Laika’s “Coraline” remake is “a completely unexpected box office hit”

“Coraline” is celebrating its 15th anniversary. The 15th anniversary re-release of the 2009 film, the first stop-motion animation film from Hillsboro's Laika studio, was a box office hit. Since the remastered 3D version opened for a limited number of theaters on August 15, “Coraline” has grossed $38.3 million at the worldwide box office.

According to a statement from Laika, Fathon and Trafalgar Releasing, the re-release of “Coraline” has also performed very well in international markets. In Mexico, more than 1.6 million tickets were sold for the re-release of “Coraline,” “exceeding the number of tickets sold for the original release in 2009,” the statement said.

In the UK, the statement said, “Coraline” took second place on the list of best film re-releases of all time, overtaking “ET: The Extra-Terrestrial” and trailing only “Titanic”.

A post on Slashfilm.com states: “Fifteen years after its initial release in theaters, Laika's stop-motion animation classic 'Coraline' has become a completely unexpected box office hit.”

David Burke, LAIKA's Chief Marketing and Operations Officer, said in the statement: “As part of the event planning for the return of 'Coraline,' we have given moviegoers a first look at our upcoming film 'Wildwood,' along with exclusive behind-the-scenes access showcasing our inspiring filmmaking process. We have also hosted fan-focused events and collaborations with brands such as Mondo, Converse and Portland's Stumptown Coffee Roasters, and opened our new LAIKA Frame x Frame exhibition at the British Film Institute. We would like to thank our partners at Fathom and Trafalgar Releasing for their extraordinary efforts, Coralline back to audiences around the world.”

“Coraline” is now older than the eponymous protagonist, an 11-year-old girl (voice: Dakota Fanning), who discovers a secret door in her family's house in Oregon and finds a seemingly ideal version of her world. But this turns out to be something much more dangerous.

Related: “Coraline's Curious Cat Trail” features cat statues strutting through Portland

In addition to the revival, there are other anniversary activities for “Coraline” such as “Coraline's Curious Cat Trail,” an installation of 30 artist-decorated cat statues placed at various locations in Portland.