The Oscar-winning Japanese animation “The Boy and the Heron” debuted at the top of the box office in China, surpassing “Godzilla x Kong” with a $35 million holiday opening. It earned $13.8 million on Wednesday and continued to soar on Thursday, reaching a total of $35.2 million by early evening.
The film strategically premiered midweek to coincide with the three-day Qingming public holiday in China, a family-oriented time to honor ancestors. Despite competition from other releases, “The Boy and the Heron” dominated the box office.
“Godzilla x Kong,” which opened strongly last weekend in China, fell to second place as “The Boy and the Heron” gained momentum. Although the Studio Ghibli production has yet to match “Godzilla x Kong’s” cumulative earnings, its impressive performance indicates potential as China could become its second-biggest market.
Japanese animated films are gaining popularity in China, with past successes like “Suzume” and “The First Slam Dunk” achieving substantial earnings. China’s box office is currently thriving, outpacing North America’s market by 50% in 2024. The year-to-date box office in China is at $2.32 billion, exceeding the U.S. and Canada’s $1.47 billion, according to industry reports.
