Mamoru Hosoda’s Belle has earned over $3 million according to theater reports, following its second week in theaters. Distributed by GKIDS, the critically acclaimed film opened theatrically and on IMAX screens in both its original Japanese language and an all-new English dubbed version on January 14, with exclusive IMAX previews in select markets beginning January 12.
Belle is now Academy Award-nominated director Hosoda’s highest grossing film released in North America. This milestone follows the film’s claim on the director’s biggest North American opening, overtaking Mirai.
One of the 26 animed features eligible for the Oscars (nominations announced February 8), Belle last month received five Annie Award nominations, including Best Animated Feature – Independent as well as writing and directing nods for Hosoda.
Showtimes and tickets for English subtitled and dubbed screenings can be found at www.bellefilm.com.
Synopsis: From the celebrated Academy Award-nominated director Mamoru Hosoda and Studio Chizu, creators of Mirai, Wolf Children, Summer War, and more, comes a fantastical, heartfelt story of growing up in the age of social media.
Suzu is a shy, everyday high school student living in a rural village. For years, she has only been a shadow of herself. But when she enters “U”, a massive virtual world, she escapes into her online persona as Belle, a gorgeous and globally-beloved singer. One day, her concert is interrupted by a monstrous creature chased by vigilantes. As their hunt escalates, Suzu embarks on an emotional and epic quest to uncover the identity of this mysterious “beast” and to discover her true self in a world where you can be anyone.
Belle made its critically acclaimed world debut at the Cannes Film Festival and its North American premiere at the New York Film Festival. The film has also played in competition at the London Film Festival, Fantastic Fest and Los Angeles’ Animation Is Film festival (Special Jury Prize). The film has received honors at the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Chicago Film Critics Association, San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle, Austin Film Critics Association, Detroit Film Critics Society, Florida Film Critics Circle, Online Association of Female Film Critics, and Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.
