Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy and the Heron” Tops North American Box Office
The legendary Japanese anime director, Hayao Miyazaki, has achieved a milestone in his illustrious career by landing the No. 1 spot at the North American box office for the first time. His latest film, “The Boy and the Heron,” debuted with an impressive $12.8 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates.
Miyazaki, known for his timeless classics such as “Spirited Away” and “My Neighbor Totoro,” has become the third anime director ever to top the box office in U.S. and Canadian theaters. What makes this achievement even more significant is that “The Boy and the Heron” is the first original anime to do so.
While Miyazaki’s films have been incredibly successful in Japan and Asia, they have historically achieved less success in North American cinemas. His previous best performer in the region was his 2013 film, “The Wind Rises,” which grossed $5.2 million throughout its domestic run.
According to Eric Beckman, founder and chief executive of GKIDS, the North American distributor for Studio Ghibli films, the success of “The Boy and the Heron” is a testament to the appetite of American audiences for high-quality animation. Beckman stated, “It’s really a resounding statement for what animation can be. American audiences have been ready for a lot more than what they’ve been getting, and I think this really points to that direction.”
“The Boy and the Heron” has been met with critical acclaim and has been hailed as one of the best films of the year. The film follows a boy who embarks on a fantastical journey after the death of his mother during World War II. The English dub voice cast includes Robert Pattinson, Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, and Mark Hamill.
The U.S. and Canadian release of “The Boy and the Heron” followed a carefully managed marketing campaign, similarly to the film’s release in Japan, where it collected $56 million with zero promotion. Studio Ghibli opted to release the film without production stills, trailers, ads or billboards in Japan. In North America, GKIDS has rereleased all 10 of Miyazaki’s films with Ghibli throughout the year, leading up to “The Boy and the Heron.”
In addition to Miyazaki’s success, other films made a mark at the box office, including “Godzilla Minus One,” which followed up its stellar debut with $8.3 million for Toho Studios. Several potential awards contenders also got off to strong starts in limited release, including Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things” and Ava DuVernay’s “Origin.”
As “The Boy and the Heron” continues to soar in the box office, Miyazaki’s legacy as an animation master remains unchallenged, and his latest film is a testament to the enduring appeal of his storytelling.