Laika’s ‘Wildwood’ is a box office hit in Portland indie theaters
OregonLive.com • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Laika's stop-motion film "Wildwood," set in Portland, Oregon, experienced strong local success despite underperforming at the national box office, with many Portland indie theaters selling out multiple showings during opening weekend.
- The film's deep connection to Portland landmarks, such as the St. Johns Bridge and the North Portland neighborhood, contributed to its popularity at local venues like McMenamins St. Johns Theater & Pub and St. Johns Twin Cinemas.
- Other independent theaters across Portland, including Hollywood Theatre and Empirical Theater at OMSI, also reported sold-out screenings, highlighting strong community enthusiasm for the film.
- Nationally, "Wildwood" earned $11.8 million during its opening weekend, ranking third at the box office and falling short of its $100 million production cost, despite critical acclaim for its animation.
- The film's production was notably labor-intensive, taking 16 years and involving over a thousand craftspeople, which was celebrated by Laika staff and local audiences during opening events.
