‘Forgotten Island’ Heads to Digital Despite Tough Box Office Run

Original animated films have a tough road in theaters these days, even when audiences and critics love them. DreamWorks Animation has just learned that lesson again with ‘Forgotten Island’, an inventive adventure rooted in Filipino folklore. The studio’s newest original is already preparing to leave the big screen, and the story of how it got here is worth a closer look.

The film, directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, is set in the Philippines in the 1990s and follows two best friends, Jo, voiced by H.E.R., and Raissa, voiced by Liza Soberano.

On their last night together before graduating, a portal sends them to the mystical island of Nakali, where their only escape might cost them the memories of their friendship. Along the way, they befriend creatures from Filipino mythology, including the dreaded Manananggal, voiced by Lea Salonga.

Now The Hollywood Handle has pointed out that ‘Forgotten Island’ is already heading to digital platforms on October 27, just over a month after its September 25 theatrical release. The post notes that the film has grossed about $60 million so far against an $80 million budget. A physical release on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD follows on December 1.

The digital version arrives with a new commentary and 60 minutes of bonus features at participating retailers, including a making-of documentary. As for subscription streaming, an official Peacock date hasn’t been announced. Universal says the digital debut will come ahead of the film’s physical release, which is a fast turnaround for a studio animated feature.

‘FORGOTTEN ISLAND’ is officially already releasing digitally on October 27. The film grossed $60M on a $80M budget so far. https://t.co/E5oT3Hn8BI
— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) October 20, 2026

The box office numbers tell a difficult story. The film opened to $12.8 million domestically and $20.6 million worldwide, placing fifth and ranking among the lowest openings in DreamWorks Animation history, according to several outlets. Weekly grosses then fell from there, and Screen Rant estimates that the $80 million budget puts its break-even point somewhere around $200 million.

That’s a stark contrast with how it was received. The film holds a Certified Fresh 94% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, based on 121 reviews, and a Verified Hot 95% from audiences, along with an A from CinemaScore. Metacritic gives it a 73, indicating generally favorable reviews, and Letterboxd users have rated it around 3.9 out of 5.

Wapoosh! 🤜🤛 From the directors of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Experience @DreamWorks Forgotten Island only in theaters September 25! https://t.co/FTdXOE35N3
— DreamWorks Animation (@Dreamworks) June 23, 2026

Reviewers have praised the film’s visuals and cultural representation. The Hollywood Reporter called it a dazzling original that celebrates Filipino folklore with wit and imagination, and noted that elements of the story lean into horror, which earns it a PG rating. DiscussingFilm even described it as the best DreamWorks film of the decade, a line Universal has used in its marketing.

The voice cast also includes Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy and Ronny Chieng. Collider noted that Letterboxd users described it as a mashup of ‘The Hangover’ and ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ with a family-friendly Filipino twist. Crawford previously directed ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ and ‘The Croods: A New Age’.

The timing of the digital release also reflects a crowded landscape. The film is the tenth highest-grossing fully animated movie of the year so far, but family audiences have plenty of choices, and Universal’s next big animated title, ‘The Cat in the Hat’, reaches theaters on November 6. By moving quickly to digital, the studio gives families who missed it another chance to find it before the holiday season.

For a movie that has been so widely praised, the home market could give ‘Forgotten Island’ a second life. Word of mouth often works differently at home, where parents and kids can watch together without worrying about showtimes or ticket prices. If the strong audience scores are any indication, plenty of viewers could discover it in the weeks ahead.