Where the wild things are is a 1963 childrens picture book by american writer and illustrator maurice sendak originally published by harper row the book has been adapted into other media several times including an animated short in 1973 with an updated version in 1988 a 1980 opera and a live action 2009 feature film adaptation . Directed by spike jonze with max records catherine ohara forest whitaker pepita emmerichs . Where the wild things are is a 2009 fantasy film directed by spike jonzewritten by jonze and dave eggers it is based on maurice sendaks 1963 childrens book of the same nameit combines live action performers in costumes animatronics and computer generated imagery cgi the film stars max records and features the voices of james gandolfini paul dano lauren ambrose forest whitaker . Where the wild things are is a 1963 childrens picture book by american writer and illustrator maurice sendak this story of only 338 words focuses on a young boy named max who after dressing in his wolf costume wreaks such havoc through his household that he is sent to bed without his supper