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Nearly a decade after the release of the Netflix cult hit Circle, it was recently announced that a sequel, simply titled Circles, was in the works. It was also announced that Carmen Flood (Long Slow Exhale), Michael Nardelli (American Crime Story), Cameron Mann (Eddington), and Mareau Hall (Babygirl) were among the new cast. Now, we’re excited to share some first-look images from the upcoming film featuring the stellar new cast.

Details about the sequel are being kept under wraps, but so far, we know that the synopsis simply reads, “18 years after being pawns in a cruel game of psychological warfare, the survivors of an invasion face a new threat.“

Check out our exclusive first-look images below! Starting on the far left and moving clockwise: Luca Padovan (You), Mareau Hall (Babygirl), Sophia Tayui-Lepore (The Studio), Cameron Mann (Eddington), Laila Drew (Broadway’s Suffs), Isaiah Dodo-Williams (Public Defenders), Corrado Martini (Collapser...

A decade ago, the writing and directing duo of Aaron Hann and Mario Miscione drew inspiration from the classic 1957 drama 12 Angry Men while making the sci-fi psychological thriller Circle, which ended up gathering a cult following after it was released through the Netflix streaming service. Now, Deadline reports that a sequel titled Circles is now filming in Buffalo, New York!

If you need a refresher, Circle had the following synopsis: In a massive, mysterious chamber, fifty strangers awaken to find themselves trapped with no memory of how they got there. Organized in an inward-facing circle and unable to move, they quickly learn that every two minutes one of them must die… executed by a strange device in the center of the room. At first the attacks seem random, but soon the strangers realize that they, as a group, have the power to decide who will be the next to be killed.

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You is a psychological crime thriller drama series co-created by Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble. Based on the You novel series by Caroline Kepnes, the Netflix series follows Joe Goldberg, a seemingly ordinary young man who becomes obsessed with women and begins stalking them. She soon starts inserting himself in their lives and killing off anyone who gets in his way. You stars Penn Badgley, Elizabeth Lail, Luca Padovan, Zach Cherry, Shay Mitchell, Victoria Pedretti, Jenna Ortega, James Scully, and Tati Gabrielle. So, if you loved the intensely dramatic story, thrilling mysteries, and complex characters in Netflix’s You, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Dexter Credit – Showtime

Dexter is a psychological mystery crime thriller drama series created by James Manos Jr. Based on the 2004 novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter by author Jeff Lindsay, the...

With smarter streamlining, “The Life List” could’ve been impactful. As is, the two-hour-plus Netflix original suffers by attempting to blend two predictable storylines into one: a reductive romantic search for The One crammed in alongside a drama about a directionless woman encouraged by her dead mother to rediscover her joie de vivre in order to claim her inheritance. Not only does its narrative momentum stall all too frequently, but our heroine’s completion quests lack the basics to deliver rousing feelings. Worse still, it’s frustratingly more concerned with telling us how she’s financially able to afford having a delayed quarter-life identity crisis in New York City than it is with giving her journey toward enlightenment any genuine, satiating sense of internal transformation.

Droll Alex (Sofia Carson) is stuck in her life, only she doesn’t realize it. She bides her free time in an unglamourous city loft apartment with her longterm,...

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Hannibal is a psychological crime thriller drama series created by Bryan Fuller. Based on the Hannibal novels by Thomas Harris, the NBC series follows FBI special investigator Will Graham, who has an exceptional talent for getting into the minds of the killers, which takes a heavy toll on his psyche. To get psychological treatment, he frequently consults forensic psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter, but what Will doesn’t know is that Hannibal is a notorious serial killer. Hannibal stars Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, Caroline Dhavernas, Hettienne Park, Laurence Fishburne, Scott Thompson, Aaron Abrams, and Gillian Anderson. So, if you loved the dark psychological stories, thrilling mysteries, and compelling characters in Hannibal, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Mindhunter (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Mindhunter is a psychological crime thriller drama series created by Joe Penhall. Based on...

Here’s All We Know About Sofia Carson’s The Life List (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Years may come and go, but rom-coms will always be what the audiences truly want. The Life List is the next romantic comedy released by Netflix, and the film stars Sofia Carson as the main lead. Here’s what we know about the upcoming film, including its release date, cast details, and more!

The Life List: Release Date & Cast Details

The Life List will be released on Netflix on March 28, 2025. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Lori Nelson Spielman. As for the film’s cast, Sofia Carson stars as Alex Rose, Kyle Allen plays Brad, Sebastian de Souza is Garrett, and Connie Britton essays Elizabeth.

