Howl's Moving Castle box office: Japan, US, and worldwide
Miyazaki's 2004 film was the second-biggest Japanese release of its year and remains one of Ghibli's top titles globally.
Published: 2026-08-19. Updated: 2026-08-19.
Short answer: Howl's Moving Castle grossed ¥19.6 billion in Japan, making it the third-highest-grossing Studio Ghibli film domestically according to Nippon.com. Box Office Mojo records a lifetime worldwide theatrical gross of $243,643,269, with Japan contributing $190,000,000 and North America contributing $10,352,604. The worldwide total includes the original 2004-2005 rollout plus multiple Studio Ghibli Fest and anniversary re-releases through 2026.
Japan theatrical performance
Howl's Moving Castle opened in Japan on November 20, 2004, distributed by Toho. It finished its run with ¥19.6 billion, placing it third among Studio Ghibli films in Japan behind Spirited Away (¥31.7 billion) and Princess Mononoke (¥20.2 billion), according to Nippon.com's ranking.
The film was the second-highest-grossing Japanese film released in 2004. Its opening was strong but not record-breaking; its box office strength came from sustained weekly attendance, a hallmark of Miyazaki's family-friendly releases.
Worldwide and territory totals
Box Office Mojo reports a lifetime worldwide gross of $243,643,269 for Howl's Moving Castle. Japan accounts for $190,000,000, or about 78 percent of the total. North America added $10,352,604, South Korea $17,605,893, and France $8,771,562. Smaller but notable totals came from Hong Kong ($2,858,361), Taiwan ($2,800,000), and Germany ($2,347,819).
The worldwide total is cumulative across the original 29-market release and later re-releases, including the 20th anniversary Studio Ghibli Fest run in 2024 that added $3,131,367 worldwide.
Howl's Moving Castle lifetime box office by selected territory. Source: Box Office Mojo as of 2026.| Territory | Lifetime gross | Share of worldwide |
|---|
| Japan | $190,000,000 | 78.0% |
| South Korea | $17,605,893 | 7.2% |
| North America | $10,352,604 | 4.2% |
| France | $8,771,562 | 3.6% |
| Hong Kong | $2,858,361 | 1.2% |
| Worldwide total | $243,643,269 | 100% |
North American release and re-releases
Disney released Howl's Moving Castle in North America in June 2005 with an English dub that included Christian Bale as Howl. The original domestic gross was $4,711,096. Subsequent North American grosses came from a 2019 re-release, Studio Ghibli Fest 2020, 2022 and 2024 re-releases, and the 20th anniversary run in late 2024.
By 2026, North America's cumulative total reached $10,352,604. As with other Ghibli titles, the re-release strategy has turned modest original runs into a long-tail theatrical business.
Gross type definition: Box office figures are theatrical gross revenue reported by distributors and tracking services, not studio net revenue. Japan totals are in yen; overseas totals are in US dollars at prevailing exchange rates.
Context in the Ghibli catalog
Howl's Moving Castle is the third-highest-grossing Studio Ghibli film in Japan and one of the studio's top five worldwide. It sits just behind Princess Mononoke (¥20.2 billion) and well ahead of Ponyo (¥15.5 billion) and The Wind Rises (¥12.0 billion) in the domestic ranking.
The film's strong overseas performance, particularly in South Korea and France, reflects Miyazaki's broad European and Asian appeal. In South Korea it remains one of the highest-grossing Japanese animated releases.
What the numbers do not show
Public sources do not report Howl's Moving Castle's home video, streaming, or merchandise revenue. Studio Ghibli and Toho do not disclose per-title profit. The worldwide theatrical figure mixes original releases and re-releases, so it should be treated as cumulative reported revenue rather than a single-run total.
The Japan yen total is the most consistent comparable, because it comes from a single market and a standard reporting body, Eiren. The worldwide dollar total is useful for scale but is affected by exchange rates and re-release timing.
Frequently asked questions
How much did Howl's Moving Castle make in Japan?
Nippon.com reports ¥19.6 billion in Japan, making it the third-highest-grossing Studio Ghibli film domestically.
What is Howl's Moving Castle's worldwide box office?
Box Office Mojo records a lifetime worldwide theatrical gross of $243,643,269, including re-releases through 2026.
How much did Howl's Moving Castle make in the US?
North America contributed $10,352,604 cumulatively, with the original 2005 Disney release grossing about $4.7 million and the rest coming from re-releases.
Where does Howl's Moving Castle rank among Studio Ghibli films?
It is third in Japan behind Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke, and one of Ghibli's top five films worldwide by reported theatrical gross.