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Where the Wild Things Are

Play trailer Poster for Where the Wild Things Are PG 2009 1h 41m Kids & Family Fantasy Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
73% Tomatometer 267 Reviews 57% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Feeling misunderstood at home and at school, mischievous Max (Max Records) escapes to the land of the Wild Things, majestic -- and sometimes fierce -- creatures. They allow Max to become their leader, and he promises to create a kingdom where everyone will be happy. However, Max soon finds that being king is not easy and that, even being with the Wild Things, there is something missing.
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Where the Wild Things Are

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Critics Consensus

Some may find its dark tone and slender narrative off-putting, but Spike Jonze's heartfelt adaptation of the classic children's book is as beautiful as it is uncompromising.

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Critics Reviews

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Alissa Wilkinson Vox 09/25/2018
It's a quiet reminder of the power of scary-ish stories, and it's made with warmth, humor, and wisdom. Go to Full Review
Deborah Ross The Spectator 08/30/2018
It is bewildering but not in an emotionally complex or troublesome way. It's bewildering in a narratively confused, narratively lost, we-never-figured-out-what-we-wanted-all-this-extra-stuff-to-add-up-to sort of way. Go to Full Review
Ed Koch The Atlantic 01/17/2018
The minus I give this children's story pains me...If I had seen this film when I was eight, I would have been terrified. Go to Full Review
Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 08/30/2023
4/4
In Where the Wild Things Are, Spike Jonze’s masterful translation of Maurice Sendak’s beloved book, the pains, and uncertainties of growing up find a deeply personal home. Go to Full Review
Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 08/19/2023
It’s as honest a tale of being a child as you’ll find on screen, with all of the fantasy and reality and joy and anxiety of childhood grounded in the imagery and the landscapes of a tyke’s mind. Go to Full Review
Mike Massie Gone With The Twins 11/29/2020
6/10
There's plenty of amazing, surreal imagery and a brooding atmosphere, but little magic brightens this fantasy world. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Hallie / i @hallierunner 3d watched this movie 10000 times as a kid. something about it hooked me and i just rewatched it again after years. it reminds me of how i often would experience maladaptive daydreaming as a kid and still do. something about the movie is missing clarity, some bits just.. missing but overall, i personally couldnt stop watching it because it feels like my worldview and how i experience the world, maybe in an overtly ignorant, innocent and barbaric way. i don’t know how to describe it, but this movie is the only one that portrayed my perspective See more Ryan C @RareOpinionGuy 5d I saw this years ago in the theater with my daughter, thought it was ok then. She is grown now. Rewatched (2026). Karen O. played on a playlist, and I was reminded, this movie exists. There is so much here. You're not getting "Horton Hears a Who". You're getting something representing all aspects of Max, and probably parts of many of us. Whatever, I liked it, enjoy it, or not, and turn it off. LOL. See more Eric C @MuddFlapps Jan 18 There are a lot of Troglodytes who wont understand what this film is about, and it is something that absolutely cannot be judged by the fact that the people responsible for marketing misrepresented it. This film is a study of a child who has to deal with depression and alienation. It is dark, but it is thought provoking and uplifting at the same time. Anyone who doesn't see the value in this honestly doesn't have a soul, or a mind capable of compassion. See more Will K Jan 4 I wanted to bail in the first few minutes. But, I was reminded of being around hyper-active little guys just like him. And I know life was hard for them; feeling out of control; not quite fitting in; not understanding their feelings; but driven by a wide range of emotion and volatility. /-/- Spoiler Alert !! I was confused by both the overall film and the ending. But I eventually came up with this: What if we could be "King/Queen" for the day? If we were in charge - wouldn't the world be a better place? Our little runaway discovered that "in the wild" people can really be "messed up". And the "wild ones" can be especially challenging when it comes to trying to guide them; help them with their problems. In fact, even if you really cared about them; wanted to solve their dilemmas ... you could end up feeling helpless. So, finally back in the loving embrace of his exhausted mother, as she fell asleep - we see him smile. At last - he feels compassion for his mother. See more Karen A Aug 27 Terrible movie!! Dull, dragging, and inane, nonsensical, and downright boring!! Literally took 2 hours to never get to the point that a 12-page book was easily able to convey with humor and clarity. It feels like they were trying to be artistic rather than tell an already perfect story, and failed miserably, while wasting obscene amounts of money on props and costumes that were "at best" lackluster... Paint drying would be more exciting and less ridiculous. See more Tripti K Aug 8 The most boring tragic children’s movie the world has ever experienced. I really enjoyed reading the book with my kid.But the movie was not very family friendly. See more Read all reviews
Where the Wild Things Are

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Movie Info

Synopsis Feeling misunderstood at home and at school, mischievous Max (Max Records) escapes to the land of the Wild Things, majestic -- and sometimes fierce -- creatures. They allow Max to become their leader, and he promises to create a kingdom where everyone will be happy. However, Max soon finds that being king is not easy and that, even being with the Wild Things, there is something missing.
Director
Spike Jonze
Producer
Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Maurice Sendak, John B. Carls, Vincent Landay
Screenwriter
Spike Jonze, Dave Eggers
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Production Co
Playtone Productions, Wild Things
Rating
PG (Brief Language|Adventure Action|Mild Thematic Elements)
Genre
Kids & Family, Fantasy, Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 16, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA)
$77.2M
Runtime
1h 41m
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