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A post shared by Sofia Carson (@sofiacarson)

José Zúñiga portrays Samuel, Jordi Mollà is Johnny, Marianne Rendón plays Zoe,...

Sofia Carson in The Life List – Picture: Netflix

In March 2024, Netflix confirmed The Life List, a new romantic comedy starring Sofia Carson. The movie is due out on Netflix soon, so we’re here with everything known about it, including the full cast, production updates, plot details, and more on its release date, which is now set for March 28th.

Adam Brooks is on board to both write and direct the project. The Canadian screenwriter and director is no stranger to the romantic comedy space, having written or directed (or both) titles like Definitely, Maybe, and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, plus the Netflix Original movie Nappily Ever After, released in 2018.

This isn’t the first time The Lift List has been attempted to be brought to the big screen. Ahead of the book’s release in 2013, Fox 2000 optioned the film rights for the novel, with Hutch Parker set to produce.

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Wilderness is a British-American thriller series created by Marnie Dickens. Based on the book of the same name by B.E. Jones, the Prime Video series stars two brilliant actors, Jenna Coleman and Oliver Jackson-Cohen, in the lead roles of Liv and Wil,l and it follows the story of Liv as she finds out that her perfect marriage was not as perfect as she thought because her husband was cheating on her. This breaks her, but after a lot of pleading from her husband, she agrees to go on a trip with him so that they can try to repair their marriage. Liv has something else on her mind. Wilderness also stars Ashley Benson, Morgana Van Peebles, Claire Rushbrook, Talia Balsam, Eric Balfour, Marsha Stephanie Blake, and Jonathan Keltz. So, if you loved the thrilling story, intense drama,...

A teaser trailer for the new season of You has arrived. The Netflix show, which is based on the book series of the same name by Caroline Kepnes, follows book lover Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) as he stalks various women, killing almost anyone who gets in his way, in a new location each season, moving from New York City to Los Angeles to Northern California to London. The upcoming You season 5 sees him return to New York and will conclude the long-running thriller series.

Netflix has now unveiled the official release date announcement trailer for You season 5, which includes new footage from the upcoming season. The trailer kicks off by showing Joe, having shaved his season 4 beard, strolling down the street in New York City and returning to his old haunt, Mooney's Rare & Used Books. As he walks into the store, he reminisces about the locations and love interests from previous seasons.

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Fake Profile is a Colombian erotic thriller drama series created by Pablo Illanes. The Netflix series follows Camila, a stripper from Los Angeles who thinks that she has met her prince charming on a dating app but when she surprises him at his home, she becomes embroiled in some dark secrets. Fake Profile stars Carolina Miranda, Rodolfo Salas, Manuela González, Victor Mallarino, Mauricio Henao, and Lincoln Palomeque. So, if you loved the steamy scenes, dark thrilling drama, and compelling characters in Fake Profile here are some similar erotic shows you should check out next.

Dark Desire (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Dark Desire is a Mexican erotic thriller drama series created by Leticia López Margalli. The Netflix series follows Alma, a law professor who is married to a judge. During a weekend away from home she begins a passionate affair...

The long-awaited fifth and final season of the hit Netflix series You has finally set a release window, and we now have our first look at what we can expect for the grand finale. Debuting back in 2018, the Penn Badgley-led series about an obsessively romantic serial killer drew widespread critical acclaim, earning a 94% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and 82% from fans. As the show has progressed over the years, it has managed to maintain its popularity, with Season 4 sitting comfortably at 92%.

Per Deadline, Netflix revealed today that You Season 5 will debut at some point in 2025, though they weren’t able to narrow it down any further than that. Production on the final season wrapped in August, so now everything is in post as the finishing touches are added to what will be a 10-episode finale. There’s no word yet on if it will be split into halves like Season 4 was,...

You season 5 now has an official release date and new teaser posters. The show, which is based on the Caroline Kepnes book series of the same name, stars Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg, a New Yorker who stalks various women over the course of the show, frequently killing those who get in his way. You season 5, which will be the final season of the series, features a supporting cast that includes Madeline Brewer, Anna Camp, Griffin Matthews, Nava Mau, and returning stars Charlotte Ritchie and Tati Gabrielle reprising their roles as Kate Galvin and Marienne Bellamy respectively.

On the official You X account, two teaser posters for season 5 were shared, along with a caption confirming that the "killer final season" of the show will air in 2025. See the original post below:

Goodbye, you. The killer final season of You is coming in 2025. pic.twitter.com/ycfLjQLuRc— You (@YouNetflix) December 19, 2024

One...

