Max imagines running away from his mom and sailing to a far-off land where large talking beasts—Ira, Carol, Douglas, the Bull, Judith and Alexander—crown him as their king, play rumpus, build forts and discover secret hideaways.
Directed by Spike Jonze
creature
based on children's book
children's book
lying
overflowing with imagination
children's perspectives
maurice sendak
Rank
#52 in 2009·#3398 overall
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.5 / 5
Where to Watch
Cast
Max Records
Max
Catherine Keener
Mom
James Gandolfini
Carol (voice)
Lauren Ambrose
KW (voice)
Catherine O'Hara
Judith (voice)
Forest Whitaker
Ira (voice)
Chris Cooper
Douglas (voice)
Paul Dano
Alexander (voice)
Spike Jonze
Bob (voice) / Terry (voice)
Mark Ruffalo
The Boyfriend
Ryan Corr
Claire's Friend
Steve Mouzakis
Teacher
Crew
Spike Jonze
Director
Spike Jonze
Screenplay
Dave Eggers
Screenplay
Karen O
Original Music Composer
Carter Burwell
Original Music Composer
Lance Acord
Director of Photography
Maurice Sendak
Producer
Tom Hanks
Producer
Vincent Landay
Producer
Gary Goetzman
Producer
Scott Mednick
Executive Producer
Jon Jashni
Executive Producer
Popular Reviews
1567 reviews
Lydia
10.0★ · 07/16/24
1
Lydia
10.0★ · 07/16/24
i just rewatched this and cried, this was my childhood.
i just rewatched this and cried, this was my childhood.
1
ysabella
9.5★ · 05/26/25
i’ll eat you up i love you so
i’ll eat you up i love you so
Ace
10.0★ · 05/25/26
My mom has told me all my life how she doesn’t like this movie, I hope one day she’ll rewatch it and understand why I love it so much.
My mom has told me all my life how she doesn’t like this movie, I hope one day she’ll rewatch it and understand why I love it so much.
Jo
7.0★ · 05/15/26
he's just a boy, pretending to be a wolf, pretending to be a king.. ISUSE
he's just a boy, pretending to be a wolf, pretending to be a king.. ISUSE
