17 Years Later, a Dark Horror Fantasy Masterpiece Is Officially a Streaming Hit

It's been seven years since we were treated to a theatrical release by the geniuses at Laika. Their last release was Missing Link, an underrated stop-motion adventure featuring the voices of Hugh Jackman, Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry, and more. The film was sadly a big financial misstep, grossing just $25 million worldwide against a reported production budget of $100 million. Next month, Laika are making their big comeback with the most ambitious project in their acclaimed catalog yet.

Based on the Colin Meloy-written and Carson Ellis-illustrated children's fantasy novel, Wildwood is a visually stunning adventure that has been in the works at Laika since they purchased the rights 15 years ago. The recent release of a trailer showcased just how detailed and immersive this world will be, with fans of the animation studio who have waited many years for a big-screen return sure to not be let down. But, in the meantime, what's the best way to get in the mood?

The answer to this question is seemingly to watch Coraline, the most famous and celebrated movie in Laika's library, which also marks the perfect start to the spooky season celebrations. Starring Dakota Fanning as the titular Coraline, the film is based on a story by Neil Gaiman and is directed by stop-motion veteran Henry Selick, who delivers his deliciously gothic stylings in perhaps his greatest film. At the time of writing, Coraline is one of the ten most-streamed movies on Disney+ in the U.S. and continues to climb the charts, having just surpassed Toy Story 4 to take fifth place.

Who Stars in the New Laika Movie?

Such an exciting, long-awaited project was always going to entice a star-studded voice cast. The ensemble is led by Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Prue McKeel, and she is joined by the likes of Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, Angela Bassett, Richard E. Grant, Amandla Stenberg, Awkwafina, and two-time Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali. A synopsis for the film reads, "A girl's desperate quest to save her baby brother unfolds into a spectacular, high-stakes adventure through a forbidden forest full of enchanted creatures, endearing allies, and formidable adversaries — where an entire hidden realm hangs in the balance."