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Dexter: Original Sin is a mystery crime drama series created by Clyde Phillips. Based on the Showtime series Dexter by James Manos Jr. and the Dexter novels by Jeff Lindsay, the prequel series follows the origins of Dexter Morgan as he learns his code of only killing criminals and how not to get caught by the authorities. Dexter: Original Sin stars Patrick Gibson, Christian Slater, Molly Brown, Christina Milian, James Martinez, Alex Shimizu, Reno Wilson, Patrick Dempsey, and Michael C. Hall. So, if you loved the nail-biting, thrilling, hilarious dark comedy and compelling characters in Dexter: Original Sin, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Dexter Credit – Showtime

Dexter is a psychological crime thriller dark comedy-drama series created by James Manos Jr. Based on the 2004 novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay, the Showtime series follows Dexter Morgan,...

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Murder Mindfully is a German dark comedy crime thriller series written by Karsten Dusse, Doron Wisotzky, Michael Kenda, and Anneke Janssen. Based on the bestselling 2024 book of the same name by author Karsten Dusse, the Netflix series follows Björn Diemel, a down-and-out top-flight lawyer who goes to a mindfulness retreat and suddenly becomes a murderer and mastermind for the mob. Murder Mindfully stars Tom Schilling, Emily Cox, Michael Ihnow, Sascha Alexander Gersak, Amer El-Erwadi, and Viktoria Schreiber. So, if you loved the dark comedy the dark comedy, thrilling story, and compelling characters in Murder Mindfully here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Dexter Credit – Showtime

Dexter is a psychological crime thriller dark comedy series created by James Manos Jr. Based on the 2004 novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter by author Jeff Lindsay, the Showtime series follows Dexter Morgan,...

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Sweetpea is a dark comedy crime drama series created by Kirstie Swain. Based on the 2017 book of the same name by author Cj Skuse, the Starz series follows Rhiannon, a young woman with a traumatic past leading a quiet life working as an admin assistant at a local newspaper but a chance encounter with a complete stranger turns her life upside down. Sweetpea stars Fallout‘s Ella Purnell in the lead role with Nicôle Lecky, Jon Pointing, Leah Harvey, Jeremy Swift, and Dustin Demri-Burns starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the dark comedy, thrilling story, and compelling characters in Sweetpea here are some similar shows you should check out next.

You (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Netflix

You is a psychological crime thriller drama series developed by Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble. Based on the...

Roz of the Recapture is currently available to stream on Hulu.

Roz of the Recapture is the 2024 Code Geass sequel whose premise is set 5 years after the events of Lelouch of the Resurrection. The conflict begins in year 3 of the Kowa Period, which is the era that immediately follows the fall of the Britannian Empire after the death of Emperor Lelouch. Remnants of the dissolved empire formed what is essentially a hyper-organized group of terrorists and seized the Hokkaido Block of Japan, dubbing the region and themselves as Neo-Britannia.

Year 7 of the Kowa period is when the current events of Roz of the Recapture start: a pair of supposedly Britannian-born brothers who call themselves the Nameless Mercenaries join with the Seven Shining Stars (a Japanese faction fighting for Hokkaidos liberation) in order to dismantle the Neo-Britannian regime. Unbeknownst to the majority of the characters, however, is that one of...

Studio Ghibli’s film The Boy and The Heron is available to rent and buy on digital from 16th September; on 4K Uhd, Blu-ray, and DVD from 23rd September; and with a limited edition Steelbook available from 7th October. To celebrate we are giving away a 4K Uhd set with some very cute merch including: Stackable Warawa figurines, Roly poly Heron + Warawara and Theatrical Quad to one lucky winner!

The critically-acclaimed film was the first new work from Hayao Miyazaki in ten years, following his 2013 feature, The Wind Rises, and was a decade in the making. The beautiful, hand-drawn, original story was written and directed by Miyazaki. Produced by Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki, the film features a musical score from Miyazaki’s long-time collaborator Joe Hisaishi. The theme song for the film “Spinning Globe” was written and performed by global J-pop superstar Kenshi Yonezu.

The English language dubbed version...

Our top pick this week already won an Academy Award: “The Boy and the Heron,” the 2024 winner for Best Animated Feature, is now available on Max, where it joins the rest of the streamer’s Studio Ghibli collection, alongside classics like “Spirited Away” and “Princess Mononoke.”

“The Boy and the Heron” comes from anime legend Hayao Miyazaki, and may be the 83-year-old filmmaker’s last film. It’s an allegorically autobiographical film about a boy named Mahito Maki (voiced by Luca Padovan in the English-language dub). He is grieving the death of his mother when a trickster heron tells him he can reunite with her, sparking an unpredictable journey into a spirit realm. It’s a thematically rich and beautifully animated film that moves with Miyazaki’s inimitable dream logic. The voice cast also includes Christian Bale, Florence Pugh, Mark Hamill, and Willem Dafoe, among many others.

