Coraline

Movie guide

Coraline (2009)

  • Animation
  • Family
  • Fantasy
  • Horror
7.9/10 Drama4U Score · from 9,625 TMDB votes · How the score works

Coraline (2009) guide: Henry Selick's stop-motion dark fantasy from LAIKA. Plot summary without spoilers, voice cast, release dates and where to stream.

Coraline plot summary (no spoilers)

Coraline Jones has just moved with her parents, Mel and Charlie, into an old house split into apartments. Her parents are busy, the place feels dull, and her new neighbours are an eccentric bunch. There are two retired actresses, Miss Spink and Miss Forcible, the acrobatic Mr. Bobinsky upstairs, and a talkative local boy named Wybie. A stray black cat also keeps turning up.

While exploring, Coraline finds a small secret door hidden behind the wallpaper. It leads into a parallel world that mirrors her own, only better. Here an Other Mother and Other Father lavish her with attention, the food is delicious and every neighbour puts on a dazzling show. Everyone in this version of home has shiny black buttons where their eyes should be.

The longer Coraline visits, the more tempting it becomes to stay. But this dream world comes with conditions, and she begins to suspect that its warm welcome hides something far less friendly. As the film’s tagline warns: Be careful what you wish for.

Coraline — Mood illustration, not a still from the film
Mood illustration, not a still from the film

Coraline review guide: what makes it notable

  • Director and writer: Henry Selick directed the film and wrote the screenplay, which is based on a book.
  • Studio: Coraline was produced by LAIKA together with Pandemonium. It is a full stop-motion feature, with handcrafted sets and puppets, and it was presented in 3D.
  • Genre blend: It mixes animation, family film, fantasy and horror. The result is a dark fantasy that sits in the rare space of “horror for children,” with themes of friendship, a new home and reality versus fantasy.
  • Voice cast: Dakota Fanning voices Coraline. Teri Hatcher plays both her mother and the Other Mother, and John Hodgman plays her father and the Other Father. Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French voice Miss Spink and Miss Forcible. Ian McShane plays Mr. Bobinsky, Keith David is The Cat and Robert Bailey Jr. voices Wybie.
  • Lasting popularity: The film returned to US cinemas for 14th and 15th anniversary re-releases, more than a decade after its debut.
  • Details: The film runs 100 minutes in English and is rated PG in the US. It also includes scenes during and after the credits.

The Drama4U Score shown on this page summarises audience reception.

Who will enjoy Coraline

  • Fans of stop-motion animation and handcrafted visual detail
  • Families with older children who enjoy a little spookiness
  • Viewers who love dark fairy tales, parallel worlds and secret-door stories
  • Anyone looking for a Halloween-season film that is creepy without being graphic
  • Admirers of LAIKA’s later work curious about where the studio’s features began

Coraline release date and where to watch

Release dates (US):

  • 5 February 2009: premiere at the Portland International Film Festival
  • 6 February 2009: US theatrical release (PG)
  • 21 July 2009: Blu-ray / DVD
  • 13 December 2022: 4K Ultra HD
  • 14 August 2023: 14th anniversary theatrical re-release
  • 15 August 2024: 15th anniversary theatrical re-release

Where to watch in the US: According to JustWatch data as of 24 October 2026, Coraline is available on these services:

  • Streaming: Hulu, HBO Max, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Peacock Premium and Peacock Premium Plus
  • Free with ads: The Roku Channel
  • Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home and Spectrum On Demand
  • Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango At Home

Streaming catalogues change regularly, so check your preferred service before you press play.

Trailer

Cast

  • Dakota FanningDakota Fanningas Coraline Jones (voice)
  • Teri HatcherTeri Hatcheras Mel Jones / Other Mother (voice)
  • Jennifer SaundersJennifer Saundersas Miss April Spink / Other Spink (voice)
  • Dawn FrenchDawn Frenchas Miss Miriam Forcible / Other Forcible (voice)
  • Keith DavidKeith Davidas The Cat (voice)
  • John HodgmanJohn Hodgmanas Charlie Jones / Other Father (voice)
  • Robert Bailey Jr.Robert Bailey Jr.as Wyborne 'Wybie' Lovat (voice)
  • Ian McShaneIan McShaneas Mr. Sergei Alexander Bobinsky / Other Bobinsky (voice)

Photo: TMDB

FAQ

When was Coraline released?
Coraline premiered at the Portland International Film Festival on 5 February 2009. It opened in US cinemas on 6 February 2009, and it later returned to theatres for 14th and 15th anniversary re-releases in August 2023 and August 2024.
Where can I watch Coraline in the US?
As of 24 October 2026, JustWatch data lists Coraline on Hulu, HBO Max, Peacock Premium and Peacock Premium Plus. It is also free with ads on The Roku Channel. You can rent or buy it on services such as Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango At Home.
Who is in the cast of Coraline?
The voice cast includes Dakota Fanning as Coraline, Teri Hatcher as her mother and the Other Mother, and John Hodgman as her father. Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French voice Miss Spink and Miss Forcible. Ian McShane plays Mr. Bobinsky, Keith David is The Cat and Robert Bailey Jr. voices Wybie.
Is Coraline suitable for kids?
Coraline is rated PG in the US. It is a family fantasy with horror elements and an unsettling atmosphere, so it tends to suit older children and families who enjoy spooky stories.
How long is Coraline?
Coraline runs 100 minutes. It also includes scenes during and after the credits.

Sources

  1. TMDB
  2. IMDb

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