Forgotten Island did not get the box office run it deserved. The DreamWorks Animation fantasy film arrived in theaters on September 25, 2026, earned a 94% critics score and a 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, and still struggled to fill seats. A second chance is coming on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, when the movie becomes available to rent and buy on digital platforms in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, India, and other major markets.
What the Movie Is About
Forgotten Island follows two best friends, Jo and Raissa, on their last night together before their lives take separate paths after high school. A mysterious portal pulls them into Nakali, a mythical island filled with creatures from stories their Filipino families told them growing up. The two soon learn that their memories are fading. They have to find a way home before they forget each other completely.
H.E.R. voices Jo, and Liza Soberano voices Raissa. The supporting cast includes Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng, and Lea Salonga. Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, the team behind Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, wrote and directed the film.
The Digital Date and What Comes With It
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment confirmed the digital release for October 27, 2026. The movie will be available for digital purchase and rental on major video-on-demand platforms. A physical release on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD will follow on December 1, 2026.
The digital package includes more than 60 minutes of bonus features at participating retailers. The extras include:
- Friends for Life: H.E.R. and Liza Soberano talk about how their characters’ friendship grows into something that feels like family.
- Creatures of Lore: The cast and filmmakers explain their modern take on Filipino mythology.
- Tayo Na! The Making of Forgotten Island: A look at the film’s anime-inspired visual style and the creation of Nakali.
- Friendship and Filipino Culture: The directors travel through the Philippines to explore the roots of the story.
- The Sounds of Forgotten Island: A breakdown of how music shaped the film’s world.
- “A Parallel World” Lyric Video: The official BINI track from the movie.
- How to Draw: The Wild Pack: Drawing tutorials for Bungi Tiyanak, Prince Mermahn, and Raww.
- Feature commentary with writer-directors Joel Crawford and Januel P. Mercado.
A Critical Favorite That Missed Theaters
Forgotten Island opened at No. 5 in North America with $12.8 million and slipped to No. 6 in its second weekend with $7.2 million. By late October, the film had grossed $35.2 million domestically and $25.3 million internationally, for a worldwide total of $60.6 million against a reported $80 million production budget. It was removed from about 1,400 theaters over four weeks.
The reviews told a different story. The film debuted with a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes ahead of release and settled at 94% from critics and 95% from audiences. CinemaScore gave it an A. ScreenRant called it “breathless, joyful chaos” and “overflowing with visual creativity and manic humor.”
“It was just so organic, especially because we’re both Filipino. We’ve been talking so much about how when you meet another Filipino, immediately you’re like family. You relate to each other, and it’s like a safe space. We experienced that recording together.” — H.E.R., speaking to Polygon about working with Liza Soberano
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Why the Philippines Embraced It
The film made history as the first Filipino-themed animated feature from a major Hollywood studio. In the Philippines, it opened at No. 1 with ₱97.2 million (PHP 97,236,533) during its September 23–27 frame, the biggest opening weekend for a Universal release in the country in 2026. Box Office Mojo recorded a $1.532 million opening from 207 cinemas.
Lea Salonga, who voices The Dreaded Manananggal, told ABS-CBN that the film’s success in the Philippines mattered more than its global box office. “For me, it’s already a win,” she said.
The movie also became the first film to premiere at the newly opened Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles on September 23, 2026, a day after the museum opened to the public.
For more release dates and streaming updates on the movies you actually want to watch, keep reading VvipTimes.
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