Here are some...

While we have already made a list of the best of the best movies coming to Max in September, those are not the only films you should look out for as the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned streaming service is also bringing you a ton of original and licensed new content in the upcoming month, from the brilliant anime film The Boy and the Heron to the highly anticipated DC action crime drama series The Penguin. So, we picked out the 5 best new movies and TV shows coming to Max in September 2024.

The Boy and the Heron (September 6)

The Boy and the Heron is a Japanese fantasy anime film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The 2023 film revolves around Mahito, a 12-year-old as he struggles with the death of his mother but when a talking heron tells him that his mother is still alive. Mahito enters an abandoned tower to search for his mother,...

From Naples to Gotham City, let Max pick your end-of-summer destination!

This September, leading up to the release of the highly anticipated HBO Original series “The Penguin,” starring Colin Farrell as Batman’s avian antagonist, Max has also curated a “DC Universe” collection, including the Michael Keaton-led “Batman” films beginning with 1989’s “Batman,” the hit adult-animated series “Harley Quinn,” and the 11-time Emmy-winning “Watchmen,” among many others.

But beyond Gotham, it’s a busy month for HBO and Max, which will premiere the fourth and final season of “My Brilliant Friend,” based on Elena Ferrante’s novels, as well as the two-part Original Documentary “Wise Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos,” an up-close look at the creative process behind the cultural phenomenon and HBO anchor.

Also new to the streamer’s collection this month are several titles from Discovery, Food Network, and more, including Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki...

You season 5 will feature Emmy-nominated actor Nava Mau as Detective Marquez, a potential adversary for Joe. The detective could pose a threat to Joe in the final season should his past crimes be investigated. Depending on how Marquez' potential investigation goes, she might need help bringing Joe to justice. However, it remains unclear if anyone can truly stop him.

You season 5 has cast an Emmy-nominated actor as Joe's potential adversary, setting the stage for the dangers he'll face in the upcoming final episodes. You season 4 ended with Joe managing to get away with his crimes in London, moving to New York with Kate Galvin after she inherits her father's billion-dollar enterprise. Season 5 will see the show's lead with more power than ever before, but that doesn't mean he won't encounter new challenges as he embraces his darker urges.

Now, Deadline has confirmed that Nava Mau, recently nominated for an Emmy...

Joe Goldberg may finally meet his match as the breakout of another hit Netflix series, Baby Reindeer star Nava Mau, joins the cast of You for the show's fifth and final season. Penn Badgley stars in the series that features an obsessive stalker who follows his prey from the streets of New York City, to Paris and London, leaving a trail of blood and bodies in his wake. Mau joins the series as it returns the action to where it all began, NYC, in a final season that promises surprises, and one might hope for a fitting conclusion for its creepy lead character (via Deadline).

You

You is a drama-thriller series based on the novel by Caroline Kepnes that follows an obsessive and dangerous bookstore owner known as Joe Goldberg. The show sees Joe meeting women that he becomes transfixed with and goes to terrifying lengths to insert himself into their lives.

“The Boy and the Heron” Comes to Max in September

Hayao Miyazaki’s most recent “last” film “The Boy and the Heron” is taking flight.

The Oscar and Golden Globe-winning animated film from famed studio Studio Ghibli will make its United States streaming debut exclusively on Max on Friday, Sept. 6.

The hand-drawn original written and directed by Miyazaki was the famed filmmaker’s first feature film in 10 years. The story follows young Mahito Maki, who loses his mother in a hospital fire and a series of mysterious events leads him to a secluded and ancient tower, home to a mischievous gray heron.

Watch the trailer for “The Boy and the Heron” below:

When his new stepmother disappears, Mahito follows the gray heron on an epic journey into a fantastic world shared by the living and the dead, uncovering the secrets of the world and the truth about himself.

The voice...

Last year, Studio Ghibli's The Boy and the Heron premiered in Japan, introducing the nation's moviegoers to another one-of-a-kind viewing experience from the mind of critically-acclaimed filmmaker, Hayao Miyazaki. Now, the Oscar Award-winning feature is finally heading to Max for its official U.S. streaming debut.

As detailed in a recent press release, The Boy and the Heron will join Max's Ghibli film collection starting Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. Like several of the studio's past releases, the film's story is entirely Miyazaki's creation, with inspiration drawn from the harrowing wartime experiences of his childhood. Since its debut, The Boy and the Heron has received numerous awards, including a Japan Academy Prize, two Golden Globes and an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. The latter earned it a renewed theatrical run in North America on March 22.

