Where The Wild Things Are

Year

2009

Duration

99 minutes

Genres

Action and Adventure, Science Fiction and Fantasy

Language

English (English subtitles)

What is an Into Film Club?

Synopsis

Nine-year-old Max has a wild imagination and an eagerness to play. He enjoys dressing up as a wolf and building snow forts, but when his sister’s friends destroy it and he has a fight with his mum, Max’s frustration also runs wild. He angrily takes off into the night and comes across mysterious little boat moored nearby. He then sets sail across an ocean, leaving his troubles behind. He arrives in a strange land, inhabited by a community of giant talking creatures with whom he feels a strong connection. After declaring himself king of this new realm, Max soon discovers that being a leader isn’t as easy or carefree as it may seem. As he explores this fantastical world, Max must make the choice between the excitement of his kingdom or the comfort of home. Adapted from Maurice Sendak's beloved children’s book, this film explores complex emotions like loneliness and jealousy through an empathetic and visceral lens.

Director/s

Spike Jonze

Cast (in alphabetical order)

Also available with this film on Into Film+

3 RESOURCES

Find the resources related to Where The Wild Things Are (2009) to use in your teaching

What is an Into Film Club?

Classification

Contains mild threat and brief violence.

Find out more on the BBFC website

This film is part of the following themes

Mental Wellbeing
Identity

Also available with this film on Into Film+

3 RESOURCES

Find the resources related to Where The Wild Things Are (2009) to use in your teaching

Resources To Use With This Film

The BFG (2016): Film Guide

Roald Dahl Day, 13 Sep

A film guide that looks at The BFG (2016), exploring its key topics and themes through informal discussion.

Suitable for 7–11

1 ppt

View resource

The Gruffalo: Film Guide

A film guide that looks at The Gruffalo (2009), exploring its key topics and themes through informal discussion.

Suitable for 5–11

1 pdf

View resource

Still for Positive Mental Health film guide.

Wellbeing: Positive Mental Health

A discussion guide on positive mental health using a variety of youth made short films.

Suitable for 11+

1 pdf

View resource

Where the Wild Things Are: Film Guide

A film guide that looks at Where the Wild Things Are (2009), exploring its key topics and themes through informal discussion.

Suitable for 7–11

1 ppt

View resource

Related Films

James and the Giant Peach(1996)

Stream on Into Film+

Stuck with his evil aunts, James creates a magical, enormous peach. Befriending the charming insects inside, he attempts an escape.

1,739 Reviews

Certificate

5–11 years 79 mins

Alice in Wonderland(1951)

A series of bizarre and unforgettable adventures in this much-loved adaptation of Lewis Carroll's classic story.

1,218 Reviews

Certificate

5–11 years 73 mins

Spirited Away(2001)

Extraordinary, Oscar-winning fantasy animated film from Japan following the down-the-rabbit-hole adventures of a young girl named Chihiro.

6,078 Reviews

Certificate

7+ years 125 mins

Coraline(2009)

When Coraline discovers a secret path to a parallel universe, she finds a seemingly perfect world but not everything may be as it seems.

5,177 Reviews

Certificate

7–14 years 100 mins

Rate this film

Club Leaders can rate films! Help other club leaders decide if this film is suitable for use in their film club by giving it a rating.

Rate this film

Your rating

Click a star to rate this film

Ratings guide

Worked brilliantly
Went down well
Had some value
Did not enjoy it
Would not use again

Member rating

2857 Reviews

Members rating breakdown

5 Star

881

4 Star

687

3 Star

598

2 Star

328

1 Star

363

View all reviews

Leader rating

This film has not been rated by a club leader yet. Be the first to rate this film.

Start an Into Film Club or Log in to rate this film

Sort reviews by

Viewing 0 of 0 Reviews found.

Into Film Clubs

Into Film Clubs provide opportunities to watch, review and make films.

Start an Into Film Club

Do I Need a Licence?

Information on which licences you need to show films in your education setting.

Find out more

How do Into Film Clubs work?

Find out more about what's involved in running your very own Into Film Club.

Find out more

Training

Learn to use film to raise literacy attainment and engage students.

'A Monster Calls' and the value of fantasy as escapism

22 Dec 2016 BY Elinor Walpole in Film Features

We take a look at new fantasy drama A Monster Calls and how storytelling and films can be used to help people cope with difficult issues and overcome anxiety.

Reading time 7 mins

View Article

'Autism Awareness' is March's Film of the Month

26 Apr 2017 in Film of the Month

Made by a group of autistic young people from Wales, this film sees them appealing for greater understanding of the challenges they face every day at school.

Viewing time 10 mins

Play Video

Explore Mental and Emotional Wellbeing with Into Film+

12 Sep 2024 in Into Film+

The Into Film+ streaming service can help you explore the many varied - and sometimes difficult - topics around mental wellbeing for World Mental Health Day.

Reading time 10 mins

View Article

Hunt for the Wilderpeople: highlighting the power of creativity

16 Sep 2016 BY Joe Ursell in Film Features

We explore how the New Zealand comedy-drama reaches beyond its odd-couple dynamic to highlight how creativity and humour can help people express themselves.

Reading time 4 mins

View Article

A resource to support pupils to work with film soundtracks as stimulus for

Review Writing Competition: International Music Day

11 May 2017

To celebrate International Music Day (21 June), our new review competition asks young people to review films with a focus on music, from Fantasia to La La Land.

Reading time 3 mins

View Article

Mental Wellbeing

Explore how film can be a wonderful tool for developing emotional understanding and mental wellbeing.

Films 47

Resources 45

View theme

Identity

Films acts as a window into the wider world, and offers contexts and points of view that might otherwise be closed to them.

Films 20

Resources 128

View theme

Emotional Wellbeing

A list of films on Into Film+ and Into Film+ Premium that explore how people overcome challenging times to achieve emotional wellbeing.

Suitable forAll ages

No. of films14

View film list

Music Day

Music Day, 21 Jun

A film list that celebrates the power of music to express identity and bring people together.

Suitable forAll ages

No. of films16

View film list

Viewing 0 of 0 related items.

Where The Wild Things Are

Film Details

Year

Duration

Genres

Language

Synopsis

Director/s

Cast (in alphabetical order)

Also available with this film on Into Film+

3 RESOURCES

Additional details

Classification

Engaging for ages

This film is part of the following themes

Also available with this film on Into Film+

3 RESOURCES

Resources To Use With This Film

The BFG (2016): Film Guide

Roald Dahl Day, 13 Sep

The Gruffalo: Film Guide

Wellbeing: Positive Mental Health

Where the Wild Things Are: Film Guide

Related Films

James and the Giant Peach(1996)

James and the Giant Peach(1996)

Alice in Wonderland(1951)

Alice in Wonderland(1951)

Spirited Away(2001)

Spirited Away(2001)

Coraline(2009)

Coraline(2009)

Rate this film

Your rating

Member rating

Leader rating

Reviews (2856)

Into Film Clubs

Do I Need a Licence?

How do Into Film Clubs work?

Training

You may also be interested in...

'A Monster Calls' and the value of fantasy as escapism

'Autism Awareness' is March's Film of the Month

Explore Mental and Emotional Wellbeing with Into Film+

Hunt for the Wilderpeople: highlighting the power of creativity

Review Writing Competition: International Music Day

Mental Wellbeing

Identity

Emotional Wellbeing

Music Day

Music Day, 21 Jun

What our educators say