Wildwood is LAIKA’s stop-motion fantasy directed by Travis Knight, with voices from Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett and Tom Waits. Tremblay also stars in Netflix’s Unabomber, and Waits appears in Wild Horse Nine, both covered on our site.
Music is baked into this story from the start. The film is adapted from the novel by Colin Meloy, the frontman of The Decemberists.
The official album pairs an original score by Oscar winner Dario Marianelli with a new end-credits song from The Decemberists, The Better Part of Bravery.
Below you will find the full tracklist, the composers, the one confirmed licensed song and every place to listen.
Wildwood Soundtrack Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Film | Wildwood |
| Director | Travis Knight |
| Studio | LAIKA |
| U.S. distributor | Fathom Entertainment |
| Film release | October 23, 2026 (U.S. theaters); world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on October 11 |
| Composer | Dario Marianelli |
| Original song by | The Decemberists |
| Label | Decca Records |
| Soundtrack release | October 23, 2026 (digital) |
| Total tracks | 26 (28 on vinyl, CD and deluxe digital) |
| Runtime | 1 hr 5 min 42 sec (26-track standard edition) |
Wildwood soundtrack overview
The Wildwood (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) album arrives digitally on October 23, 2026 through Decca Records, the same day the film opens in U.S. theaters. Physical copies follow in the weeks after.
It holds 25 score cues and one song. The vinyl, CD and deluxe digital editions add two more Decemberists tracks, Bandit Kind and Alexandra’s Lullaby.
A Variety review describes the music as constantly shifting and richly colored, blending Celtic-style strings, military percussion and light acoustic touches.
LAIKA also released a separate companion album, Wildwood Sessions, on October 16. It is music inspired by the film, not the official soundtrack.
Want more film scores like this one? Browse our movie soundtracks archive.
Who composed the Wildwood soundtrack?
Dario Marianelli
Dario Marianelli was born in Pisa, Italy, and studied in Florence before moving to London in 1990. He later trained at the Guildhall School of Music and graduated from the National Film and Television School in 1997.
His breakthrough came with Joe Wright’s Pride & Prejudice in 2005, which earned him an Academy Award nomination. He then won both the Oscar and the Golden Globe for Atonement.
Animation is a second home for him. He scored LAIKA’s The Boxtrolls (2014), his first animated feature, and Kubo and the Two Strings (2016), then reunited with Knight on Bumblebee (2018).
Wildwood is his third LAIKA score and his third project with Knight. Film Music Reporter first reported his involvement in May 2022.
Marianelli has said the job meant stepping into Meloy’s wild imagination and LAIKA’s handcrafted world. He called the musical journey unpredictable and, at times, daunting.
The Decemberists and Colin Meloy
The Decemberists wrote the film’s closing song. Colin Meloy is the band’s frontman and the author of the original novel, which his wife Carson Ellis illustrated.
According to Stereogum, The Better Part of Bravery is the band’s first new music in more than two years. Meloy said Knight asked him years ago to write it.
Wildwood official tracklist
Here is the full 26-track standard edition, as listed by Film Music Reporter and the label’s press announcement.
- The Impassable Wilderness (2:38)
- Meet the McKeels (1:54)
- Into the Wild Wood (1:54)
- The Coyotes (0:57)
- A Wildwood Chase (1:31)
- Journey to South Wood (1:48)
- Alexandra, The Dowager Governess (2:04)
- Pittock Mansion (1:13)
- Curtis Rides Out (4:06)
- Prue on the Run (4:13)
- 86 Rue Thorndon (1:40)
- Alexei’s Story (4:48)
- A Flight and a Dogfight (3:51)
- The Ivy’s Waltz (1:14)
- Here’s the Thing (2:13)
- Escape from the Warren (1:28)
- The Deal (2:07)
- Iphigenia & the Mystics (4:05)
- Three Armies (2:04)
- Into Battle (3:11)
- ATTACK! (2:46)
- The Plinth (3:52)
- Victory (1:29)
- Time to Go Back (2:30)
- Homecoming (1:41)
- The Better Part of Bravery – The Decemberists (4:25)
Bonus tracks (vinyl, CD and deluxe digital):
- Bandit Kind – The Decemberists
- Alexandra’s Lullaby – The Decemberists
Score highlights
- The Impassable Wilderness opens the album and shares its name with the enchanted forest at the heart of the story.