Related Chainsaw Man Creator's New Anime Catches the Attention of Studio Ghibli President

The head of...

Iconic Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki emerged from his self-announced retirement, which began a few years after he made “The Wind Rises” (2013), to tell the autobiographical story of “The Boy and the Heron.” Studio Ghibli president Toshio Suzuki had to reassemble the staff of the production company to complete the task, and the hard work was recognized with the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in March 2024.

The 2023 film added another Oscar to the animation director’s accolades after “Spirited Away” won the Best Animated Feature Oscar in 2011. The Academy Award win will send the film back into theaters for a limited time, and fresh off the win at the beginning of March, the film set two different streaming homes depending on where you live.

Those wondering how to watch “The Boy and the Heron” in the meantime can read on for details:

When did “The Boy and the Heron” come out?...

Hayao Miyazaki’s cerebral fantasy film The Boy and the Heron is flying onto Max in the United States after winning the Best Animated Feature Oscar at this year’s awards ceremony. In addition to bringing Miyazaki’s latest breath-taking animated feature to the streaming platform, Warner Bros. Discovery is entering a multiyear pact with GKids to extend Max’s exclusive U.S. film streaming rights for Studio Ghibli.

Per the new deal, Max will be the future home of The Boy and the Heron, with a premiere date to be announced later this year. The agreement also secures exclusivity on Max for other films in Studio Ghibli’s library, including Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Porco Rosso, and more.

“Our subscribers are always looking for unique stories, and we are happy to continue to offer these award-winning, critically acclaimed films and to add ‘The Boy and the Heron...

Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy and the Heron,” likely his final film, has won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.

It’s Miyazaki’s second Oscar after the Japanese animation master won for “Spirited Away” in 2002. Miyazaki is the most nominated director in the Best Animated Feature category (tied with Pete Docter) with four nominations, including for “Howl’s Moving Castle” and “The Wind Rises.” Miyazaki is now also the oldest winner in the category ever, at 83, with the previous record holder being Mark Gustafson for “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.”

“The Boy and the Heron” beat out an impressive field that included Pixar entry “Elemental,” Neon’s “Robot Dreams,” Netflix’s “Nimona,” and Sony’s “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” the follow-up to the Oscar-winning “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” from 2018.

Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki were not present at the Academy Awards ceremony to accept the prize. Their Oscar was accepted on...

Nominations voting is from January 11–16, 2024, with official Oscar nominations announced on January 23, 2024. Final voting is February 22–27, 2024. And finally, the 96th Oscars telecast will be broadcast on Sunday, March 10, and air live on ABC at 8 p.m. Et/ 5 p.m. Pt. We update predictions throughout awards season, so keep checking IndieWire for all our 2024 Oscar picks.

The State of the Race

Sony’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” solidified its standing as the Oscar favorite after dominating Asifa-Hollywood’s 51st Annie Awards on February 17 at UCLA’s Royce Hall. The acclaimed sequel from producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller grabbed seven awards, including best animated feature. It also won FX, character design, direction, music, production design, and editorial.

Its closest Oscar competitor, Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy and the Heron“ (Studio Ghibli-GKids), took home two Annies for Takeshi Honda’s character animation and Miyazaki’s storyboarding. However, “The Boy and the Heron...

Back from retirement once again, legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki graced 2023 with his newest film, The Boy and The Heron. Set in Japan during World War II, it follows Mahito Maki (Soma Santoki/Luca Padovan), a young man who must come to terms with the death of his mother. While at his aunt's estate, he comes across a strange gray heron (Masaki Suda/Robert Pattinson), who leads him into a magical world connected to his bloodline.

The Boy and the Heron has become the fourth highest-grossing anime film of all time in North America, surpassing Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. The film had a strong opening, grossing $12.8 million, and has now reached $39.6 million at the box office in North America. The Boy and the Heron is receiving critical acclaim and has been nominated for several Golden Globe Awards, including Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score.

In its fifth week of release, Hayao Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron has broken another record. Studio Ghibli's latest animated feature has become the fourth highest-grossing anime film of all time in North America. The milestone allows it to surpass Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, which previously held the number four slot.

The Boy and the Heron may have faced the same production delays as other films around the world over the last several years, but it...

Following the arrival of Godzilla Minus One in theaters, Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli‘s latest masterstroke, The Boy and the Heron, is already flying high at the December box office! Analysts say The Boy and the Heron could soar to the number one spot this weekend after earning $2.39M in Thursday previews, with a chance to collect $10M+ over the next few days.

