes may be particularly intense because the handcrafted characters and creatures give the violence a tactile, unsettling quality.
Violence & Peril
The violence is strong and sometimes bloody. The film features battles, physical confrontations, weapons, animal attacks, and characters placed in serious danger.
Prue and Curtis encounter violent factions while traveling through Wildwood. Characters fight using various weapons, while the larger conflict creates a constant sense of danger.
Some characters suffer visible injuries, and bloody imagery accompanies portions of the violence. The film also includes animal predation and threatening creatures.
The danger is not purely cartoonish. Characters can be captured, injured, or placed in life-threatening situations. Children may also find the abduction of Mac particularly upsetting because the story begins with a young child being taken from his family.
There are frightening sequences involving dark magic, aggressive animals, and supernatural threats. These scenes may be too intense for children who are sensitive to monsters or peril.
Language
The movie contains occasional coarse language and mature expressions. Language is specifically included in the official PG-13 rating.
Profanity is not the central concern, but parents should expect some stronger expressions during tense or emotional moments.
The language content is considerably less significant than the film’s fantasy violence, bloody imagery, and mature themes. Younger viewers who are sensitive to profanity may still want parental guidance.
Mature Themes
The film contains several mature and emotionally difficult themes. The story explores child abduction, grief, family separation, political tyranny, abandonment, war, and moral responsibility.
The kidnapping of Mac creates an immediate emotional threat. Prue’s determination to rescue her brother puts her in situations where she must confront fear, violence, and difficult choices.
The story also includes a broader conflict involving competing factions and authoritarian control. These elements give the fantasy world a darker political dimension than a typical children’s adventure.
Most importantly, the MPA specifically cites suicide-related material. This makes the movie unsuitable for younger children who may not be ready to process suicide or related discussions.
The film also deals with death, loss, sacrifice, and the consequences of violence. Some emotional moments may linger after the movie, especially for children who strongly identify with the young protagonists.
Nudity & Sexual Content
There is brief partial nudity, which is specifically mentioned in the MPA’s rating reason.
The nudity occurs in a non-sexual fantasy context rather than as sexual material. There is no indication that sexual content is a major component of the story.
Parents should therefore be more concerned about violence and mature themes than sexuality. However, families who prefer to avoid any nudity should be aware that brief partial nudity is present.
Is Wildwood Suitable for Kids?
Ages 7–10: No. The movie is likely too intense for most children in this age range. Strong fantasy violence, bloody imagery, frightening creatures, child abduction, and suicide-related material go beyond typical young-child fantasy.
Ages 11–13: With Guidance. Mature middle-schoolers may be able to handle the story, especially if they are comfortable with darker fantasy. Parents should consider the child’s sensitivity to violence, death, frightening imagery, and suicide-related themes.
Ages 14–17: Yes, With Guidance. Teenagers are the more appropriate audience for Wildwood. The complex fantasy story and moral themes may appeal to older teens, although sensitive viewers should still be prepared for bloody violence and disturbing material.
Final recommendation: Wildwood is best suited to ages 13–14 and older, with parental guidance. Younger children may find its violence, creatures, abduction storyline, and suicide-related themes too disturbing.
What Parents Can Do
- Prepare children for the darker fantasy tone. Explain that the film is more intense than a typical animated family adventure and contains frightening creatures and serious danger.
- Discuss the sensitive themes afterward. If your teenager is watching, be prepared to discuss grief, loss, political oppression, moral choices, and the suicide-related material.
- Consider your child’s sensitivity. Children who are easily frightened by monsters, blood, kidnapping, or intense battles may be better waiting until they are older.
Official Trailer
FAQs
Q: What is the age rating for Wildwood?
A: Wildwood is rated PG-13 by the MPA for strong fantasy violence/bloody images, thematic material, suicide-related material, brief partial nudity, and language.
Q: Is Wildwood suitable for kids?
A: Wildwood is not recommended for young children. Its strong fantasy violence, bloody imagery, frightening creatures, child abduction, and mature themes make it better suited to older children and teenagers.
Q: Is Wildwood suitable for teenagers?
A: Yes, particularly for older teenagers. However, parents should consider their teen’s sensitivity to bloody violence, death, frightening imagery, and suicide-related themes.
Q: Does Wildwood contain scary or violent scenes?
A: Yes. The film includes intense fantasy battles, animal attacks, weapons, bloody injuries, threatening creatures, and characters facing serious danger.
Q: Does Wildwood contain sexual content, nudity, or bad language?
A: There is brief partial nudity and some coarse language. Sexual content is not a major focus, but the MPA specifically includes nudity and language in its PG-13 rating.
Q: Where can I watch Wildwood?
A: Wildwood is scheduled for a nationwide U.S. theatrical release on October 23, 2026, through the film’s domestic distribution partnership with Fathom Entertainment.