Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron flew to the top of the U.S. box-office this weekend, and in doing so it became the first original anime production to top the domestic box office.
The critically-acclaimed coming-of-age story earned $12.8 million during its opening weekend, which takes its global total to $84 million, $56 million of which comes from Miyazaki’s homeland.
The last time a Miyazaki movie charted was his 2013 swansong The Wind Rises, which finished its entire domestic run with $5.2 million. The fact The Boy and the Heron was the legendary director’s comeback film, coupled with audiences obvious desire for something different, has propelled the fantasy adventure to record breaking heights.
SEE ALSO: Read our review of The Boy and the Heron here
There were further Japanese box-office records in the ginormous shape of Toho International’s Godzilla Minus One [check out our ★★★★★ review here], which became the highest-grossing live-action Japanese film to be released in North America, thanks to its terrific second weekend hold of $8.3 million. The kaiju blockbuster has amassed $25.3 million at the U.S. box-office, and a worldwide cume of $51 million.
Last week’s chart topper, Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, tumbled from the top of the podium with a huge drop of 77%, and $5 million for the weekend.
In limited release, one of the hot favourites when it comes to awards season, Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things [read our ★★★★ review here], earned a whopping $644,000 from just nine theatres.
As always, let us know what you spent you ticket money on this weekend by heading to our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
