Spotlight - Laika

Few animation studios have cultivated a reputation quite like LAIKA. At a time when much of the animation industry is increasingly driven by sequels, franchises and familiar intellectual property, LAIKA has remained committed to original storytelling, handcrafted artistry and ambitious filmmaking. Every release carries a distinctive visual identity, blending traditional stop motion techniques with technological innovation in ways few studios have attempted.

From the breakthrough arrival of Coraline in 2009 to the recent release of Wildwood, LAIKA's journey at the UK box office tells a story of artistic ambition, devoted audiences and remarkable longevity. While the studio has never achieved the commercial scale of Pixar, Illumination or DreamWorks, it has created a catalogue whose cultural impact extends far beyond opening weekends and final grosses.

The Coraline Breakthrough - A Cult Classic Finds Its Audience

Coraline (2009)

LAIKA announced itself in spectacular fashion with Coraline, a dark fantasy adventure that immediately stood apart from contemporary family animation. Opening to a strong £2,427,244 from 460 cinemas, the film went on to earn £7,244,992 and finished as the 41st highest grossing release of the year. Adjusted for inflation, the original release rises to £12,614,865. What truly separates Coraline from most animated films is the longevity of its appeal. The film continued attracting new audiences long after leaving cinemas, gradually developing a passionate fanbase and widespread critical admiration. That enduring popularity culminated in a hugely successful 15th Anniversary re release during 2024, introducing the film to a new generation of cinema goers. As a result, Coraline now ranks 754th on the all time UK box office chart and 901st on the inflation adjusted chart. These positions include both the original 2009 release and the 2024 anniversary re release, reflecting the film's extraordinary staying power and its status as LAIKA's most beloved production.

Building the Studio Identity - Critical Acclaim Meets Consistent Performance

ParaNorman (2012)

Rather than becoming a one hit success, LAIKA quickly demonstrated that Coraline was only the beginning. ParaNorman opened to £1,219,194 across 480 cinemas before reaching £6,440,052. It ranked 59th for the year and adjusts to £9,871,372. The film reinforced the studio's unique creative identity, balancing humour, horror and heartfelt storytelling in a way rarely seen within mainstream family entertainment. While it could not replicate Coraline's cultural phenomenon, it helped establish LAIKA as a studio willing to tell stories that challenged traditional expectations of animated film making.

The Boxtrolls (2014)

The Boxtrolls opened to £2,000,597 on 535 screens and finished with £9,211,019. It ranked Commercially, The Boxtrolls remains LAIKA's most successful UK theatrical release. Launching with £2,000,597 from 535 cinemas, it ultimately reached £9,211,019 and ranked 35th for the year. Adjusted for inflation, that figure rises to £13,386,239, placing it 1,115th amongst all UK releases. The film benefited from a broader family appeal than some of the studio's earlier work while maintaining the craftsmanship and originality audiences had come to expect. More than a decade later, it remains the benchmark against which LAIKA's theatrical performances are measured.

The Commercial Challenge - Critical Success Without Box Office Growth

Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

Widely regarded as one of the finest animated films of its decade, Kubo and the Two Strings represented LAIKA at its most artistically ambitious. Opening to £844,027 from 520 cinemas, the film ultimately grossed £3,259,004 and ranked 81st for the year. Its inflation adjusted total stands at £4,609,834. The result highlighted a growing challenge for original animated productions. Despite glowing reviews and strong awards recognition, family audiences were increasingly gravitating towards familiar brands and established franchises, making it more difficult for original stories to achieve significant box office success.

Missing Link (2019)

A similar pattern emerged with Missing Link. The adventure comedy opened to £644,649 across 543 cinemas and finished with £3,206,446, ranking 67th for the year. Adjusted for inflation, its final total reaches £4,159,430. Although the film was warmly received by critics and animation enthusiasts, it further demonstrated the increasingly difficult theatrical environment facing original animation during the late 2010s. For LAIKA, artistic achievement continued to outpace commercial performance.

A Return to the Other World - The Enduring Strength of Coraline

Coraline (15th Anniversary) (2024)

The Coraline 15th Anniversary reissue opended to £1,260,124 from only 388 cinemas, the film ultimately earned £3,296,569 and finished 59th for the year. Adjusted for inflation, that total rises to £3,435,508. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the rerelease is what it says about the film's legacy. More than fifteen years after its debut, Coraline outperformed the original theatrical totals of both Kubo and the Two Strings and Missing Link. Rather than simply revisiting a nostalgic favourite, audiences embraced the film as an event release, confirming its place amongst the most enduring animated titles of the modern era.

Wildwood and the Future - A New Chapter Begins

Wildwood (2026)

After a lengthy absence from cinemas, LAIKA returned with Wildwood. Opening to £1,022,599 from 655 cinemas, the film has already reached £2,813,350 and currently ranks 52nd for the year. While still significantly below the studio's historical high point achieved by The Boxtrolls, the performance represents an encouraging recovery following the more subdued launches of Kubo and the Two Strings and Missing Link. The opening weekend alone comfortably surpassed both films, suggesting that interest in the LAIKA brand remains healthy despite the increasingly competitive family marketplace. Early indications suggest Wildwood is benefiting from several years of anticipation as well as renewed public awareness generated by the success of Coraline's anniversary rerelease. Although its theatrical run is still unfolding, it has already become LAIKA's highest grossing new release since The Boxtrolls and demonstrates that audiences remain receptive to the studio's distinctive style of film making.

Box Office Totals and Long Term Market Position

Across seventeen years of theatrical releases, LAIKA has established itself as one of the most distinctive animation studios working today. While larger competitors have built empires around extensive franchises and recurring characters, LAIKA has largely pursued a different path, investing in original worlds, handcrafted artistry and stories that often push beyond the boundaries of traditional family entertainment. Coraline remains the studio's defining achievement, grossing £7,244,992 during its original release before generating a further £3,296,569 through its hugely successful anniversary return. ParaNorman followed with £6,440,052, while The Boxtrolls stands as the studio's highest grossing UK release with £9,211,019 and an inflation adjusted total of £13,386,239.

Although Kubo and the Two Strings and Missing Link struggled to translate critical acclaim into substantial box office returns, both reinforced LAIKA's reputation for creative excellence. In many ways, the studio's greatest commercial success may be the enduring value of its catalogue. The extraordinary performance of Coraline's rerelease demonstrated that audience affection for these films continues to grow long after their initial runs have ended. Now Wildwood begins the next chapter. Having already reached £2,813,350 and secured a place amongst the year's stronger family performers, the film suggests that LAIKA remains a respected and relevant presence within modern animation. Whether it ultimately joins the studio's biggest successes remains to be seen, but its early performance is a clear reminder that there continues to be a market for ambitious, original animation.

Taken together, LAIKA's UK box office history reveals something increasingly rare in contemporary cinema. The studio may not produce the industry's biggest hits, yet few animation companies can rival the consistency of its artistic reputation. Its films endure, its audience remains loyal, and nearly two decades after Coraline first opened the door to the Other World, LAIKA continues to prove that craftsmanship and imagination still have a place on the big screen.