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The Boy and the Heron

PG-13 Released Dec 8, 2023 2h 4m Fantasy Adventure Anime TRAILER for List
97% Tomatometer 267 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Verified Ratings
From the legendary Studio Ghibli and Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away) comes a new critically-acclaimed fantasy adventure. After losing his mother during the war, young Mahito moves to his family's estate in the countryside. There, a series of mysterious events lead him to a secluded and ancient tower, home to a mischievous gray heron. When Mahito's new stepmother disappears, he follows the gray heron into the tower, and enters a fantastic world shared by the living and the dead. As he embarks on an epic journey with the heron as his guide, Mahito must uncover the secrets of this world, and the truth about himself.
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The Boy and the Heron

The Boy and the Heron

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Critics Consensus

Soulfully exploring thought-provoking themes through a beautifully animated lens, The Boy and the Heron is another Miyazaki masterpiece.

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Audience Says

Boasting incredible animation and a satisfying story, The Boy and the Heron delivers more of the excellence that Hayao Miyazaki has trained audiences to expect.

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Critics Reviews

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Peter Travers ABC News Japanese manga master Hayao Miyazaki, 83, came out of retirement for this hand-drawn beauty about his own life growing up in wartime. The Oscar for best animated feature belongs right here since Miyazaki’s unparalleled artistry shines out of every frame. Feb 23, 2024 Full Review Simran Hans Monocle I just found it utterly transporting. Jan 5, 2024 Full Review Tim Robey Monocle Visually, it's about as sumptuous as any of [Studio Ghibli's] films have ever been. Jan 5, 2024 Full Review Denise Pieniazek EscribiendoCine The Boy and the Heron restores order in favor of the family institution and harmony, delighting the public through its aesthetics and the music of Joe Hisaishi. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 8/10 Aug 6, 2024 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy If this Oscar winner for Best Animated Feature isn’t quite as mesmerizing as many of Miyazaki's past triumphs, it’s still a worthy achievement demonstrating that he retains his ability to create phantasmagorical worlds. Rated: 3/4 Jul 22, 2024 Full Review Calum Cooper The People's Movies The Boy and the Heron is another colourful gem to add to the filmography of one of cinema’s greatest contributors. Rated: 4/5 Jul 19, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Destinee One of his best movies to date. A real treat for the eyes. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/13/24 Full Review Vi went to see it for my love’s birthday…. was beautiful. thank you hayao Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/29/24 Full Review Elizabeth what an interesting movie Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/21/24 Full Review Jaime Excellent movie and the art is so incredible! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/21/24 Full Review Derek S I've been a Studio Ghibli fan since I was a kid and this movie pales in comparison to their older work when it comes to story and likeable characters. I literally fell asleep in the theater and that's something I've never done. The animation was great, the music by Joe Hisaishi haunting, and the English voice cast did a magnificent job which is why I gave 3 stars. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/07/24 Full Review Keaven What you expect from Ghibli. Breath taking scenes, with crazy animals acting as humans or visa versa. Everything I wanted and more. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/21/24 Full Review Read all reviews
The Boy and the Heron

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Movie Info

Synopsis From the legendary Studio Ghibli and Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away) comes a new critically-acclaimed fantasy adventure. After losing his mother during the war, young Mahito moves to his family's estate in the countryside. There, a series of mysterious events lead him to a secluded and ancient tower, home to a mischievous gray heron. When Mahito's new stepmother disappears, he follows the gray heron into the tower, and enters a fantastic world shared by the living and the dead. As he embarks on an epic journey with the heron as his guide, Mahito must uncover the secrets of this world, and the truth about himself.
Director
Hayao Miyazaki
Producer
Toshio Suzuki
Screenwriter
Hayao Miyazaki
Distributor
GKIDS
Production Co
Studio Ghibli, Toho Company, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Nippon Television Network
Rating
PG-13 (Smoking|Bloody Images|Some Violent Content)
Genre
Fantasy, Adventure, Anime
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 8, 2023, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 25, 2024
Box Office (Gross USA)
$44.2M
Runtime
2h 4m
Sound Mix
Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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