Wicker (2026) is an upcoming dark romance fable starring Olivia Colman as a lonely woman who commissions a husband made of wicker—and based on the trailer that just dropped, it is exactly as unhinged as that premise suggests.
This is not a family movie night pick. While the "fable" label might make it sound like a bedtime story, the "hot basket sex" and adult humor mentioned in early coverage put this firmly in the "wait until the kids are asleep" category. It looks like a prestige, weird, and deeply adult exploration of loneliness and desire, featuring Olivia Colman at her most chaotic and Alexander Skarsgård as her woven spouse.
Screenwise Parents
See allWicker (2026) is an upcoming R-rated dark comedy/romance that follows a woman (Olivia Colman) who builds a wicker husband (Alexander Skarsgård). The trailer highlights adult humor and sexual themes that make it inappropriate for children or younger teens. If you want a weird fable that actually works for the whole family, skip this and check out The Princess Bride or Stardust from our best movies for kids list.
The movie is set to be an adaptation of the "wicker husband" concept—a folk-style story about a woman in a coastal village who, tired of the local men, decides to have a husband manufactured out of willow and wicker. From the first look, the film will release as a blend of period drama aesthetics and total surrealism.
Olivia Colman has built a career on playing characters who are bubbling just beneath the surface, and this looks like her most "unfiltered" role in years. The trailer shows her character treating the wicker creation not as a toy or a decoration, but as a legitimate romantic partner. It’s the kind of high-concept weirdness that usually lands well with the A24 or Searchlight crowd—think The Lobster or Poor Things—where the metaphor is heavy and the content is explicit.
It’s easy to see "Olivia Colman" and think of her gentler turns in Wonka or her voice work in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Don't let that fool you here.
The primary reasons to keep the kids away from this one:
- The "Hot Basket Sex" Factor: Early reports and the trailer’s tone lean heavily into the physical relationship between the woman and her wicker man. It’s played for both dark humor and genuine eroticism, which is a conversational minefield you probably don't want to navigate with a ten-year-old.
- Unhinged Adult Humor: The comedy here looks sharp, dry, and deeply cynical. It’s the kind of "adult humor" that isn't just about dirty jokes, but about the crushing weight of social isolation and the absurdity of romantic standards.
- The "Wicker Man" Horror Vibes: While this isn't a horror movie in the traditional sense, the imagery of a human-sized wicker figure carries a lot of folk-horror baggage. For younger kids, the sight of a faceless, woven Alexander Skarsgård walking around might be more "nightmare fuel" than "romantic fable."
Based on the trailer, the chemistry is the main event. Skarsgård is set to play the wicker husband, and while it's unclear how much "life" the character actually has versus how much is in the protagonist's head, the physical performances look incredible.
If your kids are older—late high school age—and they’re already into "weird" cinema or studying film, this might be a point of conversation regarding how actors use their bodies to convey character. But for the vast majority of families, this is a "parents only" date night at the indie theater.
If the trailer for Wicker (2026) sparked an interest in fables or stories about "creating a friend," there are plenty of ways to scratch that itch without the "basket sex" baggage.
For a story about an artificial being learning to love and fit into a natural world, this is the gold standard. It hits the same "outsider" themes but replaces the unhinged romance with a beautiful story about parenthood and community.
If the "weird guy in a small town" vibe is what you're after, this classic is the move. It’s got the gothic fable energy and the social commentary without the explicit R-rated content.
If you want the "wooden man" imagery and a slightly darker, more sophisticated folk-tale feel, Del Toro’s version is excellent for older elementary and middle schoolers. It’s visually stunning and doesn't talk down to kids.
The trailer is likely to pop up on social feeds or before other movies. If your kid sees it and asks why a lady is dating a laundry basket, you don't need to make it a "big talk."
The move is to treat it as a metaphor. You can explain that some movies for grown-ups use weird ideas—like a man made of sticks—to talk about how people feel lonely or how they wish they could "design" the perfect person. It’s a story about imagination and feelings, but it's told in a way that's meant for adults to think about, not for kids to watch.
Q: Is Wicker (2026) okay for a 13-year-old?
Probably not. While the rating isn't finalized, the "hot basket sex" and adult themes make it a poor fit for most middle schoolers. It’s aimed at an adult audience that appreciates dark, absurdist humor.
Q: Is Wicker a horror movie?
No, it looks more like a dark romance or a surrealist comedy. However, it uses folk-horror imagery (like the wicker man) which might be unsettling for younger or more sensitive viewers.
Q: What is the movie Wicker based on?
It's based on a short story/fable about a woman who commissions a husband made of wicker. It leans into "folk" storytelling traditions but updates them with a modern, unhinged sensibility.
Q: Where can I watch the Wicker trailer?
The official trailer is available on YouTube and features Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård. It gives a good sense of the "unhinged" tone and the adult nature of the story.
Wicker (2026) looks like a brilliant, bizarre, and deeply adult piece of filmmaking. Olivia Colman is likely to be a force of nature here, but the "wicker husband" romance is strictly for the grown-ups. Save this one for when you need a break from the animated blockbusters and want something genuinely weird to talk about over dinner.
- Check out our best movies for kids list for actual family-friendly picks.
- If your kid is entering the "weird movie" phase, see our digital guide for middle school.
- Find more "weird" but age-appropriate fables
