Jurassic World (#64) has been added, exceeding 6 million admissions this past weekend, but it'll only manage to rise one more position when it finishes its run.

Most-Attended Films of All-Time (5 million+ Admissions)

01 :: 23.50 million - Spirited Away (2001)
02 :: 20.03 million - Frozen (2014)
03 :: 19.50 million - Tokyo Olympiad (1965)
04 :: 16.83 million - Titanic (1997)
05 :: 16.20 million - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
06 :: 15.50 million - Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
07 :: 14.20 million - Princess Mononoke (1997)
08 :: 14.00 million - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
09 :: 13.00 million - Emperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese War (1958)
10 :: 12.87 million - Ponyo (2008)
11 :: 12.60 million - Bayside Shakedown: Save the Rainbow Bridge! (2003)
12 :: 12.55 million - Godzilla vs. King Kong (1962)
13 :: 12.10 million - The Last Samurai (2003)
14 :: 11.00 million - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
15 :: 10.69 million - E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
16 :: 10.10 million - Avatar (2009)
17 :: 9.72 million - The Wind Rises (2013)
18 :: 9.61 million - Godzilla (1954)
19 :: 9.00 million - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
20 :: 8.90 million - Armageddon (1998)
21 :: 8.80 million - The Sinking of Japan (1973)
22 :: 8.60 million - Finding Nemo (2003)
23 :: 8.55 million - Jurassic Park (1993)
24 :: 8.40 million - Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
25 :: 8.34 million - The Return of Godzilla (1955)
26 :: 8.30 million - Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
27 :: 8.00 million - Antarctica (1983)
27 :: 8.00 million - The Da Vinci Code (2006)
29 :: 7.80 million - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
30 :: 7.75 million - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
31 :: 7.71 million - The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
32 :: 7.65 million - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2004)
33 :: 7.60 million - Monsters, Inc. (2002)
34 :: 7.56 million - Arrietty (2010)
35 :: 7.50 million - The Adventures of Milo and Otis (1986)
36 :: 7.33 million - The Sands of Kurobe (1968)
37 :: 7.30 million - Alice in Wonderland (2010)
38 :: 7.20 million - Big Hero 6 (2014) [Final]
38 :: 7.20 million - Toy Story 3 (2010)
38 :: 7.20 million - Godzilla vs. Mothra (1964)
41 :: 7.16 million - The Eternal Zero (2013)
42 :: 7.10 million - Bayside Shakedown (1998)
43 :: 7.05 million - Monsters University (2013)
44 :: 7.02 million - A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
45 :: 7.00 million - Seven Samurai (1954)
46 :: 6.97 million - Yo-Kai Watch: It's the Secret of Birth, Nyan! (2014) [Final]
47 :: 6.95 million - Rookies (2009)
48 :: 6.90 million - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011)
49 :: 6.80 million - Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
50 :: 6.70 million - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2002)
51 :: 6.67 million - A Slope in the Sun (1958)
52 :: 6.60 million - Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
53 :: 6.54 million - Pokemon: Mewtwo Strikes Back! (1998)
54 :: 6.50 million - The Silk Road (1988)
54 :: 6.50 million - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
56 :: 6.46 million - Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
57 :: 6.40 million - Crimson Wings (1958)
58 :: 6.31 million - Stand By Me, Doraemon (2014)
59 :: 6.30 million - Boys Over Flowers: Final (2008)
60 :: 6.29 million - Hero (2007)
61 :: 6.25 million - Looking at Love and Death (1964)
62 :: 6.23 million - Crying Out Love in the Center of the World (2004)
63 :: 6.10 million - Tales from Earthsea (2006)
64 :: 6.05 million - Jurassic World (2015) [10 Weeks in Release]
65 :: 6.00 million - Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
66 :: 5.94 million - Man Who Causes A Storm (1957)
67 :: 5.93 million - The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2003)
68 :: 5.90 million - The Sixth Sense (1999)
69 :: 5.86 million - Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)
70 :: 5.75 million - Umizaru: Brave Hearts (2012)
71 :: 5.70 million - Bayside Shakedown: Set the Guys Loose! (2010)
72 :: 5.67 million - One Piece Film Z (2012)
73 :: 5.60 million - Umizaru: The Last Message (2010)
73 :: 5.60 million - Pokemon: Revelation Lugia (1999)
73 :: 5.60 million - The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2006)
76 :: 5.58 million - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010)
77 :: 5.55 million - Deep Impact (1998)
78 :: 5.50 million - The Cat Returns (2002)
78 :: 5.50 million - Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)
80 :: 5.41 million - Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)
81 :: 5.40 million - Ghostbusters (1984)
82 :: 5.30 million - The Matrix (1999)
82 :: 5.30 million - Umizaru: The Limit of Love (2006)
82 :: 5.20 million - Speed (1994)
85 :: 5.17 million - Spider-Man 3 (2007)
86 :: 5.14 million - Spider-Man (2002)
87 :: 5.13 million - Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965)
88 :: 5.10 million - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
89 :: 5.00 million - The Departures (2008)

