Filipino moviegoers have found their way to Forgotten Island.
DreamWorks Animation’s Filipino-inspired adventure debuted at No. 1 at the Philippine box office, earning P97,236,533 during its opening weekend. The impressive haul marks Universal Pictures’ biggest opening weekend in the country for 2026 and the biggest opening for a non-franchise animated film in the Philippines.
For a story rooted in friendship, Filipino culture, and the creatures many Filipinos grew up hearing about, the milestone makes its arrival on the big screen even sweeter.
And there is plenty of Pinoy talent helping bring the island of Nakali to life.
Filipino Stories Take Center Stage
Forgotten Island follows lifelong best friends Raissa and Jo, voiced by Liza Soberano and H.E.R., as they reach a turning point in their friendship.
Having been inseparable since grade school, the two are preparing to head down different paths after high school graduation. But before they can say goodbye to this chapter of their lives, one final night together takes an unexpected turn.
They stumble upon a mysterious portal and are transported to Nakali, a fantastical island filled with magical beings and creatures inspired by the stories they heard growing up in Filipino families.
Some of the island’s inhabitants are friendly. Others definitely are not.
Among the dangers waiting for them is the fearsome Dreaded Manananggal, voiced by Tony Award-winning Filipino icon Lea Salonga.
As if being stranded on a mysterious island were not enough, Raissa and Jo soon discover that their memories are disappearing.
Suddenly, their adventure becomes something much more personal.
If they cannot find their way home, they risk losing the memories of the friendship that has defined much of their lives. Worse, escaping Nakali may come with a price neither of them is ready to pay.
A Pinoy-Powered Cast and Soundtrack
Adding to the film’s distinctly Filipino spirit is a stacked voice cast featuring Filipino and Filipino-American stars.
Alongside Soberano, H.E.R., and Salonga are Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, and Jo Koy.
The larger ensemble includes Dave Franco as the well-meaning but hapless weredog Raww, Emmy nominee Jenny Slate, and Emmy winner Ronny Chieng.
The Filipino representation does not stop with the cast.
Homegrown music acts BINI and SB19 are also among the artists featured on the film’s soundtrack, adding another Pinoy connection to the DreamWorks Animation original.
Critics and Audiences Are Feeling the Magic
The movie’s strong Philippine debut arrives alongside an enthusiastic response from moviegoers and critics.
Forgotten Island received a 95% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while its audience score stands at 97%.
Behind the film is the creative team responsible for one of DreamWorks Animation’s acclaimed recent adventures.
Forgotten Island is written and directed by Academy Award nominee Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado and produced by Academy Award nominee Mark Swift, the filmmaking team behind Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.
DreamWorks Animation is, of course, no stranger to stories about unforgettable friendships. The studio has given audiences the unlikely partnership of Shrek and Donkey in Shrek, the bond between Hiccup and Toothless in How to Train Your Dragon, and the touching relationship at the center of The Wild Robot.
This time, the friendship worth fighting for belongs to two young women standing at the uncertain point between growing up together and growing apart.
Watch the trailer here:
Welcome to Nakali
Fantasy may send Raissa and Jo into another world, but there is something wonderfully familiar at the heart of Forgotten Island.
It is about reaching that moment when life begins pulling two friends in different directions. It is about the memories that turn a friendship into something irreplaceable. And, wrapped around that emotional story, it is a colorful adventure filled with creatures inspired by Filipino mythology.
Now, with P97.2 million at the Philippine box office during its opening weekend, audiences have given the film another milestone to celebrate.
So, ready to take a trip to Nakali?
Forgotten Island is now showing in Philippine cinemas.
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DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island is distributed by Universal Pictures.
