Hayao Miyazaki's 'The Boy and the Heron' Soars to Box Office Success
Hayao Miyazaki's reportedly final film, The Boy and the Heron, has debuted at number one at the North American box office, earning $12.8m on its opening weekend. The film surpassed The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and Godzilla Minus One. Inspired by a novel, the story follows a troubled child who enters a fantasy realm after his mother's death. Studio Ghibli, Miyazaki's production base, has no films on its slate, fueling rumors of his retirement. The Boy and the Heron is on track to surpass Miyazaki's highest-grossing film, Ponyo.
