If you loved
Where the Wild Things Are
Maurice Sendak · Book · 2009
What hooked you in Where the Wild Things Are was the way childhood emotions manifest as sprawling, fantastical landscapes of discovery.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Where the Wild Things Are
Spike Jonze · Film · 2009
Films on the same thread
The Wizard of Oz
Victor Fleming · Film · 1939
Explores: Good vs Evil, The power of belief, There's no place like home.
Much like the journey Max takes in Where the Wild Things Are, this film captures the wonder and self-discovery found when a child is transported to a vibrant, surreal world.
Spirited Away
Hayao Miyazaki · Film · 2001
Explores: environmentalism, loss of innocence, identity.
If you appreciated the way Where the Wild Things Are portrays a child navigating an overwhelming new reality, you will recognize that same sense of wonder and isolation here.
How to Train Your Dragon
Dean DeBlois · Film · 2025
Explores: Bridging the Divide, Acceptance of the Other, Challenging Tradition.
This story mirrors the themes of Where the Wild Things Are by showing how an unconventional bond with a misunderstood creature helps a young protagonist navigate their own growth.
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Dean DeBlois · Film · 2019
Explores: utopia, loss of innocence, leadership.
Fans of the emotional maturity in Where the Wild Things Are will connect with this exploration of how the relationships we build with wild creatures shape our personal development.
Series on the same thread
Stranger Things
Ross Duffer · Series · 2016
Shares a thread with Where the Wild Things Are: Monsters.
This series captures the same intersection of childhood imagination and dark, supernatural mystery that defines the atmosphere of Where the Wild Things Are, grounding it in youthful perspective.
Adventure Time
Pendleton Ward · Series · 2010
Shares a thread with Where the Wild Things Are: Coming of Age.
The surreal, adventurous spirit found in Where the Wild Things Are is mirrored in these characters who traverse a strange land, relying on friendship to navigate their own coming-of-age.
Over the Garden Wall
Patrick McHale · Series · 2014
Explores: Brotherhood, Lost in the Woods, Nostalgia.
If you loved the way Where the Wild Things Are turns a forest journey into a fable about childhood feelings, you will find a similar resonance in this atmospheric tale.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Michael Dante DiMartino · Series · 2005
Explores: Elemental Powers, Destiny, Balance of Power.
Like the young king in Where the Wild Things Are, this protagonist embarks on a transformative quest that balances the weight of destiny with the vulnerability of being young.
Podcasts on the same thread
Myths and Legends
Jason Weiser, Carissa Weiser, Nextpod · Podcast · 2026
Explores: cultural origins, archetypal storytelling, human condition.
Because Where the Wild Things Are functions as a modern myth, you will appreciate how these stories explore the same archetypal patterns that have shaped cultures throughout human history.
Zane and Heath: Unfiltered
Zane & Heath · Podcast · 2026
Explores: creator culture, friendship dynamics, candid storytelling.
While it lacks the fantasy of Where the Wild Things Are, the focus on candid friendship dynamics provides a grounded look at the same evolving social bonds Max experiences.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Where the Wild Things Are based on a book?
Yes, the 2009 movie Where the Wild Things Are is based on the 2009 children's book written by Maurice Sendak. The story follows a young boy named Max who sails to a land of wild things after being sent to bed without his supper.
What is the plot of Where the Wild Things Are?
The story of Where the Wild Things Are centers on a boy named Max who is sent to bed without dinner. He travels to the land of the wild things and eventually becomes their king, representing a passage through the tempestuous aspects of life.
Should I read the book before watching the Where the Wild Things Are movie?
Reading the 2009 book Where the Wild Things Are before watching the 2009 film adaptation provides context for the story of Max. Both versions explore the same narrative about a boy experiencing difficult life emotions after being sent to bed without his supper.
Is Where the Wild Things Are considered a children's book?
Yes, Where the Wild Things Are is an inspired children's book written by Maurice Sendak. It depicts the emotional journey of a boy named Max who visits the land of the wild things and becomes their king after being punished for his behavior.