Awesome. Thank you very much.

Do soft-core porn films (I think they're called "pink films") get cinema releases in Japan? She was in many soft-core films where, for example, breasts would be shown and sex would take place, but nothing explicit would be seen. Films such as Man, Woman and The Wall.

So you don't have any data for Big Tits Zombies even though it's a traditional release?

They do receive theatrical releases, but certainly not beyond limited release. I don't know the specific theater count one normally receives, but it has to be in the single digits, otherwise I'd have noticed them over the years since I do research on any film playing on 10+ screens each week (to see if they have Top 10 potential).

Many different films are released each weekend in Japan, 24 are scheduled for this upcoming weekend, but the majority only play in a handful of locations.

Big Tits Zombies was a 3D release that I recall mentioning back in 2010 in this thread. And for me to mention it, it was probably playing on more than a few screens. I'll go back and check what I posted about it at some point (I know no box office numbers exist here, though), or you can do so, too.

Cheers. I'll take a looksie, thanks.

Important Update:

Beginning next week - All updates, from seating/showtimes to real-time ticket sales on major weekends, that I post involving the Usual Locations, which currently consists of Toho Cinemas, Movix Cinemas, United Cinemas, Kinezo Cinemas and 109 Cinemas, combined representing about 43% of the overall market, will expand to include Aeon Cinemas!

Aeon Cinemas became the largest cinema chain in Japan two years ago when they acquired Warner Mycal theaters from Warner Bros.., and when their locations are added next week, the Usual Locations postings will represent a comfortable two-thirds (~66%) of the market's total screens, up from the 43% that's been posted for a few years now.

Updated Usual Locations (66% of Market)
82 theaters / 679 screens - Aeon Cinemas
64 theaters / 664 screens - Toho Cinemas
25 theaters / 233 screens - Movix Cinemas
22 theaters / 214 screens - United Cinemas
21 theaters / 161 screens - Kinezo Cinemas
19 theaters / 164 screens - 109 Cinemas

I'd begin posting the Usual Locations with Aeon Cinemas now included this weekend, but it's quite a boring one, so starting it with Galaxy Turnpike (probably the biggest release until December) next week will be more exciting.

Awesome, so with 66% of the market, your weekend predictions will be perfectly accurate.

I wouldn't say my predictions will always be perfectly accurate, but the weekend estimates should certainly be nearly so after a couple weeks of testing. They are already, most weeks, with the current 43%.