This trend is an excellent look for films stomping out of Japan and into domestic theaters. Godzilla Minus One roared last weekend with $2.1M in previews before going nuclear with $4.7M on Friday and a 3-day total of $11.4M across 2,308 theaters. Meanwhile, The Boy and the Heron opened on 1,774 screens across the United States and Canada, expanding to 2,205 markets this weekend.

Here’s a plot synopsis for The Boy and the Heron. If you want to go into the film blind, do not read it!

After...

Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on Wbgr-fm on December 7th, 2023, reviewing “The Boy and the Heron,” the latest animated film from Japanese master Hayao Miyazaki. In theaters on December 8th, 2023.

Rating: 5.0/5.0

The fantasy involves Mahito, a boy who witnesses his mother dying in a fire bombing in Tokyo. His father Soichi (Christian Bale) moves the son to the country, intending to marry his wife’s sister Netsuko (Gemma Chan). The estate has a mysterious tower, which contains magical treasures, and while exploring the boy is pestered by a grey heron (Robert Pattinson). Through the tower, the heron eventually leads Mahito into an alternate reality and a magical realm.

”The Boy and the Heron” is in theaters on December 8th. Featuring the English voice cast of Christian Bale, Gemma Chan, Robert Pattinson, Mark Hamill, Florence Pugh, Willem Dafoe and Luca Padovan. Written directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

Image: Gkids Watching Hayao Miyazaki’s un-retirement animated feature The Boy And The Heron is a little like watching Bob Dylan play the hits live: you have some idea of what you’ll get, even if it’s all jumbled up into a wholly new combination and style. Released in...

Image: Gkids

Watching Hayao Miyazaki’s un-retirement animated feature The Boy And The Heron is a little like watching Bob Dylan play the hits live: you have some idea of what you’ll get, even if it’s all jumbled up into a wholly new combination and style. Released in...

Every few years, the Academy tweaks the rules for its animated feature category, with the net result that the nominees tend to skew ever more mainstream. That makes it tough for most of this year’s hopefuls: A record-setting number of animated features submitted. Those who pick the noms are required to watch roughly a third before ranking their top five, which can include additional titles they might have seen on their own. Blockbusters naturally benefit, though “Flee” and “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On” earned nominations in 2022 and 2023, respectively, suggesting that artful indies still stand a chance.

The Boy and the Heron

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Voices: Luca Padovan, Robert Pattinson

Studio: Studio Ghibli

Distributor: GKids

Rumors of Miyazaki’s retirement were greatly exaggerated, as the unstoppable creative force (who won an Oscar for “Spirited Away” in 2003) returns with a story inspired by his childhood memories during wartime. More fanciful than “The Wind Rises,...

December will bring a lineup of highly anticipated movies, including Beyoncé's documentary concert film, Hayao Miyazaki's animated fantasy, and Yorgos Lanthimos' black comedy. Get ready for a month of diverse genres, from psychological thrillers like "Eileen" to musical fantasies like "Wonka," there's something for everyone. Don't miss the sequel to "Aquaman," the animated comedy "Migration," and the biographical sports drama "The Iron Claw" about the tragic Von Erich family.

December 2023 will see the arrival of the final big releases of the year, among them Hayao Miyazaki’s latest movie, the final movie in the DC Extended Universe, the origin story of Willy Wonka, the tragic story of the Von Erich family, and more. November welcomed a variety of movies from different genres, including some highly anticipated movies, such as Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla, Nia DaCosta’s The Marvels, the dystopian adventure The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,...

Clockwise from bottom left: The Color Purple (Warner Bros.), Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom (Warner Bros.), Ferrari (Neon), and Wonka (Warner Bros.)Graphic: The A.V. Club

December has always been one of the most important moviegoing months of the year; you’ve got all the prestige pics competing for Oscar nominations,...

When Hayao Miyazaki pitched “The Boy and the Heron” to Studio Ghibli co-founder/producer Toshio Suzuki in 2016, he asked permission to make the story about himself. This took Suzuki — his friend of nearly 40 years at the time — by surprise; the legendary anime director isn’t known for getting so personal. And yet this aligned perfectly with the notion that Ghibli films are devoted to reliving memories.

“I agree that it is Miyazaki’s most personal film because he actually told me,” Suzuki told IndieWire over Zoom through an interpreter. Not only is “The Boy and the Heron” inspired by Miyazaki’s childhood (he endured the firebombing of Japan during World War II and his father was director of the family’s aircraft manufacturing factory), but also his career at Ghibli with his two closest friends: the late studio co-founder/director Isao Takahata (“Grave of the Fireflies”) and Suzuki.

“Miyazaki is...

Elysian Film Group has debuted the full trailer for filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki’s return to filmmaking after 10 years, ‘The Boy and the Heron.’

