Laika's 'The Witchwood' studio risks facing financial problems. According to the latest Boxoffice Pro forecast, the animated film will earn $6-10 million in its opening weekend in North America, although just a week earlier, analysts expected $10-15 million.
The reason for the reduced forecast is not specified, but Boxoffice Pro previously noted uncertainty regarding the number of cinemas that will show the film. In the US, it is being released by Fathom Entertainment, which successfully brought 'Coraline' back to the big screen but has less experience with wide releases of new films than Laika's previous partners — so analysts are currently finding it difficult to estimate how many screens 'The Witchwood' will get.
Against the backdrop of a production budget, which media estimates at approximately $100 million, such a start looks alarming. However, the first weekend forecast does not yet mean that the film is doomed to fail. Much will depend on subsequent box office receipts and international distribution.
At the same time, Laika largely relies on the financial support of the Knight family. The director of 'The Witchwood' and head of the studio, Travis Knight, is the son of Nike co-founder Phil Knight, who serves as Laika's chairman and helped finance its projects. Against this background, there is a perception in the industry that the studio is more interested in creating 'art for art's sake' than in commercial success.
Meanwhile, critics have warmly received 'The Witchwood': on Rotten Tomatoes, the animated film has 100% positive reviews based on 16 critiques. Whether good reviews will attract viewers will become clear after the start of the release.
In North America, 'The Witchwood' will be released on October 23, and in Russia, on December 3, 2026.