Where the Wild Things Are

A 2009 American fantasy adventure drama directed by Spike Jonze, based on Maurice Sendak's 1963 children's book of the same name. The screenplay was written by Jonze and Dave Eggers, with Sendak's active involvement. The film combines live-action, performers in costumes, animatronics, and CGI. The protagonist, eight-year-old Max (Max Records), feels misunderstood at home, especially after a conflict with his mother (Catherine Keener). In a fit of anger, he runs away and sails to an island inhabited by large creatures who crown him as their king. Among them are Carol (James Gandolfini), K.W. (Lauren Ambrose), Judith (Catherine O’Hara), Alexander (Paul Dano), Ira (Forest Whitaker), and Douglas (Chris Cooper). Max promises to create a perfect kingdom for them but soon faces the challenges of leadership and the complexities of the creatures' emotions. The film explores themes of loneliness, childhood imagination, and emotional growth. The music was composed by Karen O and Carter Burwell. Despite positive critical reviews, the film was not a commercial success, grossing around $100 million against an $80 million budget. It received nominations for a Golden Globe and Satellite Awards for Best Original Score and was included in the National Board of Review's list of the top ten films of the year.