Ranking the output of LAIKA Studios means evaluating some of the most meticulous, visually jaw-dropping stop-motion animation ever produced. Based on a combination of critical reception, Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer scores, Metacritic averages, and enduring cultural footprint, every feature film from the Oregon-based studio can be definitively ordered from weakest to strongest. Even the studio's lowest-ranked efforts outclass standard mainstream animation in terms of sheer craftsmanship, proving that physical puppet animation still holds a unique magic.
Here is the ultimate critical ranking of every LAIKA movie, moving from the bottom of the barrel to the absolute peak of stop-motion mastery.
6. The Boxtrolls (2014)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 78%
- Metacritic: 61
- Director: Anthony Stacchi and Graham Annable
Adapting Alan Snow's sprawling fantasy novel Here Be Monsters!, The Boxtrolls sits at the bottom of the LAIKA catalog primarily due to narrative friction. The film follows Eggs, a human orphan raised by lovable, trash-collecting cavern dwellers, as he tries to save his surrogate family from an exterminator voiced with scenery-chewing glee by Ben Kingsley.
The visual design is delightfully grotesque, leaning heavily into Victorian industrial grime and eccentric character silhouettes. Yet the script struggles to balance its quirky world-building with a predictable plot. It's safe, slightly messy in its third act, and lacks the emotional punch of the studio's best work, though it remains a visual feast for younger viewers.
5. Missing Link (2019)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
- Metacritic: 68
- Director: Chris Butler
Missing Link is an ambitious globe-trotting adventure that combines classic Victorian exploration tropes with a surprisingly tender story about identity. Voiced by Zach Galifianakis, Mr. Link is an articulate, lonely Bigfoot who recruits an intrepid explorer (Hugh Jackman) to help him find his mythical Yeti cousins in the Himalayas.
While it won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature, it stands as LAIKA's biggest box office misfire, partly because its comedic tone feels a bit more mainstream and formulaic than the dark edges fans expect. Still, the facial animation and costume textures showcase incredible technical evolution, featuring some of the most complex color palettes and physical environments the studio ever attempted.
4. ParaNorman (2012)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
- Metacritic: 72
- Director: Chris Butler and Sam Fell
ParaNorman marked a major step forward for LAIKA, blending supernatural horror tropes with a deeply compassionate message about bullying and mob mentality. Norman Babcock can talk to the dead, a gift that alienates him from his superficial suburban town until a centuries-old witch's curse forces him to save everyone.
The movie deserves immense praise for subverting expectations. The twist regarding the true nature of the antagonist is genuinely moving, and the studio refuses to talk down to its audience. It features genuinely creepy moments that might frighten very young children, but its fearless commitment to tackling social ostracization makes it a standout modern Halloween classic.
3. Coraline (2009)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
- Metacritic: 80
- Director: Henry Selick
As LAIKA's debut feature film, Coraline set a monumental standard. Directed by Henry Selick and adapted from Neil Gaiman's dark novella, the film follows a neglected girl who discovers a seemingly perfect parallel world behind a secret door in her new home—only for it to turn into a terrifying trap.
The tactile dread of the Other Mother and the mesmerizing hand-crafted garden sequences cemented the movie as a masterpiece of gothic animation. It earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature, proving that children's animation could be genuinely unsettling without losing its sense of wonder.
2. Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
- Metacritic: 84
- Director: Travis Knight
Kubo and the Two Strings is an epic mythic journey set in ancient Japan, blending origami magic, generational trauma, and stunning action set pieces. Young Kubo must track down a magical suit of armor while fleeing vengeful celestial spirits.
Helmed by studio CEO Travis Knight, the film pushes the boundaries of rapid-prototyped 3D-printed facial expressions and large-scale puppet rigging—including a towering, multi-story skeleton adversary. It handles themes of grief and memory with rare maturity, creating an emotional resonance that stays with you long after the credits roll.
1. Wildwood (2026)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 99%
- Metacritic: 88
- Director: Travis Knight
Standing at the pinnacle of the studio's output, Wildwood adapts Colin Meloy’s fantasy novel into a breathtaking visual triumph. The narrative centers on a young girl's desperate mission to rescue her kidnapped baby brother inside a heavily restricted, magical forest outside Portland.
Travis Knight's direction reaches a new tier of sophistication here, balancing immense narrative scope with intimate, character-driven stakes. The stop-motion wizardry handles complex natural elements—like dense foliage, swirling mist, and organic wildlife—with a seamless fluidity that redefines what physical animation can achieve. It is a massive artistic achievement that rightfully claims the top spot in LAIKA's history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which LAIKA movie made the most money at the box office?
Coraline remains the studio's highest-grossing film commercially, pulling in over $124 million worldwide against its $60 million budget during its original run and subsequent re-releases.
Are all LAIKA movies stop-motion?
Yes. Every feature film produced by the studio relies primarily on stop-motion puppet animation, enhanced heavily by modern visual effects, computer-generated environments, and 3D-printed replacement faces.
Did Tim Burton direct Coraline?
No. Although Henry Selick previously directed The Nightmare Before Christmas—a film often mistakenly associated with Burton due to its aesthetic style—Coraline was directed entirely by Selick with LAIKA Studios. Burton did, however, work with the core team on Corpse Bride (2005), a pre-LAIKA project handled by Will Vinton Studios before its rebrand.
Where can I watch LAIKA movies?
Streaming availability varies by region and licensing agreements, but titles like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings regularly rotate through major digital rental platforms and subscription services like Peacock or Prime Video.
