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The recent 4K IMAX re-release of Studio Ghibli’s 1997 animated film Princess Mononoke significantly outperformed the movie’s original U.S. theatrical gross during its opening weekend.
Distributed by GKIDS in partnership with IMAX, the re-release earned an estimated $4 million ($3,871,049 as per Box Office Mojo for the first three days) from approximately 330 IMAX theaters in North America starting Mar 26, 2025.
The IMAX presentation featured a new 4K restoration of the Hayao Miyazaki-directed film.
This opening weekend gross exceeded the film’s entire original U.S. box office run in 1999, which opened with $144,446 in just eight theaters before gradually expanding and accumulating a total domestic gross of approximately $2.4 million over its entire run.
The successful re-release coincided with online controversy surrounding OpenAI’s new GPT-4o image generation model which was being used to replicate Studio Ghibli’s distinct artistic style. The trend prompted backlash from artists and fans concerned about copyright infringement and the ethics of replicating hand-drawn art styles with AI.
Hayao Miyazaki himself has previously expressed strong reservations about AI in animation, notably calling it an “insult to life itself” during a documented encounter in 2016.
Chance Huskey, GKIDS Vice President of distribution, commented on the audience turnout, stating, “In a time when technology tries to replicate humanity, we are thrilled that audiences value a theatrical experience that respects and celebrates Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli’s masterpiece in all its cinematic hand-drawn glory.”
GKIDS, the North American distributor for the Studio Ghibli library, organized the event partly to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the acclaimed Japanese animation studio.
Princess Mononoke, first released in Japan in 1997, broke many box office records at the time of its release and went on to become highest grossing film in the country at that time. Currently, it is the fifth highest grossing film of all time in Japan and the 14th highest grossing Japanese film in the world.
The movie depicts the struggle between the encroaching industrialization of humans and the spirits and gods of the natural world, centered around the cursed prince Ashitaka and San, a young woman raised by wolves.
Known for its complex themes exploring environmentalism, war, and coexistence, the film was lauded for its stunning hand-drawn animation, intricate narrative, and mature tone.
