MANILA, Philippines — DreamWorks Animation’s latest feature “Forgotten Island” achieved a stellar domestic debut, generating ₱97 million at the Philippine box office over its opening weekend.
The performance marks the highest-grossing opening weekend for a Universal Pictures release in the country, local distributor Universal Pictures Philippines confirmed.
Co-directed by Filipino-American filmmaker Januel Mercado alongside Joel Crawford, the movie weaving Philippine folklore into a mainstream Hollywood animated format follows best friends Jo and Raissa, voiced by Grammy winner H.E.R. and actress Liza Soberano.
The story follows the pair on their final evening together before a life-altering separation, only to be swept away into Nakali—a mystical realm populated by legendary creatures drawn from local mythology. To find a way home, the duo must navigate an island that gradually strips away their memories, endangering the very bond that connects them.
Mercado and Crawford designed the fantasy adventure as a celebration of Filipino heritage, channeling the family dynamics and cultural roots that influenced their upbringing.
Soberano tapped into personal memory to voice Raissa, recalling mythical tales like the manananggal passed down by her grandparents during her childhood.
H.E.R. similarly leveraged her familiarity with local traditions, using the film as an avenue to dig deeper into her heritage.
The collaboration extended into the soundtrack, with H.E.R. writing and performing the original track “BRB” to complement the film’s cultural themes and musical identity.