How to Watch The Boy and the Heron on Netflix in the US with a VPN (2026)

The Boy and the Heron is currently available on Netflix in the United Kingdom. A current UK streaming availability check lists the Studio Ghibli movie on Netflix, making the UK a practical region for U.S. viewers who want to try watching it with a VPN.

Netflix originally added The Boy and the Heron to its catalog outside the United States and Japan under its Studio Ghibli distribution agreement. Private Internet Access, ExpressVPN, and NordVPN all currently provide UK server locations that can give your device a UK IP address.

VPN access is not guaranteed. According to Netflix’s official VPN guidance, connecting through a VPN can affect which titles you see, and Netflix may ask you to disable the VPN if it detects the connection.

How to watch The Boy and the Heron on Netflix with a VPN

The simplest method is to connect to a UK VPN server before opening Netflix. Follow these steps:

1. Choose a VPN. Private Internet Access is our first recommendation, followed by ExpressVPN and NordVPN.
2. Download and install the VPN app on your device.
3. Open the VPN and connect to a server in the United Kingdom.
4. Fully close the Netflix app or browser tab if it is already running.
5. Reopen Netflix after the VPN connection is established.
6. Sign in with your existing Netflix account.
7. Search for The Boy and the Heron.
8. Start playing the movie if it appears in the catalog.

The UK is a practical choice because The Boy and the Heron is currently listed as streaming on Netflix UK, while all three VPNs covered below provide suitable UK locations.

The regional difference also matches Netflix’s distribution announcement for The Boy and the Heron, which excluded the United States and Japan from the movie’s Netflix rollout.

Best VPNs for watching The Boy and the Heron on Netflix

These three VPNs currently provide UK locations that you can use to establish a UK IP address before opening Netflix.

VPN	UK server option	Best for
Private Internet Access	UK Streaming Optimized, London, Manchester, Southampton	Editor’s Choice
ExpressVPN	London, Docklands, Manchester, Midlands and other UK locations	Multiple UK location choices
NordVPN	London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow	SmartPlay and a large UK network

1. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access is our Editor’s Choice for watching The Boy and the Heron on Netflix. Its current server list includes UK London, UK Manchester, UK Southampton, and a UK Streaming Optimized location.

The UK Streaming Optimized option makes PIA particularly convenient for this setup. PIA’s official location directory confirms that the specialized UK streaming location remains available alongside its regular UK servers.

Open the PIA app, expand the United Kingdom locations, and try UK Streaming Optimized first. Once connected, your public IP address should appear as a UK address to websites and online services. Fully close Netflix before reconnecting so the service starts a fresh session after your location changes.

If the movie does not appear, disconnect and try London, Manchester, Southampton, or another UK option available in your app. Netflix can identify VPN connections, so no particular PIA location can guarantee access at all times.

2. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is another strong option because it currently maintains several UK locations. Its official server directory lists UK locations including Docklands, East London, London, Manchester, Midlands, Tottenham, and Wembley.

Those locations support ExpressVPN’s current connection protocols, including Lightway. The ExpressVPN server list provides several separate UK connection points, which gives you alternatives if Netflix does not work through the first location you select.

Open ExpressVPN, search for United Kingdom, and start with London or another UK location. Connect before opening Netflix, then sign in and search for The Boy and the Heron.

If Netflix detects the connection or the movie does not appear, close Netflix, switch to a different UK ExpressVPN location, and try again. Availability can change as Netflix and VPN providers update their networks.

3. NordVPN

NordVPN also has extensive UK coverage. Its UK network currently includes more than 440 servers, with city-level options in Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, and Manchester. NordVPN also includes SmartPlay in its VPN apps, which works automatically after you connect to a server.

To use it, open NordVPN and select United Kingdom from the country list. You can also choose a specific UK city. NordVPN explains that connecting to its UK network changes your IP address to a UK address.

There is no additional SmartPlay setting to enable. According to NordVPN, SmartPlay activates automatically when you connect through the NordVPN app and combines VPN and DNS technologies for streaming.

After connecting to the UK, reopen Netflix and search for the movie. If it does not appear, try another UK server or city before troubleshooting the Netflix session itself.

What to do if The Boy and the Heron does not appear

A successful UK VPN connection does not always mean Netflix will immediately show the UK catalog. An old Netflix session, cached location data, or a detected VPN IP address can interfere with the process.

Try these steps:

1. Close Netflix completely.
2. Disconnect from your current VPN server.
3. Connect to another server in the United Kingdom.
4. Clear Netflix cookies and browser cache if you are watching through a web browser.
5. Open a private or incognito browser window.
6. Reopen Netflix only after the VPN connection is active.
7. Sign in to your Netflix account again.
8. Search for The Boy and the Heron.

If you use PIA, try its UK Streaming Optimized location before switching to another UK server. ExpressVPN and NordVPN users can switch between their available UK cities.

If several UK servers produce the same result, Netflix may have identified the VPN connection. You may need to try again with another server, but there is no guarantee that a particular VPN IP address will work.

Netflix may detect the VPN

Netflix officially acknowledges that VPNs can make a device or network appear to connect from somewhere other than its physical location. Its VPN support documentation says VPN users may only see titles for which Netflix has worldwide licensing, and Netflix may require the VPN to be turned off when it causes playback or location problems.

This means connecting to the UK does not guarantee that Netflix will display The Boy and the Heron. VPN IP addresses can stop working as Netflix changes its detection systems, while providers can introduce new addresses or server configurations.

Can you use a Netflix ad-supported plan with a VPN?

No. Netflix currently states that VPN connections are not supported when you use an ad-supported Netflix experience.

If your U.S. Netflix account uses an ad-supported plan, you may receive a VPN or proxy error instead of being able to watch through the UK connection. You would need an ad-free Netflix plan for the VPN method described above to have a chance of working.

Does changing the VPN location change your Netflix account?

Connecting to a UK VPN server does not create a second Netflix account. You continue using the same Netflix email address, password, profiles, watch history, and account.

The VPN changes the IP address Netflix sees from your connection. This can influence the regional catalog Netflix attempts to display, provided Netflix accepts the VPN connection.

You also do not need to change the country in your Netflix account settings before connecting. Connect to the UK through the VPN first, close any existing Netflix session, and then reopen Netflix.

Which VPN should you use?

Private Internet Access is our first choice because it offers both regular UK locations and a dedicated UK Streaming Optimized option. That gives you an easy starting point plus several alternatives if you need to change servers.

ExpressVPN comes second and provides numerous UK locations, including several in and around London as well as Manchester and the Midlands. NordVPN is third, with hundreds of UK servers, several city choices, and SmartPlay built into its apps.

Whichever VPN you choose, access can change. Netflix can detect VPN traffic, individual server IP addresses can stop working, and Netflix can change regional licensing without notice.

Frequently asked questions