Stolen Kingdom (2026) – A whole new world behind the curtain

If you are a film fan, chances are that you use Letterboxd to log your films. Nestled within the site is Video Store, a rental service which offers a curated selection of films which are worth trying, and one of their recent additions is the fascinating documentary Stolen Kingdom. At Walt Disney World in Florida, the Epcot park contained a once popular attraction called Cranium Command, which included an animatronic figure named Buzzy. Interest in the attraction dwindled over the years until it closed, causing it to sit abandoned for a decade. However, 2018 had a shock for the most magical place on Earth with Buzzy being stolen. With the figure valued at nearly half a million dollars, it was a theft that faced up to thirty-years in prison, and left people baffled at how such a large and heavy figure was taken.

Unfolding like a true crime documentary, the lynchpin for this 76-minute feature is one question; Who stole Buzzy? Director Joshua Bailey expands the focus to urban exploration, where people trespass into the off-limits sections of Walt Disney World to record what’s behind the “Do Not Enter” signs. While it began as a daring look behind-the-scenes of a famous theme park, the mission statement transformed into documenting buildings and attractions that have been left to rot.

It is fascinating to see once popular places reduced to a hidden ruin, a “cost-effective” option compared to demolition. Integrated into the film is real footage, offering eerie sights of abandoned rides. A haunting moment sees a moving animatronic figure of Stitch, before transitioning to show the skeletal looking remains. It is a far cry from the happy look that this company puts on, documenting prior attractions instead of letting them disappear into history. But this dangerous hobby does have a further reach than one realises, like Matt Sonswa’s video from inside of Walt Disney’s plane. When he is told that his uploaded video was apparently seen by the CEO of Disney, the shocked look on his face is priceless.

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One of the interview subjects defines urban exploring as taking nothing but pictures, breaking nothing but silence, and leaving nothing but footprints. They are compelling rules to follow for documentation, but not everybody follows them. Adam the Woo is a clear example, depicted as a pioneer of this hobby whose focus is parading himself in rare spaces instead of video preservation. When he inspired so many copycats, it is no wonder that many people treat this as a stunt for online clout. This includes people advertising their plans on social media, or trespassing by camping out on Discovery Island, with their quest for online fame leaving them facing bans and jail time.

That may be a descriptor of many interview subjects, but there is a more touching story nestled within. A quietly heartfelt moment involves Dave Ensign’s trip to the park with the ashes of his deceased friend, Ed Barlow Jr. When a key part of their friendship was urban exploring, it is a touching moment when Dave takes a trip into the park to discreetly spread his friend’s ashes. It captures how key bonds in our lives are intrinsically linked to shared passions, and it is a welcome moment of humanity.

If one thing is clear, nostalgia just leads to inflated prices, which results in some questionable methods to justify them. Just look at how many shops have recently been robbed of their Pokémon cards. Yet, some do not realise that part of the magic comes from the setting, with the price plummeting when park attractions are viewed in isolation. However, that does not stop people from committing theft to sell these Disney items on the black-market. The most thrilling part involves one such figure being caught, with the aftermath feeling cinematic in how it unfolds like the dramatic conclusion of a crime thriller. While the subject faces ramifications for their actions, there is a sense of pride in now being a part of Disney legend, showing how nothing was learned when fame reached them.

In this digital age where security is tighter than ever, urban exploring has become a relic of a past time where security was lax. Stolen Kingdom is a fascinating documentary and compelling work that will keep you engrossed. Plus, where else will you see blurred footage of somebody urinating in a Disney well?

JAMES’S ARCHIVE – STOLEN KINGDOM