Hiyao Miyazaki’s latest “final film” (he’s retired a few times, most recently in 2013) is doing bang-up business at the U.S. box office as “The Boy and the Heron” looks to win a weak, no-real-competition early Dec. opening weekend.

Deadline.com was projecting a $10-12 million take for this fantasy fable from the master Japanese animator who gave us “Spirited Away,” “Ponyo” and “The Wind Rises.”

The final tally is $12.83, per @TheNumbers.

Ordinarily, that wouldn’t be enough to win a weekend. But early December is traditionally a weak stretch for new openings, and this year’s Thanksgiving offerings — a new “Hunger Games” installment winding down, “Napoleon” underperfoming ($4 million) and last weekend’s concert film blockbuster, “Renaissanse: A Film by Beyonce” taking a STEEP dive on its second weekend — left the box office door open for this anime event.

“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” took in $9.4 million in its umpteenth week of release.

The real “race” here was between “Renaissance,” “Trolls Band Together” and last weekend’s other “big” (ish) release, “Godzilla Minus One,” with all three films expected to tally about $6-6.5 million, based on Friday’s box office take.”Godzilla” is only losing 40-45% of its opening weekend take, a much better hold than the front-loaded ticket sales of the Beyonce movie.

A reminder, this is how singing star concert films normally perform in theaters — a big opening, a steep drop-off (But 77%+? Ouch.), and quick disappearance. “Renaissance” only took in $5 million this weekend. Taylor Swift’s “Eras” was a blockbuster exception, opening huge and sticking around for an epic month of big box office.

“Godzilla Minus One” easily took third place, with $8.34 million.”Trolls” added $6.2, “Napoleon” only managed $4.2 and seems not destined for greatness.

Limited release/low box-office expectation pictures such as the filmed stage musical “Waitress” ($3.2) starring Sara Bareilles, Oscar-bait “Poor Things,” ($644K), less Oscar worthy “Eileen” ($615) and the corrosive “Saltburn” are left fighting for the Top Ten leftovers, along with “Silent Night” and “Dream Scenario.”

Angel Studios’ faith-based sci-fi “The Shift” is doing middling business, $2 million or so.

“Thanksgiving” faded to black even faster than “Wish” (another $5 million and change). Disney isn’t reporting “The Marvels” earnings any more, because the pain is too deep.