Sorry I didn't get to the weekend forecast this week. I was busy last night, and this weekend isn't very exciting anyway. Here's yesterday's admissions, however:

Usual Locations - Saturday Admissions (43% of Market)

10/17
Admissions (% change), Film (Dis.) Week of Release
28,122 (-03%), The Intern (Warner Bros.) Week 2
27,331 (-54%), Library Wars: The Last Mission (Toho) Week 2
19,544 (-26%), Bakuman (Toho) Week 3
18,586 (---), John Wick (Pony Canyon) NEW
13,793 (-23%), No Longer Heroine (Warner Bros.) Week 5
6,582 (-29%), The Anthem of the Heart (Aniplex) Week 5
5,712 (+51%), Aria the Avvenire (Shochiku) Week 4
5,468 (-26%), Gamba & His Friends (Toei) Week 2
5,329 (---), J Soul Brothers - Live Tour 2015 - Blue Planet (Live Viewing)
5,094 (-66%), Fantastic Four (Fox) Week 2
4,952 (-40%), Attack on Titan - Part 2: End of the World (Toho) Week 5
4,658 (---), AD-Live 2015 (Live Viewing)
4,343 (---), BIG BANG - Best Live Selection 2012-2015 (Avex Pictures) (NEW)
3,594 (-32%), Kingsman: The Secret Service (Kadokawa) Week 6
3,447 (-48%), Arpeggio of Blue Steel - Ars Nova Cadenza (Showgate) Week 3
3,295 (---), Pitch Perfect 2 (Sinker) NEW
3,039 (-31%), Jurassic World (Toho-Towa) Week 11
3,028 (-51%), Ant-Man (Disney) Week 5
2,977 (---), Survivor (Showgate) NEW
2,975 (-47%), Unfair: The End (Toho) Week 7
2,915 (-56%), The Laws of the Universe - Part 0 (Nikkatsu) Week 2
2,464 (---), Cyborg 009 vs. Devilman (T-Joy) NEW
2,452 (---), Senior and Her (Toei) NEW
2,273 (---), Expedition Party's Glory (Toho Video Division) NEW
2,018 (-43%), The Empire of Corpses (Toho Video Division) Week 3
2,000+

The Intern is holding marvelously in its second weekend, but when you look at Aeon Cinemas, it's behind Library Wars. This is an example of how Aeon Cinemas can decide victories, so they'll be a welcome addition to the Usual Locations next week. Regardless, a potential sub-10% drop for The Intern is incredible.

John Wick appears to be doing somewhat well, but 69% of its theater count is accounted for above, so its ranking is misleading. I don't think it'll beat No Longer Heroine, so a fifth place debut is the best it'll manage.

Overall, this is looking like the usual dull October weekend, though at least most of the holdovers are continue to perform nicely.

Also, Insurgent, Magic Mike XXL, and The Age of Adaline didn't make the list in limited release.

I didn't get a chance to post the weekend estimates yesterday, so I'll just get right into the Weekend Actuals and 2015 Chart Updates tonight!

I promise the regular updates (Weekend Forecast on Fridays/Weekend Estimates on Sunday) will be on track again soon. I've just been busy lately.

When was the last time the highest-grossing movie and the most attended movie of the box office year were different ? I went back and had a look at your thread and they've been the same (at least) since you've been tracking the Japanese box office (2010).

Excellent question as that's going to happen this year between Big Hero 6 (#1 in terms of admissions) and Jurassic World (#1 in terms of revenue).

And if we're only discussing the box office year (Dec.-Nov.), as Eiren (MPAAJ) dictates, it'll be the first time since 2003!

It came down to the wire with Bayside Shakedown: Save the Rainbow Bridge! winning the year as the highest-grossing film (¥17.35 billion vs. ¥17.3 billion) of 2003, but Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets had the most admissions (14.0 million vs. 12.6 million) of that year.

And before that... I believe it may have occurred in 1982. The Gods Must Be Crazy narrowly won the year as the highest-grossing film (in terms of distribution revenue at the time), but Sailor Suit and Machine Gun was close enough that it could have won the year in admissions. No data admission data is available for either film, though, unfortunately.