- Journey to South Wood was the first score cue released ahead of the album, giving listeners an early taste of Marianelli’s sound.
- Curtis Rides Out and Prue on the Run are among the longer cues. Their titles suggest chase or journey moments for the two young leads.
- Alexei’s Story is the longest score cue at 4:48.
- A Flight and a Dogfight likely accompanies an aerial sequence, since the film features a giant golden eagle voiced by Angela Bassett.
- Iphigenia & the Mystics takes its name from a character voiced by Tantoo Cardinal.
- Three Armies, Into Battle and ATTACK! appear together in the back half. Their titles point toward the coming war at the center of the plot.
- The Better Part of Bravery closes the film. Variety reports that LAIKA is submitting it for Oscar consideration in the original song category.
Wildwood licensed songs and needle drops
Portland, Oregon by Loretta Lynn is the confirmed licensed song. Variety calls it an early needle drop, and Portland Monthly says it plays as Prue bikes through Old Town.
Original Decemberists songs
- The Better Part of Bravery (end credits; on the standard album)
- Bandit Kind (bonus track)
- Alexandra’s Lullaby (bonus track)
Wildwood Sessions companion album
Wildwood Sessions has 13 tracks and arrived October 16 via LAIKA, as covered by Stereogum and Relix.
- Goldmine – Still Woozy
- Some Days Are Made For Rain – Saya Gray
- Nature In Me – Omari Jazz, Bocha & Donte Thomas
- Things Don’t Change – Aminé
- You Can Count On Me – Portugal. The Man
- The Hill – Ringdown
- That’s Enough For Me – quickly, quickly
- Evergreen – New Constellations
- Wildwood – Three for Silver
- Rose Parade – Ryan Oxford (feat. Hell Nancy)
- Bad Influence – Rachel Fannan
- Anyway – quickly, quickly
- I Want To Be Lost – The Decemberists
Dario Marianelli filmography
| Year | Film | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Pride & Prejudice | Joe Wright | Oscar nominee |
| 2006 | V for Vendetta | James McTeigue | |
| 2007 | Atonement | Joe Wright | Oscar and Golden Globe winner |
| 2011 | Jane Eyre | Cary Joji Fukunaga | |
| 2012 | Anna Karenina | Joe Wright | Oscar nominee |
| 2014 | The Boxtrolls | Graham Annable, Anthony Stacchi | His first animated score |
| 2016 | Kubo and the Two Strings | Travis Knight | LAIKA |
| 2017 | Darkest Hour | Joe Wright | BAFTA nominee |
| 2017 | Paddington 2 | Paul King | |
| 2018 | Bumblebee | Travis Knight | |
| 2024 | Paddington in Peru | Dougal Wilson | |
| 2026 | Wildwood | Travis Knight | LAIKA |
Where to listen to the Wildwood Soundtrack?
The Wildwood soundtrack streams digitally from October 23, 2026, on major services including Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music, through Decca Records. Use the label’s official listening link to pick your platform. CD and double vinyl editions ship in the following weeks, and the companion Wildwood Sessions album is already streaming. For more release updates, check our soundtrack news.
Related reading: Browse more movie soundtracks, see the Wild Horse Nine Soundtrack (another film featuring Tom Waits), or browse our full streaming guide.
FAQs
Who composed the Wildwood soundtrack?
Dario Marianelli composed the score. The Decemberists wrote and performed the end-credits song, The Better Part of Bravery.
How many tracks are on the Wildwood soundtrack?
The standard digital album has 26 tracks and runs about 1 hour, 5 minutes. Vinyl, CD and deluxe digital editions add two bonus tracks, for 28 in total.
When is the Wildwood soundtrack release date?
The album arrives digitally on October 23, 2026 via Decca Records. Physical editions follow in the weeks after.
Who sings the song at the end of Wildwood?
The Decemberists perform The Better Part of Bravery, which closes the film. Colin Meloy, who wrote the novel, also wrote the song.
Is there a licensed song in Wildwood?
Yes. Portland, Oregon by Loretta Lynn plays early in the film during Prue’s bike ride through Portland.
What is the Wildwood Sessions album?
It is a 13-track companion album of music inspired by the film, released October 16 through LAIKA. It features Still Woozy, Saya Gray, Aminé and Portugal. The Man, among others.
Where can I stream the Wildwood soundtrack?
You can stream it from October 23 on major platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music. Decca’s official link collects them all in one place.