Summary
- The Boy and the Heron’s Chinese Box Office success exceeded expectations, grossing $73 million in just five days.
- Legendary director Hayao Miyazaki came out of retirement to create the emotional and visually stunning film.
- Chinese audiences are justifying the film’s success, drawn to Studio Ghibli’s iconic art style and heartfelt storyline.
Studio Ghibli‘s latest Golden Globe-winning film, The Boy and the Heron, brought in an incredible haul of money in China’s opening weekend, surpassing its stellar performance in other countries like Japan and the US. The 83-year-old legendary director Hayao Miyazaki came out of retirement to help make The Boy and the Heron, which won Best Animated Feature at both the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards. Now, Chinese audiences are further justifying its success.
The Boy and the Heron was released in Chinese movie theaters starting April 3, 2024 during a holiday weekend. As reported by Variety, it raked in an incredibly impressive $73 million (around 527,855,711 in Chinese Yuan) during the five-day holiday weekend.
Besides winning many awards and earning an impressive sum during its Box Office run, The Boy and the Heron was a hit with audiences thanks to Studio Ghibli’s iconic art style and emotional storyline.
Every Award & Nomination Won By The Boy and the Heron
Miyazaki’s latest masterpiece could vie for a Golden Globe or Oscar, but that hasn’t stopped it from gathering other awards along the way.
The Boy and the Heron’s Chinese Box Office Blows its American Sales Out of the Water
Film Produced by Studio Ghibli, Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
During The Boy and the Heron‘s North American release, it earned a respectable $46.6 million along with its critical acclaim. This makes the number coming out of China a pleasant surprise because it nearly doubles its English box office returns in only five days. The hand-drawn animated film was in production for around seven years, which means it was not a cheap movie to create. However, with its wide range of awards and impressive box office returns, it’s fair to say that Studio Ghibli’s The Boy and the Heron has more than earned its keep.
With such a long time in production, Studio Ghibli’s proclivity for old-fashioned animation techniques, and wage increases happening everywhere in our increasingly expensive world, The Boy and the Heron is Studio Ghibli’s most expensive project yet. The exact total of its creation is unknown. Still, long-time Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki has said on the record that it cost more than their previous film, 2013’s The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, which cost around $34 million to create.
The Boy and the Heron Brought Miyazaki Out Of Retirement, And He Isn’t Done
Hayao Miyazaki went into a well-deserved retirement in 2013 after his work captivated millions of people worldwide, with stories ranging from charming tales about growing up to epic stories of war, magic, and man against nature. The Boy and the Heron story included a personal story about growing up in an unfair world, and according to Ghibli producers, it is not Miyazaki’s last movie. With the film continuing to earn praise from Chinese audiences, new and long-time fans worldwide will likely be excited to see whatever he and the talented folks at Studio Ghibli come up with next.
Source: Variety
The Boy and the Heron
Billed as the final work of famed animator Hayao Miyazaki, The Boy and the Heron is a drama-fantasy film that follows a young boy named Mahito who contends with grief following the passing of his mother during World War II. Forced to evacuate to the countryside amid the war, Mahito struggles to fit into his new environment and contend with his new stepmother. However, Mahito’s life is changed after meeting a strange talking Heron – setting him on a journey of self-discovery filled with magic.