I see. Not a very common common occurrence then. Thanks.

2015 versus 2014 (Estimated results as of mid-October)

2015 - ¥1 billion Earners Only
Revenue - ¥143.00 billion (+9.1%) - Top 51 Films
Admissions - 111,900,000 (+8.8%) - Top 51 Films

2014 - ¥1 billion Earners Only
Revenue - ¥131.07 billion - Top 42 Films
Admissions - 102,820,000 - Top 42 Films

*Each year's ¥1 billion earners represent ~80% of the yearly box office.

2015 has been a very strong year for the box office. It already has more ¥1 billion earners than 2014 even finished with (49). The year hasn't produced a single uber-blockbuster release, but the majority of releases are meeting or often exceeding expectations. There have been many, various, records broken over the past year - a list that I'll provide early next year.

2014 went on to become the 3rd biggest year of all-time (behind 2010 and 2004), so 2015 is looking very, very good with only two more months to go. Late 2014 didn't have any box office hits, without a single release in October and November coming anywhere near ¥2 billion, whereas late 2015 has been quite solid so far.

Also, 2015 might be getting another potential hit this upcoming weekend with Galaxy Turnpike. Its pre-sales are looking very good and it's directed by Koki Mitani, who has had a number of hit films in the past.

If Galaxy Turnpike delivers, I think it's very likely that 2015 will handily surpass 2014 and possibly topple 2004 as well to become the 2nd biggest year of all-time. 2010, however, is probably out of reach, though I wouldn't rule out 2015's chances of beating 2010 just yet either to become the biggest year of all-time.

So, unfortunately there's an error gathering Aeon Cinema's seating/showtimes for Saturday, so for the time being, the Usual Locations updates will consist of the same five chains (the 43%) as normal:

Usual Locations - Saturday Seating [Theaters/Showings] (43% of Market)



10/24
Seats (% change) [Theaters/Showings], Film (Week of Release)
328,997 (---) [145/938], Galaxy Turnpike (NEW)
121,848 (-46%) [139/619], Library Wars: The Last Mission (Week 3)
119,665 (---) [101/511], The Transporter Refueled (NEW)
113,379 (---) [126/538], Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (NEW)
80,799 (-33%) [137/539], Bakuman (Week 4)
80,008 (-20%) [121/469], The Intern (Week 3)
63,128 (-25%) [135/382], No Longer Heroine (Week 6)
62,051 (-54%) [98/384], John Wick (Week 2)
43,277 (-46%) [140/297], Fantastic Four (Week 3)
38,769 (-43%) [138/263], Attack on Titan - Part 2: End of the World (Week 6)
28,637 (-50%) [121/204], Gamba & His Friends (Week 3)
25,030 (-09%) [83/155], The Anthem of the Heart (Week 6)
23,434 (---) [32/120], PriPara: Aim for it with Everyone! Idol☆Grand Prix (NEW)
22,140 (---) [34/139], I'm a Monk (NEW)
20,704 (-09%) [134/140], Unfair: The End (Week 8)
16,182 (---) [35/70], Sound Horizon - 9th Story Concert (Live Viewing)
13,917 (-47%) [44/80], The Laws of the Universe - Part 0 (Week 3)
13,699 (---) [22/67], Trash (NEW)
13,292 (-53%) [31/107], Survivor (Week 2)
12,512 (-62%) [45/96], The Divergent Series: Insurgent (Week 2)
11,515 (---) [12/64], The Visit (NEW)
11,470 (-66%) [54/95], Pitch Perfect 2 (Week 2)
10,394 (-40%) [37/60], Arpeggio of Blue Steel - Ars Nova Cadenza (Week 4)
9,896 (-41%) [46/53], Fathers and Daughters (Week 4)
9,878 (-39%) [54/76], Teacher and Stray Cat (Week 3)

Galaxy Turnpike is playing on nearly all of the largest screens, and is one of the widest openers of the year as a result (third-widest for a single format release this year). Its pre-sales are looking pretty good, too, so it should be heading toward an impressive debut this weekend.

