A decade in, Studio Ghibli Fest keeps growing as new generations flock to 'Totoro,' 'Ponyo' and more

Studio Ghibli Fest, an annual theatrical revival of Japanese animation studio films, is in its tenth year and growing stronger than ever. What started in 2017 with five titles generating $5 million in box-office sales has expanded dramatically — last year eight films grossed $10.6 million, and in 2024 fourteen movies brought in $16.4 million. The festival, which runs sporadically from June through October, now plays in over 1,100 theater locations across North America, up from about 640 when it began.

The success defies industry expectations. Despite—or perhaps because of—Studio Ghibli films becoming available on HBO Max in 2020, demand for theatrical releases has only increased. Beloved titles like "My Neighbor Totoro," "Spirited Away," and "Ponyo" have become practically permanent fixtures in multiplexes, drawing both longtime fans and new generations of children discovering Miyazaki's work for the first time. Theater chains have responded by extending individual film runs from two or three dates to five-day stints, and executives say audience enthusiasm shows no sign of slowing.