Hayao Miyazaki's 'The Boy And The Heron' Tops At The Box Office
This weekend, two Japanese film titans dominated the box office. Animation great Hayao Miyazaki’s 'The Boy and the Heron” tops at the box office, and surpassed all expectations with a staggering $12.8 million.
Dec 12, 202371.7K Shares1M Views
This weekend, two Japanese film titans dominated the box office.
Animation great Hayao Miyazaki’s 'The Boy and the Heron' tops at the box office, and surpassed all expectations with a staggering $12.8 million (the film debuted in Los Angeles and New York on November 22). It is the first original anime film to ever lead the domestic box office chart, and it also has the highest-grossing opening in North America for the acclaimed director.
Unexpectedly returning with yet another fantastical epic, the legendary director responsible for films such as Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro delighted cinephiles around the world.
'The Boy And The Heron' Tops At The Box Office
It has been reported that The Boy and the Heron, the last film by Japanese master animator Hayao Miyazaki, debuted at number one at the box office in North America and set records for the director.
Anime master Hayao Miyazaki's "The Boy and the Heron," a fantastical coming-of-age tale, debuted with $12.8 million in its first weekend at the box office, becoming the first original anime production to do so in the United States. The release of GKids in premium large format auditoriums, including Imax, contributed to the film's record-breaking revenues and first-place finish. Additionally, it benefited from a dearth of offerings for the big screen, as holiday spectacles including "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" and "Wonka" are still awaiting their debuts in the coming weeks.
Similar to this one, "The Boy and the Heron," Miyazaki's first film since 2013's "The Wind Rises," which was rumored to be the Studio Ghibli co-founder's final film at the time of its release, generated considerable anticipation. Without conventional marketing, the film debuted in Japanese theaters in July and was featured at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.
An unexpected return to the big screen after more than a decade, "The Boy and the Heron" signifies Hayao Miyazaki's return. In 2013, following the release of his previous film, "The Wind Rises," the director of classics such as "Spirited Away" and "Princess Mononoke" declared his retirement. International distribution for "The Boy and the Heron" has been gradual, grossing $84 million, of which $56 million was generated in Miyazaki's native Japan.
A fantasy coming-of-age tale, "The Boy and the Heron" is set during World War II and follows adolescent Mahito as he matures. Subsequent to his mother's demise in a hospital fire in Tokyo, Mahito is relocated to a rural mansion where he will reside with Natsuko, his new stepmother, and the younger sibling of his deceased mother. A menacing gray heron befriends him in that location and guides him into an enigmatic, mystical domain.
One of the year's finest films, "The Boy and the Heron," has received critical acclaim. The film, which features English dub voices from Robert Pattinson, Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, and Mark Hamill, follows a young boy who is guided to a portal that leads to a fantastical realm by an enigmatic heron subsequent to the demise of her mother in World War II bombardment. Its Japanese translation of the title is "How Do You Live?"
At present, the film holds an A- in the CinemaScore poll a 96% rating from critics, and a 91% audience rating on the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes. "The Boy and the Heron" has amassed a worldwide gross of $97 million.
Prior to this, "The Boy and the Heron" grossed $56 million in Japan with no advertising. Studio Ghibli decided not to distribute production stills, trailers, advertisements, or billboards with the film.
Although both the U.S. and Canadian releases featured standard advertising, they were handled with the same meticulous attention to detail, befitting a Miyazaki film of this caliber. Every single one of Miyazaki's ten films collaborating with Ghibli was re-released in theaters this year by GKIDS, an organization that was established in 2008 with the intention of expanding access to ambitious animation.
Final Remarks
The Boy and the Heron, produced by Studio Ghibli, was able to secure the domestic weekend box office crown in North America with ticket sales amounting to $12.8 million.
Previously believed to be the final film by legendary director Hayao Miyazaki, the film grossed an additional $2.4 million internationally, bringing its total to $101.4 million. The Boy and the Heron has amassed over $114.2 million on a global scale.
Prior to this, "The Boy and the Heron" grossed $56 million in Japan with no advertising. Studio Ghibli decided not to distribute production stills, trailers, advertisements, or billboards with the film.
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