The Boy and the Heron (2023)
Kernel Score: 85% · 2,548 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Animation, Adventure, Fantasy, Drama, Family
Released: 2023-07-14
Runtime: 124 minutes
Is The Boy and the Heron worth watching?
Worth watching. Miyazaki's dreamlike story of a grieving boy who follows a talking heron into a strange world. It's beautiful and moving but deliberately cryptic, so it rewards patience more than it entertains.
Watch it if you
- love Studio Ghibli's imagery
- like symbolic, dreamlike storytelling
- are grieving or reflective
Skip it if you
- want a clear adventure plot
- expect something close to Totoro or Spirited Away
Best for: Quiet night, adults and older kids
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Boy and the Heron
- Stream: HBO Max
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
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."
The Boy and the Heron parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that The Boy and the Heron is a PG-13 animated fantasy drama dealing with grief, loss of a parent, and wartime hardship.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Set during WWII with wartime peril and fantastical, sometimes unsettling supernatural imagery.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Boy and the Heron
If you liked The Boy and the Heron, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Spirited Away (2001) — 96%: Miyazaki's most beloved fantasy about a child in a strange world
- Howl's Moving Castle (2004) — 92%: Miyazaki fantasy of magic, war and love
- Princess Mononoke (1997) — 92%: Miyazaki epic with deeper themes
- My Neighbor Totoro (1988) — 89%: Gentler Miyazaki film about childhood wonder
- When Marnie Was There (2014) — 90%: Gentle Ghibli-style story about a lonely child
- The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse (2022) — 91%: Hand-drawn, wise story for all ages
Director
Cast
- Soma Santoki as Mahito Maki (voice)
- Masaki Suda as Gray Heron (voice)
- Ko Shibasaki as Kiriko (voice)
- Aimyon as Lady Himi (voice)
- Yoshino Kimura as Natsuko (voice)
- Takuya Kimura as Shoichi Maki (voice)
- Keiko Takeshita as Izumi (voice)
- Jun Fubuki as Utako (voice)
- Sawako Agawa as Eriko (voice)
- Karen Takizawa as Warawara (voice)
The Boy and the Heron FAQ
Is The Boy and the Heron worth watching?
Worth watching. Miyazaki's dreamlike story of a grieving boy who follows a talking heron into a strange world. It's beautiful and moving but deliberately cryptic, so it rewards patience more than it entertains.
Where can I watch The Boy and the Heron?
In the US you can stream The Boy and the Heron on HBO Max and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Boy and the Heron OK for kids?
The Boy and the Heron is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that The Boy and the Heron is a PG-13 animated fantasy drama dealing with grief, loss of a parent, and wartime hardship.
What movies are like The Boy and the Heron?
If you liked The Boy and the Heron, try Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke and My Neighbor Totoro.