Wildwood is a film that took years to make, and audiences are now discovering why. The stop motion animated film held third place at Halloween weekend, with about $7.5 million, according to reports cited on November 1, 2026. That was down about 40 percent from its opening weekend, which is a solid hold for a second weekend, especially over Halloween. Its total through its second weekend was about $25.2 million, according to reports. For a stop motion film, which is costly and time consuming to make, that hold matters.

What stop motion means

Stop motion animation is made by moving physical models a tiny amount, photographing them, and repeating the process thousands of times. It is slow, detailed work, and it gives films a texture that computer animation cannot copy. Wildwood uses that texture to build a forest world that feels real, even though it is made of models. Audiences can feel the craft in every frame. That craft is part of why the film has found fans, even if it has not become a huge blockbuster. People respect work they can see.

Why Halloween weekend was a test

Halloween weekend is hard for family films, because many families are busy with parties and trick or treating. Wildwood's hold of about 40 percent down is therefore a good sign. It means families who wanted to see it still went, despite the holiday. It also means the film's opening audience liked it enough to recommend it to others. A film that drops sharply in week two usually has weak word of mouth. Wildwood did not drop sharply, which suggests its word of mouth is working.

The Friday numbers behind the weekend

On Friday, Wildwood earned $2.39 million, according to reports, with a projected weekend of $7 million to $8 million. That Friday figure is important because it shows the film's daily pattern. Family films often do better on Saturday and Sunday, when families go together. Wildwood's Friday start was solid, and its weekend total confirmed that pattern. It did not need a huge Friday to succeed. It needed a steady weekend, and it got one.

Competition from bigger titles

Wildwood faced tough competition from You Can See Everything and Clayface, which took first and second place. Those films had larger audiences and more screens. Wildwood still took third place, ahead of new releases like BTS World Tour Arirang and The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, which opened quietly. That third place finish is a win for an animated film that is not from Pixar or Disney. It shows that independent animation can still find a place in a crowded market, if it is made well and marketed clearly.

The value of a slow build

Stop motion films often build slowly, through reviews, festivals, and word of mouth, rather than through huge openings. Wildwood fits that pattern. Its total of about $25 million after two weekends is modest compared with Toy Story 5, but it is respectable for its genre and budget type. Its real value may come later, through streaming, home viewing, and awards season, where stop motion films often get recognition. A film like this does not need to be a blockbuster to be a success. It needs to find its audience and stay with them.

What audiences say about it

Audiences who have seen Wildwood praise its visuals, its world building, and its emotional story. Stop motion fans in particular appreciate the craft, because they know how much work goes into each second of film. Families appreciate a film that is not just a franchise sequel, but a new story with its own world. That combination of craft and story is why Wildwood is holding up. It gives viewers something they cannot get from a computer animated film, and something they cannot get at home on a small screen.

What comes next

Wildwood will need to hold again in its third weekend to reach a final total that its makers can call a success. If it holds near $5 million or more, it will have a solid run. If it drops sharply, it will still have a chance on streaming and in awards season. Either way, it has already shown that stop motion animation still has a place in cinemas. In a year dominated by superhero films and sequels, a handcrafted forest world found an audience, and that is worth celebrating.

Sources and reporting

  1. Hollywood Outbreak — Oct 31, 2026 · Confirms Wildwood $2.39 million Friday, $7-8 million projected weekend, about $25.2 million total through second weekend
  2. FranchiseRe Substack — Nov 1, 2026 · Confirms Wildwood down about 40 percent, $7.5 million second weekend
  3. Nacionale — Nov 1, 2026 · Confirms Halloween weekend box office context
Unconfirmed or reported, not stated as confirmed fact: Weekend figures are estimates pending finals. Total $25.2 million is a second weekend estimate, not a final. No budget figure is claimed.