Japanese cinema creates fever in North American theaters

According to statistics from Exhibitor Relations, "The Boy and the Heron" (titled in Vietnam: Thieu nien va chim diec) has become the box office champion with an estimated revenue of 12.8 million USD, marking "the highest opening weekend achievement for a film released by Studio Ghibli".

This animated fantasy film marks the return to the big screen of legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki (now 82 years old) after more than 10 years of "hiding".

Set in post-World War II Japan, "The Boy and the Heron" follows the life of 11-year-old Mahito, who leaves Tokyo to live with his father in the countryside after his mother dies in a fire.

There, Mahito meets a grey heron, who becomes his guide in an epic tale where the mysteries of life - which have been touched upon in Miyazaki's previous works, including classics such as "Spirited Away" and "Howl's Moving Castle" - are revealed.

In addition to the "guarantee" name of director Miyazaki, "The Boy and the Heron" has the participation of famous Japanese actors such as Masaki Suda, Takuya Kimura, Aimyon and the main role of Mahito is assigned to young talent Santoki Soma. The voice cast in the North American version of the film also created a big fever with famous Hollywood names such as Christian Bale, Robert Pattinson, Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan and Florence Pugh.

The New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) has selected Hayao Miyazaki's "The Boy and The Heron" as the Best Animated Film of 2023. This is the fourth time Miyazaki has won the honor from the NYFCC - America's oldest film critics association. He has previously been honored for "Spirited Away", "Howl's Moving Castle" and "The Wind Rises".

In addition to "The Boy and the Heron", another Japanese film, the war-monster film "Godzilla Minus One", was also warmly welcomed in North American theaters last weekend. Director Takashi Yamazak's new work ranked third for the second consecutive week, with $8.3 million.

Unlike the last film released in 2016, "Godzilla Minus One" depicts the rise of a nuclear-powered monster in post-war Japan. The film received much praise from experts and a positive rating of up to 97% on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.

Top 10 highest-grossing movies at North American theaters last weekend:
1. The Boy and the Heron - 12.8 million USD
2. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes - 9.4 million USD
3. Godzilla Minus One - $8.3 million
4. Trolls Band Together - 6.2 million USD
5. Wish - $5.3 million
6. Renaissance, A Film by Beyoncé - 5 million USD
7. Napoleon - $4.2 million
8. Waitress: The Musical - 3.2 million USD
9. Animal - $2.3 million
10. The Shift - $2.2 million.