A young boy named Mahito yearning for his mother ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead. Their death comes to an end, and life finds a new beginning. A semi-autobiographical fantasy about life, death and creation, in tribute to friendship from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki.

The English language dubbed version of the film will feature the voices of Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan, Willem Dafoe, Karen Fukuhara, Mark Hamill, Robert Pattinson, and Florence Pugh. Luca Padovan joins the cast as Mahito Maki, and Mamoudou Athie, Tony Revolori, and Dan Stevens are featured as the Parakeets.

Also in trailers – “They are going to turn everyone into nuggets…” Full trailer lands for ‘Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget’

The film will be released...

Elysian Film Group has debuted a teaser trailer for filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki’s return to filmmaking after 10 years, ‘The Boy and the Heron.’

A young boy named Mahito yearning for his mother ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead. Their death comes to an end, and life finds a new beginning. A semi-autobiographical fantasy about life, death and creation, in tribute to friendship from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki.

The English language dubbed version of the film will feature the voices of Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan, Willem Dafoe, Karen Fukuhara, Mark Hamill, Robert Pattinson, and Florence Pugh. Luca Padovan joins the cast as Mahito Maki, and Mamoudou Athie, Tony Revolori, and Dan Stevens are featured as the Parakeets.

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The film will be released in cinemas across the UK and Ireland on Boxing Day,...

Gkids, the acclaimed producer and distributor of award-winning animation from around the globe, has released the English-language trailer for Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron, coming to theaters nationwide beginning on December 8. The epic fantasy adventure made its international premiere as part of the Opening Night Gala of the 48th Toronto International Film Festival, garnering rave reviews from crowds lucky enough to experience Miyazak’s latest animated marvel for the first time.

Courtesy of Gkids’ official press release for The Boy and the Heron:

The English language dubbed version of the film will feature the voices of Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan, Willem Dafoe, Karen Fukuhara, Mark Hamill, Robert Pattinson, and Florence Pugh. Luca Padovan joins the cast as Mahito Maki, and Mamoudou Athie, Tony Revolori, and Dan Stevens are featured as the Parakeets. Gkids handled casting and produced the English version in close consultation with Studio Ghibli,...

Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film, The Boy and The Heron, has announced the voice cast for its English dub, led by Christian Bale, Florence Pugh, and Robert Pattinson. It will see a wide theatrical release on December 8th alongside the original Japanese language version. Update: Watch the English dub trailer below.

Other stars include Mark Hamill, Willem Dafoe, Gemma Chan, Dave Bautista, and Karen Fukuhara, with additional cast members Luca Padovan, Mamoudou Athie, Tony Revolori, and Dan Stevens. Gkids cast and produced the English version in close consultation with Studio Ghibli, and the script adaptation was written by Stephanie Sheh. The English language dub was produced in accordance with the SAG-AFTRA Foreign Dubbing Agreement.

In our review of The Boy and The Heron from this year’s New York Film Festival, Senior Staff Writer Clint Worthington described it as a “magnificent final flourish that folds together many of the...

“The Boy and the Heron,” the latest from Japanese animation legend Hayao Miyazaki, opens outside Japan on Dec. 8. Ahead of that release, GKids and Studio Ghibli have unveiled the English-language trailer for the film, which includes appearances from Florence Pugh, Christian Bale, Robert Pattinson, Mark Hamill and Willem Dafoe. You can watch it above.

The English-language voice cast for “The Boy and the Heron” also includes Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan, Karen Fukuhara, Mamoudou Athie, Tony Revolori and Dan Stevens. The English-language dub was produced in accordance with the SAG-AFTRA Foreign Dubbing Agreement.

“The Boy and the Heron” follows a young boy named Mahito (Luca Padovan in the new dub) whose mother dies in a fire during World War II. Her father decides to move the family to the Japanese countryside. He is working for the government building air munitions and has also taken on a new wife, who has...

From Christian Bale as the title character in “Howl’s Moving Castle” to Tina Fey as the mom in “Ponyo,” Studio Ghibli movies tend to attract huge stars for their dubs. For their latest, Hayao Miyazaki’s final film “The Boy and the Heron,” Gkids has assembled what might be the studio’s starriest voice cast yet.

Titled “How Do You Live?” in Japan, “The Boy and the Heron” takes place in the middle of World War II, and follows a teenager living with his father and aunt after the death of his mother as he uncovers a secret, hidden world. Main character Mahito is voiced by Luca Padovan, best known for the TV series “You,” while the denizens he meets of the hidden world are voiced by a variety of A-list talent, including Bale returning to Ghibli, as well as Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan, Willem Dafoe, Karen Fukuhara, Mark Hamill,...

