The film is the latest from Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki.

By Molly Moss

Published: Tuesday, 12 December 2023 at 11:09 AM

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After a 10 year hiatus, Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki is back with another masterpiece, The Boy and the Heron. 

The film has achieved a record-breaking $12.8 million opening, making it the first original anime title in history to take the number one spot at the North American box office. 

Inspired by a novel by Genzaburō Yoshino, the film revolves around a troubled child who finds himself in a world shared by the living and the dead after his mother dies.

The Japanese version is voiced by actors including Soma Santoki, Masaki Suda and Ko Shibasaki, while the English language cast includes stars such as Robert Pattinson, Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan and Florence Pugh.

It’s long been rumoured that The Boy and the Heron would be Miyazaki’s swan song. 

The director claimed to be retiring with 2013’s The Wind Rises, but went on to make The Boy and the Heron. 

And now it appears that Miyazaki is already thinking about making another film, with The Boy and the Heron producer Toshio Suzuki recently telling The Guardian: “He’s always facing forward. And he is very eager to make another film.”

But for now, read on for everything you need to know about how to watch The Boy and the Heron.

The Boy and the Heron UK release date

The film will land in UK and Irish cinemas on Tuesday 26th December 2023. 

It became available in cinemas in the US on Friday 8th December.

The film was released in Japan in July with no trailer, marketing or other promotional materials other than a poster, but it still managed to set a box office record during its opening weekend.

Producer Toshio Suzuki said at the time: “Deep down, I think this is what moviegoers latently desire.” 

How to watch The Boy and the Heron

Currently, the only way to watch the film is in cinemas. Plans for digital rentals or purchases are yet to be announced.