The film is also incredibly likely to be the biggest release until Star Wars and Yo-Kai Watch open in December.

Plot:
Set in the year 2265, Katori Shingo and Ayase Haruka are a married aliens couple, owners of a restaurant on a highway that links Earth and a space colony near Jupiter. Story will revolve around workers and visitors who frequent this restaurant and whose lives are intertwined.

Trailer:


The sci-fi comedy is directed and written by Koki Mitani, one Japan's most popular modern filmmakers, who has also been responsible several-consecutive comedy hits over the past ten years:

¥2.96 billion - The Kiyoshi Conference (2013) [#14 of 2013]
¥4.28 billion - Once in a Blue Moon (2011) [#6 of 2011]
¥3.92 billion - The Magic Hour (2008) [#11 of 2008]
¥6.08 billion - The Uchoten Hotel (2006) [#7 of 2006]

I can't wait to see if Japan pulls a FF7 on SW7 and becomes the only country where the movie doesn't go #1 on opening weekend.

So, another weekend without any estimates and such. Apologies. I was out of town most of the weekend, and didn't have a chance to post anything.

I'll have Weekend Actuals and the regular chart updates up soon.

Jurassic World lost many of its theaters this past week, and is only playing at 90 locations. And unfortunately, since it's fallen into limited release, its total hasn't been updated. However, it's either just overtaken Big Hero 6 or will very, very soon (as in this week) to become the highest-grossing film of the box office year.

I'm 100% certain they'll be an upcoming announcement when it happens.

Top Grossing Films - 2015
Gross ¥ ($) / Admissions [Days in Release] - Film (Distributor)