Gkids has announced the English dub cast for Studio Ghibli's The Boy and the Heron, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, which will feature an impressive lineup of well-known Hollywood actors.

Gkids revealed the voice cast more than three months after the film's theatrical release in Japan. Per the announcement, the voice cast for its English-language release will have Christian Bale as Shoichi Maki, the father of the film's protagonist Mahito Maki, who is played by Luca Padovan. Padovan's previous acting credits include reprising roles in TV's Are You Afraid of the Dark and The Rocketeer. The Creator's Gemma Chan will be the voice of Natsuko, Mahito's aunt and "human" guardian early on in the film.

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Granduncle will be voiced by Mark Hamill, who has also been cast as a dub actor in two previous Studio Ghibli films...

Studio Ghibli's new movie The Boy and the Heron has revealed its English cast, and its inclusion of Dave Bautista, Mark Hamill, and Florence Pugh is certainly stunning. While The Boy and the Heron’s original marketing strategy was to rely solely on brand recognition, that's no longer the case. In addition to multiple images, Gkids released a trailer advertising its release date, so a different marketing strategy is clearly at play in the West compared to Japan.

Going right along with that, The Boy and the Heron has recently revealed the cast of its English dub. There are many talented actors involved, but the ones who stand out the most, either because of their fame or because of their prior history with Studio Ghibli, are Dave Bautista, Florence Pugh, Willem Dafoe, Christian Bale, and Mark Hamill. Studio Ghibli movies often boast some of the best English dubs in all anime,...

Gkids announced the English dub voice cast for Hayao Miyazaki's film "The Boy and the Heron," including Christian Bale, Mark Hamill, Florence Pugh, and more. Christian Bale and Mark Hamill are returning Ghibli actors, with Bale voicing Howl in "Howl's Moving Castle" and Hamill voicing Muska in "Castle in the Sky." The rest of the cast, such as Gemma Chan and Karen Fukuhara, are experienced voice actors known for their work in other animated films and shows.

Earlier today, Gkids announced the English dub voice cast for The Boy and the Heron, the latest film from acclaimed filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. Per Deadline, the list includes both newcomers and returning actors who have previously provided dubs for previous Ghibli films and includes the likes of Academy Award winner Christian Bale, Star Wars icon Mark Hamill, Academy Award nominee Florence Pugh, The Batman star Robert Pattinson, and many more. Check out the list below!

If you ever want to stir up a heated debate among anime lovers, then there’s no quicker way than a very simple three-word question: “Subs or dubs?” Purists tend to swear by subtitles, whilst mainstream moviegoers often appreciate the convenience and accessibility of a solid English-language dub. Anything that gets more people watching Japanese animation can surely only be a good thing – and frankly, when you see the star-studded English-language voice cast assembled for :a[Studio Ghibli]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/studio-ghibli-every-movie-ranked/' target='blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'}’s upcoming :a[The Boy And The Heron]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/the-boy-and-the-heron-first-trailer-for-hayao-miyazakis-new-studio-ghibli-film/' target='blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'}, you’ll want to check the dub out, whichever side of the fence you sit on.

Announced by North American distributor Gkids yesterday, the occasion of Hayao Miyazaki’s latest – :a[and potentially last]{href='https://www.empireonline.com...

Gkids, the acclaimed producer and distributor of award-winning animation from around the globe, has announced the English voice cast for acclaimed Oscar-winning filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki’s new feature, The Boy and the Heron. The epic fantasy adventure made its international premiere as part of the Opening Night Gala of the 48th Toronto International Film Festival. Tickets for screenings went faster than Haku the Dragon soared through the Spirit Realm sky. Studio Ghibli always brings outstanding actors to the stage to voice their enigmatic characters, and The Boy and the Heron is no exception.

Courtesy of Gkids’ official press release for The Boy and the Heron:

The English language dubbed version of the film will feature the voices of Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan, Willem Dafoe, Karen Fukuhara, Mark Hamill, Robert Pattinson, and Florence Pugh. Luca Padovan joins the cast as Mahito Maki, and Mamoudou Athie, Tony Revolori, and...

English language dub produced in accordance with SAG-AFTRA Foreign Dubbing Agreement.

GKids has unveiled the English-language voice cast on Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy And The Heron including Christian Bale, Florence Pugh, Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe.

Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan, Mark Hamill, and Karen Fukuhara round out the roster on the dubbed version of the story about a teenage boy mourning his mother who enters a magical realm.

Luca Padovan joins the cast as Mahito Maki, and Mamoudou Athie, Tony Revolori, and Dan Stevens are featured as the Parakeets.The film marks Studio Ghibli co-founder Miyazaki’s first feature in 10 years.