It's difficult to resist the temptation when you think about stopping at the cinema for Studio Ghibli's latest work, and the American public is well aware of this too.
The famous Japanese animation house founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki - to whom we owe the creation of extraordinary works such as "My Neighbor Totoro", "Princess Mononoke" or "Spirited Away" - has been able to stand out over the years for a style unmistakable, as well as a poetic and mature approach to the issues addressed.
With great surprise, after retiring in 2013, Miyazaki returned to direct a project with "The Boy and the Heron" , which won the hearts of the Japanese public and promises to leave its mark also among Italian spectators, eagerly awaited in theaters for New Year's Day.
In its debut weekend, the animated film achieved record numbers in American cinemas, with 12.8 million from screening in 2,205 theaters, making it the best launch ever for a Japanese animated title in the USA . In this long-awaited return of the master we will participate in the story of Mathito, a twelve-year-old who moved to another city after the death of his mother. After the unexpected encounter with a talking heron, who reveals to him that his mother is actually still alive, the boy decides to set out in search of her, venturing into a fantastic and unknown world.
The results at the American box office also confirm the success that the film is experiencing on a global level, with a total taking of 84 million of which 56 million in Japan alone.
In second position, “Hunger Games: the ballad of the Nightingale and the Serpent” maintains the positive trend with a further 9.4 million obtained in the last week, exceeding the 135 million total in four weeks after release. The film adaptation based on the novels by the American writer Suzanne Collins, and prequel to the first trilogy starring Jennifer Lawrence, specifically delves into the character of Coriolanus Snow, selected as the mentor of District 12 in the new Hunger Games and ready to make use of all its qualities to assist the new candidate in the lethal tests that await her.
The Japanese science fiction film "Godzilla Minus One" holds on in third position and managed to gain an impact on the American public with a further 8.3 million in the last week and a total of 25.3 million, marking the best gross for a live action Japanese never seen in North America. Once again, the land of the Rising Sun will have to face an unparalleled monstrosity, fighting for survival even after the traumas of the Second World War and the explosion of the atomic bombs. After the previous "Shin Godzilla" released in 2016, the production company Toho - in charge of the brand's rights - states that the new film has already surpassed the distribution of its predecessor in American theaters.
Also in fourth position we find "Trolls 3 - Tutti Insieme" , the film for younger people starring the cute colored men with funny hair which won a further 6.2 million for a total taking of 83 million. Much of the brand's success can be attributed to the appeal it manages to arouse not only among children, but also among their parents.
Finally, in fifth position is “Wish” , the latest Disney animated film which is currently the victim of a less than enthusiastic response. With a weekly gross of 5.3 million - which adds to the overall one currently at around 50 million - the film set in the land of Rosas, where the protagonist Asha will express a desire so powerful as to awaken the cosmic force Star, not would currently be achieving the desired results. This is especially considering the disappointing opening - as stated by Variety - of just 49 million, against a budget of over 200 million. We will therefore see if it will be able to recover during the Christmas holidays or will instead confirm the negative trend that is afflicting all the recent titles of the American giant.
Giovanni Scanu