¥10 billion ↨
¥9.16 billion ($77.7 million) / 7.20 million [F] - Big Hero 6 (Disney) #41 All-Time
¥9.14 billion ($74.8 million) / 6.09 million [E] - Jurassic World (Toho-Towa) #42 All-Time
¥7.80 billion ($66.2 million) / 6.97 million [F] - Yo-Kai Watch: It's the Secret of Birth, Nyan! (Toho) #62 All-Time
¥5.78 billion ($47.2 million) / 4.54 million [E] - The Boy and the Beast (Toho)
¥5.73 billion ($46.6 million) / 4.46 million [E] - Cinderella (Disney)
¥5.14 billion ($42.4 million) / 4.25 million [E] - Minions (Toho-Towa)
¥5.10 billion ($42.0 million) / 3.88 million [E] - Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (Paramount)
¥5 billion ↨
¥4.62 billion ($38.1 million) / 3.61 million [E] - Hero 2 (Toho)
¥4.47 billion ($37.0 million) / 3.57 million [F] - Detective Conan: Sunflowers of Inferno (Toho)
¥4.01 billion ($33.4 million) / 3.37 million [E] - Inside Out (Disney)
¥3.93 billion ($33.1 million) / 3.48 million [F] - Doraemon: Nobita's Space Record of Space Heroes (Toho)
¥3.74 billion ($31.1 million) / 2.81 million [F] - Dragon Ball Z: Revival of F (Toei)
¥3.45 billion ($28.5 million) / 2.47 million [F] - Furious 7 (Toho-Towa)
¥3.20 billion ($25.9 million) / 2.39 million [E] - Attack on Titan - Part 1 (Toho)
¥3.19 billion ($25.8 million) / 2.14 million [E] - Avengers: Age of Ultron (Disney)
¥3 billion ↨
¥2.83 billion ($23.3 million) / 2.30 million [F] - Biri Gal (Toho)
¥2.77 billion ($23.4 million) / 2.42 million [F] - Assassination Classroom (Toho)
¥2.65 billion ($21.4 million) / 1.86 million [E] - Terminator: Genisys (Paramount)
¥2.61 billion ($21.0 million) / 1.85 million [E] - Love Live! The School Idol Movie (Shochiku)
¥2.58 billion ($20.9 million) / 1.99 million [E] - Boruto: Naruto the Movie (Toho)
¥2.54 billion ($20.7 million) / 1.85 million [E] - Ted 2 (Toho-Towa)
¥2.45 billion ($20.0 million) / 2.26 million [E] - Pokemon XY: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages (Toho)
¥2.37 billion ($19.9 million) / 1.84 million [F] - Into the Woods (Disney)
¥2.32 billion ($19.3 million) / 1.95 million [F] - Strobe Edge (Toho)
¥2.28 billion ($18.8 million) / 1.95 million [F] - Crayon Shin-chan: My Moving Story! Cactus Large Attack! (Toho)
¥2.27 billion ($18.8 million) / 1.73 million [51] - Unfair: The End (Toho)
¥2.25 billion ($18.7 million) / 1.73 million [F] - American Sniper (Warner Bros.)
¥2.21 billion ($18.5 million) / 1.89 million [37] - No Longer Heroine (Warner Bros.)
¥2.02 billion ($17.1 million) / 1.59 million [F] - Parasyte - Part 1 (Toho)
¥2.00 billion ($16.9 million) / 1.57 million [F] - The Last: Naruto the Movie (Toho)
¥2 billion ↨
¥1.90 billion ($16.3 million) / 1.61 million [F] - Ao Haru Ride (Toho)
¥1.62 billion ($13.8 million) / 1.14 million [F] - The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (Warner Bros.)
¥1.59 billion ($13.3 million) / 1.18 million [37] - Attack on Titan - Part 2: End of the World (Toho)
¥1.55 billion ($12.7 million) / 1.09 million [E] - Mad Max: Fury Road (Warner Bros.)
¥1.54 billion ($13.0 million) / 1.20 million [F] - Night at the Museum: The Secret of the Tomb (Fox)
¥1.52 billion ($12.4 million) / 1.24 million [E] - Sea Town Diary (Toho)
¥1.50 billion ($12.3 million) / 1.17 million [F] - Ryozu and the Seven Henchmen (Warner Bros.)
¥1.50 billion ($12.3 million) / 1.15 million [F] - Parasyte - Part 2 (Toho)
¥1.42 billion ($11.6 million) / 1.07 million [E] - Tomorrowland (Disney)
¥1.32 billion ($10.7 million) / 1.02 million [E] - Shinjuku Swan (Sony)
¥1.31 billion ($10.8 million) / 1.02 million [F] - Initiation Love (Toho)
¥1.30 billion ($11.0 million) / 1.04 million [F] - The Vancouver Asahi (Toho)
¥1.30 billion ($11.0 million) / 1.04 million [E] - Annie (Sony)
¥1.30 billion ($10.8 million) / 1.01 million [F] - Terrace House: Closing Door (Toho)
¥1.28 billion ($10.0 million) / 1.00 million [E] - Prophecy (Toho)
¥1.27 billion ($10.6 million) / 0.97 million [23] - Bakuman (Toho)
¥1.23 billion ($10.3 million) / 0.82 million [F] - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Paramount)
¥1.17 billion ($9.8 million) / 0.91 million [16] - Library Wars: The Last Mission (Toho)
¥1.17 billion ($9.7 million) / 0.96 million [F] - The Lion Who Stands in the Wind (Toho)
¥1.15 billion ($9.6 million) / 0.87 million [E] - Ant-Man (Disney)
¥1.06 billion ($8.9 million) / 0.83 million [F] - ST: Scientific Investigation Squad (Toho)
¥1.06 billion ($8.9 million) / 0.85 million [51] - Bee of the Sky (Shochiku)
¥1 billion ↑

[E] = Estimate (Tracking Ends)
[F] = Final Total (Reported Total)

Top Grossing Films - 2014