Where to watch ‘The Boy and the Heron’ in 2024
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The Boy and the Heron is a hand-drawn animated film from acclaimed director, Hayao Miyazaki. It’s his first film in a decade and is said to be his final film. The Boy and the Heron won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film and features a stacked cast of voice actors in both its Japanese and English versions. We’ve got everything you need to know about the film right here, including how you can stream it online!
Where to watch ‘The Boy and the Heron’ online in the U.S.
Watch The Boy and the Heron with ExpressVPN to bypass throttling restrictions on your network—including schools and offices—and securely stream the show in blazing-fast HD from anywhere. Here are all the ways to watch the series online!
Max
Price: From 10 USD/month
Free trial: None
Thanks to a streaming deal between Studio Ghibli and Warner Brothers, The Boy and the Heron will stream on Max in the U.S. According to Variety, a streaming release date for the film will be announced “later this year.” In the meantime, Max subscribers can enjoy other Studio Ghibli hits like Spirited Away on the service. Whether traveling or at home, American fans watching with ExpressVPN should select a U.S. server location to access streaming content in the U.S.
Where to watch ‘The Boy and the Heron’ online outside the U.S.
Netflix
Price: From 7 AUD/month
Free trial: None
The Boy and the Heron is confirmed to stream on Netflix outside the U.S. and Japan, though a streaming date has yet to be announced. Studio Ghibli films are streaming on Netflix libraries around the world, so this isn’t a huge surprise. If you’re streaming with ExpressVPN, be sure to select a server location from where you’re at for the best streaming experience.
Where to rent ‘The Boy and the Heron’ online
The Boy and the Heron is not currently available for rent or purchase online. The film’s Premium Video On Demand (PVOD) release date has yet to be announced, though a listing for it already appears on Apple TV. Once the film is released for PVOD, you can rent it from services like Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, Rakuten, and more.
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Can I use a VPN to watch ‘The Boy and the Heron’ in another country?
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What is ‘The Boy and the Heron’ about?
The Boy and the Heron is a hand-drawn animated film that follows Mahito Maki as he moves to the countryside after his mother’s death. He struggles to settle down in his new home and is told by a talking heron that his mother is still alive. Mahito goes on a fantastical journey to another world by way of an abandoned tower to search for his mother.
The Boy and the Heron is said to be the final film of director and Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki. The surreal animated work took seven years to complete, and it won the BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Oscar for their respective animated feature categories.
When is ‘The Boy and the Heron’ streaming online
The streaming date for The Boy and the Heron has yet to be announced, though Variety has said an announcement will come this year. The film is currently showing in theaters, so check your local cinemas for showtimes!
Once its theatrical run is over, the film will be available for rent or purchase on PVOD services before becoming available on streaming services Max and Netflix. Keep tabs on this page; we’ll let you know when it streams online!
‘The Boy and the Heron’ cast
The Japanese voice cast for The Boy and the Heron includes:
- • Sima Santoki as Mahito Maki
- • Masaki Suda as The Grey Heron
- • Kô Shibasaki as Kiriko
- • Aimyon as Himi
- • Yoshino Kimura as Natsuko
- • Takuya Kimura as Shoichi Maki
- • Jun Kunimura as The Parakeet King
- • Kaoru Kobayashi as Old Pelican
- • Shohei Hino as Great-Uncle
The voice cast for the English dubbed version of The Boy and the Heron includes:
- • Christian Bale as Shoichi Maki
- • Dave Bautista as The Parakeet King
- • Gemma Chan as Natsuko/Hisako
- • Willem Dafoe as Noble Pelican
- • Karen Fukuhara as Lady Himi
- • Mark Hamill as Granduncle
- • Luca Padovan as Mahito Maki
- • Robert Pattinson as The Grey Heron
- • Florence Pugh as Kiriko
‘The Boy and the Heron’ FAQ
What Oscar awards did ‘The Boy and the Heron’ win?
The Boy and the Heron won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film.
Will ‘The Boy and the Heron’ stream on Prime Video?
Yes, you can rent or purchase The Boy and the Heron from Prime Video when it becomes available. A release date has yet to be announced.
Is ‘The Boy and the Heron’ streaming on Apple TV?
Yes, you can rent or purchase The Boy and the Heron from Apple TV when it becomes available. The film is already listed on the service, though without a release date yet.
How long is ‘The Boy and the Heron’?
The Boy and the Heron is 124 minutes (2 hours 4 minutes) long.
What is the age rating for ‘The Boy and the Heron’?
The Boy and the Heron is rated PG-13 for “some violent content/bloody images and smoking.”
Is ‘The Boy and the Heron’ the last Studio Ghibli movie?
No, The Boy and the Heron is not the last Studio Ghibli movie. It is said to be the final film from director and Studio Ghibli co-founder, Hayao Miyazaki.
Where to watch Studio Ghibli movies online?
If you’re in the U.S., Studio Ghibli movies stream on Max. Internationally, they stream on Netflix. Do note that while most Netflix libraries carry movies from Studio Ghibli, there are some that do not.