The latest film directed by Japanese anime giant Hayao Miyazaki topped the first weekend box office in the United States after its release, according to a tally by a movie information website.
U.S. media reports said "The Boy and the Heron," scripted by Miyazaki, who won an Oscar for "Spirited Away" in 2003, has become the first original animated film to top the rankings.
The 124-minute movie is estimated to have garnered more than $12.8 million from its release Friday through Sunday, according to Box Office Mojo.
The film "Godzilla Minus One," directed by Takashi Yamazaki of Japan, placed third in the weekend rankings, following "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes," the latest episode of the U.S. smash hit drama series.
Meanwhile, the anime by Miyazaki was among the nominees in the best animated film category at the Golden Globe Awards, along with another Japanese anime, "Suzume," directed by Makoto Shinkai, the organizers said Monday.
The recipients of the awards will be unveiled during a ceremony on Jan. 7 in California.
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