Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- melancholic
- whimsical
- intimate
- family movie night
- nostalgic viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's imaginative visual design, heartfelt emotional depth, and uncompromising treatment of childhood, while finding its narrative slender and tone unexpectedly dark for children.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Max's imagined voyage and relationships with the Wild Things mirror his tantrums, family conflict, and emotional needs.
Max's fits, jealousy, fear, and longing for parental attention remain central to the film's dark, heartfelt tone.
The Wild Things are presented as physically present, expressive creatures whose costumes and effects emphasize texture and embodied emotion.
Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers expand Maurice Sendak's picture-book premise into a feature-length examination of childhood instability and social competence.
Films like Where the Wild Things Are, and why
The NeverEnding Story
emotionally complex childhood fantasy, imaginative world-building, and a bittersweet coming-of-age perspective
Bridge to Terabithia
children's fantasy that treats fear, grief, and emotional growth with unusual seriousness
Pan's Labyrinth
stylized childhood escapism, tactile fantasy creatures, and a balance of whimsy with melancholy
The BFG
intimate, visually inventive fantasy centered on a child's emotional inner life
Movie Details
- Director
- Spike Jonze
- Release Date
- 2009-10-16
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (2076)
Cast
- Max Records
- Catherine Keener
- James Gandolfini
- Lauren Ambrose
- Catherine O'Hara
- Forest Whitaker
- Chris Cooper
- Paul Dano
- Spike Jonze
- Pepita Emmerichs
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Where the Wild Things Are about?
- A lonely, volatile boy escapes into a wild kingdom where enormous creatures reflect the unruly emotions he is still learning to understand.
- What is Where the Wild Things Are like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Where the Wild Things Are as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Where the Wild Things Are violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Where the Wild Things Are as mild.
- What did critics think of Where the Wild Things Are?
- Critics broadly praised the film's imaginative visual design, heartfelt emotional depth, and uncompromising treatment of childhood, while finding its narrative slender and tone unexpectedly dark for children.
- Which films are like Where the Wild Things Are?
- Films with a similar feel include The NeverEnding Story, Bridge to Terabithia, Pan's Labyrinth, and The BFG.
- How long is Where the Wild Things Are?
- Where the Wild Things Are runs 101 minutes.
- Where can I watch Where the Wild Things Are?
- In United States, Where the Wild Things Are streams on fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel.
