Studio Ghibli’sThe Boy and the Heron, directed by the legendaryHayao Miyazaki, topped an otherwise quiet weekend at the domestic box office with a record-setting performance. The film grossed an estimated $12.8 million across its first three days of release, which marks the sixth-biggest domestic debut for an anime film; the top five includes two Pokémon movies, two Dragon Ball Z films, andJujutsu Kaisen 0. This makes it thetop opening for a non-franchise anime filmin domestic box office history.
The Boy and the Heronmarks Miyazaki’s first release since 2013, and something of a comeback for Ghibli. The film had already grossed nearly $85 million in international territories before its domestic debut, andshould pass the $100 million mark globally very soon.Reviews for the film have been excellent;The Boy and the Heronstands at a “fresh” 96% score on the aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, and has earned an excellent A- CinemaScore from opening day audiences.
Retaining the number two spot, Lionsgate’s Hunger Games prequel,The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, grossed an estimated $9.4 million in its fourth weekend, taking its running domestic total to $135 million. The dystopian drama remains the lowest-grossing installment of the blockbuster YA franchise, which hasgenerated over $3 billion worldwidesince its inception in 2012.The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakeswould hope to pass the $300 million mark globallyby the end of its run, which should be a respectable enough performance, considering its relatively restrained $100 million reported budget.
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Last week’s wild card, Toho’sGodzilla Minus One,made the most of its extended domestic run by claiming the third spot. In a first,two Japanese movies have found spots in the top threeof the domestic box office chart, withGodzilla Minus Onepassing the $25 million mark stateside with an estimated $8 million this weekend. Globally, the film is passing the $50 million mark, and will next target the $76 million worldwide haul delivered by its predecessor,Shin Godzilla, in 2016.
The fourth spot went to yetanother animated sleeper hit, Universal’sTrolls Band Together. Now in its fourth weekend, the film grossed an estimated $6.2 million, taking its running domestic total to just under $85 million. As we’ve seen so often in the post-pandemic era, even moderately entertaining animated movies are showing great legs at the box office primarily because of a lack of competition. But in a bit of an anti-climax, last weekend’s number one film,Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, tanked in its sophomore frame, claiming the fifth spot on the weekend chart. The concert film is looking at an estimated $5.3 million, which marks a hefty 75% decline, and takes the movie to just under $30 million at the domestic box office.Renaissancehasn’t been able to generate the same level of success as the recentTaylor Swift: The Eras Tourconcert film, which made nearly $180 million domestically. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
The Boy and the Heron
A young boy named Mahito, yearning for his mother, ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead. There, death comes to an end, and life finds a new beginning. A semi-autobiographical fantasy from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki.
