Once in a while, an animated movie comes along that captures the hearts of audiences across the board, and that was exactly the case with “The Wild Robot” in 2024. Now, that success has carried over to Netflix, where the film quickly became the most-watched title in the U.S. within 48 hours, according to FlixPatrol.
This achievement is no small feat. Despite not being a new release, it surpassed “Fear Street: Prom Queen”—the fourth installment in the popular slasher franchise—and “Instant Family,” the 2018 Mark Wahlberg comedy that found renewed popularity on the small screen.
Although the picture earned widespread acclaim from both critics and audiences during its theatrical run, it missed out on the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, losing to “Flow.” Still, it has secured a lasting place in the hearts of many, and its streaming success proves it continues to resonate.
‘The Wild Robot’ dominates Netflix USA rankings
The film follows Roz, a service robot shipwrecked on an uninhabited island who must learn to adapt to her surroundings, form bonds with the local wildlife, and ultimately become the adoptive mother to an orphaned goose named Brightbill.
Based on the 2016 novel by Peter Brown, it features an all-star voice cast including Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu, Matt Berry, Ving Rhames, Mark Hamill, and Catherine O’Hara. Its visuals adopt a distinctive watercolor style, inspired by classic Disney animation and the works of Hayao Miyazaki.
From its theatrical debut, the movie received widespread praise for its storytelling, themes, animation quality, score, emotional depth, and voice performances. It was also a commercial hit, grossing $333.8 million worldwide.
Among its many accolades, it won nine Annie Awards—including Best Animated Feature—claimed Best Animated Feature honors at the Critics’ Choice and Producers Guild of America Awards, and earned three Academy Award nominations, becoming DreamWorks’ most-nominated film in Oscar history.
As is often the case with successful productions, a sequel is now in development. Director Chris Sanders initially expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “This was a labor of love on the part of everybody at the studio, and yes, I think I’d love to go and stay here for a while.” In October, he confirmed the continuation is officially underway, meaning fans won’t have to wait long to reunite with these beloved characters.
