Skip to main content
Celluloid
AnimationFantasyDrama TIFF 2023

The Boy and the Heron

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki · 2023 ·

Short answer

Is The Boy and the Heron worth watching?

Yes. The Boy and the Heron (2023) earns a 70% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

70%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

74% Editorial Rating
77% Audience snapshot · excluded
63 Metascore
★★★☆☆ Letterboxd 3.4
7.4 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
2h 4m
Age rating
PG-13 (US) · 12A (UK) · UA (India) · 13+ (Indonesia) · PG (Australia)
Cast
Soma Santoki , Masaki Suda , Ko Shibasaki , Aimyon , Yoshino Kimura , Takuya Kimura , Keiko Takeshita , Jun Fubuki , Sawako Agawa , Karen Takizawa
Streaming
HBO Max
Country
Japan
Language
Japanese

Also known as 君たちはどう生きるか Kimitachi wa Dou Ikiru ka El niño y la garza El chico y la garza Le Garçon et le Héron Der Junge und der Reiher O Menino e a Garça 그대들은 어떻게 살 것인가

🏆 1 award win — Won Best Animated Feature, Academy Awards 2024

Where to watch

  • HBO Max

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home, Spectrum On Demand

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Where to watch The Boy and the Heron by country

Country Streaming on
India Netflix
Indonesia Netflix
Malaysia Netflix
Nigeria Netflix
Pakistan Netflix
Philippines Netflix
South Africa Netflix
South Korea Netflix
Thailand Netflix
Turkey Netflix
United Arab Emirates Netflix
United Kingdom Netflix
United States HBO Max

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is positive (74/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (77%).
  • Metascore is generally favorable (63/100).
  • Celluloid Score 70% combines 4 rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately. Consult the source notes for verification dates where recorded.

Best for

  • Fans of Animation

Not ideal for

  • Viewers who only watch top-tier, 90%+ rated films

Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

Is The Boy and the Heron worth watching?

Yes — The Boy and the Heron earns a 70% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits fans of Animation, but viewers who only watch top-tier, 90%+ rated films may want to skip it. Read our full review (3.5/5).

Celluloid verdict

Miyazaki’s late-career fantasy — Oscar Best Animated Feature — layers personal history under surreal adventure.

, Founder & Editor

Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

What is The Boy and the Heron about?

While the Second World War rages, the teenage Mahito, haunted by his mother's tragic death, is relocated from Tokyo to the serene rural home of his new stepmother Natsuko, a woman who bears a striking resemblance to the boy's mother. As he tries to adjust, this strange new world grows even stranger following the appearance of a persistent gray heron, who perplexes and bedevils Mahito, dubbing him the "long-awaited one."

Watch the Trailer

Critic Reviews

Short review 4 min read English The Boy and the Heron

The Boy and the Heron (2023) Review: Miyazaki Looks Inward

The Boy and the Heron is Hayao Miyazaki's wartime fantasy about a grieving boy, a gorgeous and deeply personal film that is harder to follow than his classics.

Yes, with reservations. The animation and emotional core are superb, but the dreamlike second half is opaque; best for Miyazaki devotees and patient viewers.

Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

The Boy and the Heron stills

Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

The Boy and the Heron production still 1
The Boy and the Heron production still 2
The Boy and the Heron production still 3
The Boy and the Heron production still 4
The Boy and the Heron production still 5
The Boy and the Heron production still 6

Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

Reader takes

No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

The Boy and the Heron: frequently asked questions

Is The Boy and the Heron worth watching?

Yes. The Boy and the Heron (2023) has a Celluloid Score of 70%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

Where can I watch The Boy and the Heron?

In the United States, The Boy and the Heron streams on HBO Max with a subscription, and you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube. Elsewhere: Netflix in India; Netflix in Indonesia; Netflix in Malaysia; Netflix in Nigeria. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

How long is The Boy and the Heron?

The Boy and the Heron runs 2 hours 4 minutes (124 minutes).

What is The Boy and the Heron rated?

The Boy and the Heron is rated PG-13 in the United States, 12A in the UK, UA in India, 13+ in Indonesia and PG in Australia. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

Who stars in The Boy and the Heron?

The Boy and the Heron is directed by Hayao Miyazaki and stars Soma Santoki, Masaki Suda, Ko Shibasaki, Aimyon, Yoshino Kimura.

What is the Metascore for The Boy and the Heron?

Metacritic's Metascore for The Boy and the Heron is 63 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

More Like This

Ranked by genre overlap and Celluloid Score. More movies like The Boy and the Heron →