# The Boy and the Heron (2023) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/the-boy-and-the-heron-2023/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-23

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 71% |
| Critic Score | 74% |
| Audience Score | 77% |
| Metascore | 63/100 |
| Letterboxd | 3.4/5 |
| IMDb | 7.4/10 |
| Director | Hayao Miyazaki |
| Genres | Animation, Fantasy, Drama |
| Runtime | 124 min |
| Festival premiere | TIFF 2023 |
| Major awards | 1 wins, 0 nominations |

## Quick answer

The Boy and the Heron (2023) earns a 71% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Miyazaki’s late-career fantasy — Oscar Best Animated Feature — layers personal history under surreal adventure. Metascore 63/100. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

## Critics consensus

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

## Synopsis

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."

## Cast

Soma Santoki, Masaki Suda, Ko Shibasaki, Aimyon, Yoshino Kimura, Takuya Kimura, Keiko Takeshita, Jun Fubuki, Sawako Agawa, Karen Takizawa

## Accolades

Premiered at TIFF 2023.
- Won Best Animated Feature — Academy Awards 2024

## Where to watch

Global: HBO Max
the United States: HBO Max
the United Kingdom: Netflix
Indonesia: Netflix
India: Netflix

## Critic reviews on Celluloid: 1

## Common questions

**Is The Boy and the Heron worth watching?**
The Boy and the Heron holds a 71% Celluloid Score. Miyazaki’s late-career fantasy — Oscar Best Animated Feature — layers personal history under surreal adventure.

**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."

**Who directed The Boy and the Heron?**
The Boy and the Heron (2023) was directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

**What is the Celluloid Score of The Boy and the Heron?**
71% — the average of five public sources: critics 74%, audience 77%, Metascore 63/100, Letterboxd 3.4/5, and IMDb 7.4/10.

**What awards did The Boy and the Heron win?**
The Boy and the Heron won Best Animated Feature (Academy Awards 2024).

**Where can I watch The Boy and the Heron?**
The Boy and the Heron is streaming on HBO Max; on HBO Max in the United States; on Netflix in the United Kingdom; on Netflix in Indonesia; on Netflix in India. Availability varies by region.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

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