Remember that the competition factor doesn't really exist in Japan's market like it does most others. Several films, including blockbusters, targeting a similar audience can co-exist at almost any time of the year. Just look at this year's July and August for an immediate example.

Star Trek Into Darkness didn't open quite as well as I was anticipating, though. I'll have weekend estimates up shortly.

Weekend Estimates [8/24-25]



1 (1) The Wind Rises (Toho) ¥303 million ($3.1 million), -36%, Week 6
2 (2) Monsters University (Disney) ¥183 million ($1.9 million), -25%, Week 8
3 (-) Star Trek Into Darkness (Paramount) ¥171 million ($1.8 million) DEBUT
4 (3) The After-Dinner Mysteries (Toho) ¥151 million ($1.6 million), -33%, Week 4
5 (-) Gatchaman (Toho) ¥130 million ($1.4 million) DEBUT
6 (4) World War Z (Toho-Towa) ¥125 million ($1.3 million), -44%, Week 3
7 (5) White House Down (Sony) ¥105 million ($1.1 million), -45%, Week 2
8 (6) Pacific Rim (Warner Bros.) ¥90 million ($910,000), -44%, Week 3
9 (7) The Lone Ranger (Disney) ¥89 million ($900,000), -42%, Week 4
10 (8) A Boy Called H (Toho) ¥82 million ($830,000), -46%, Week 3
11 (9) Pokemon Best Wishes: ExtremeSpeed Genesect - Mewtwo Awakens (Toho) ¥70 million ($710,000), -33%, Week 7
12 (10 Kamen Rider in Magic Land (Toei) ¥67 million (680,000), -34%, Week 4

The Wind Rises claims it's 6-consecutive week on top, but can it do 7 or 8-consecutive weeks?

Star Trek Into Darkness is estimated to have increased ~14% over the first film's opening weekend, though could still be slightly higher when actuals come out if the 3D share is decent. With Friday included, it's 3-Day total should be around ¥225 million ($2.3/2.4 million) + whatever it made in previews last week. If estimates are accurate, the film should be able to reach the ¥1 billion ($11/12 million) mark this time.

Gatchaman is a major bomb, the biggest I've seen since tracking the box-office, and there's likely no hope of it managing great legs either with such poor reviews across so many sources. It's budget is rumored to be ¥4 billion ($40 million) or more, too.

"A #1 opening in Japan of $4.3 million lifted the overseas total of Star Trek Into Darkness to $231.3 millions"

That would include Friday (not part of the weekend) and the previews (3 days worth) it made last weekend.

You can ignore the #1 opening stuff. They mean for a foreign or hollywood feature. That was also said for World War Z just a few weeks ago when it wasn't even close.

Gatchaman movie flop T^T and the budget… . and yes, the review not good. i'm not sure this movie will be release in other country or not?

It's suppose to be released in some markets overseas, but I highly doubt they'll be able to save it. I'm going to post the Weekend Ranking shortly, and it even came in a bit below estimates. And some sources are claiming a ¥5-6 billion ($50-60 million) budget now, nearly doubling the previous highest budget for a local production (Ponyo at ¥3.4 billlion).

I think it's the biggest bomb of all-time.

Weekend Ranking [8/24-25]



1 (1) The Wind Rises (Toho) Week 6
2 (2) Monsters University (Disney) Week 8
3 (-) Star Trek Into Darkness (Paramount) DEBUT
4 (3) The After-Dinner Mysteries (Toho) Week 4
5 (5) White House Down (Sony) Week 2
6 (-) Gatchaman (Toho) DEBUT
7 (4) World War Z (Toho-Towa) Week 3
8 (8) A Boy Called H (Toho) Week 3
9 (7) The Lone Ranger (Disney) Week 4
10 (6) Pacific Rim (Warner Bros.) Week 3
11 (9) Pokemon Best Wishes: ExtremeSpeed Genesect - Mewtwo Awakens (Toho) Week 7

The Wind Rises had no problem fending of yet another barrage of openers, dipping a solid 32% for the post-Obon weekend. It earned ¥321,060,450 ($3.3 million) and 237,727 admissions over the weekend, bringing it's 37-day cume to ¥8,093,950,000 ($83.1 million) and 6.49 million admissions. It's now the highest-grossing local film since 2010, too.

Monsters University has now spent an outstanding 8-consecutive weeks in the Top 3. No weekend numbers are available, but it also exceeded ¥8 billion ($82/83 million) this weekend. This is vague, and when figures do come out, it should still be ahead of The Wind Rises for maybe one more week or at least til the end of the month.

Star Trek Into Darkness only debuted in 3rd place, but this is higher than it's predecessor and it earned more, too. Over the weekend, it grossed ¥197,134,700 ($2.1 million) and 134,262 admissions on 693 screens. This is an impressive 32% increase over the first film, and IMAX accounted for a strong 13% share of the weekend gross. It's 6-day total (4 days of previews last week) is ¥411,340,000 ($4.3 million).

And redefining what the word "bomb" means at the box-office, Gatchaman only ranked 6th earning ¥115,697,600 ($1.2 million) and 90,318 admissions on 307 screens. This number is well-beyond awful and is going to cost Toho upwards of $50 million, or more. They're keeping the record-budget a mystery for now.

Also in admissions, Pokemon is above Pacific Rim, meaning the latter only spent 2 weeks in the Top 10 there. Very disappointing results.

2013 Opening Weekends
2-Day Weekend Gross / Admissions :: Film [Screen Count]

¥1.372 billion ($16.7 million) / 1,140,081 :: One Piece Film Z [300] *All-Time Domestic Admissions Record*
¥1 billion ↨
¥960.9 million ($9.8 million) / 747,451 :: The Wind Rises [454]
¥847.4 million ($8.5 million) / 614,969 :: Monsters University [661]
¥750 million ↨
¥683.9 million ($7.3 million) / 561,098 :: Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods [312]
¥671.6 million ($6.9 million) / 565,914 :: Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea [344]
¥667.3 million ($7.2 million) / 597,899 :: Doraemon: Nobita's Secret Gadget Museum [353]
¥500 million ↨
¥486.3 million ($5.0 million) / 464,839 :: Pokemon Best Wishes: ExtremeSpeed Genesect - Mewtwo Awakens [345]
¥464.9 million ($4.8 million) / 363,451 :: Midsummer Formula [415]
¥456.8 million ($5.5 million) / 357,976 :: Hunter X Hunter: The Phantom Rouge [257]
¥454.6 million ($5.4 million) / 398,754 :: 007: Skyfall [578]
¥445.6 million ($4.5 million) / 330,385 :: Fast and Furious 6 [610]
¥414.7 million ($4.3 million) / 273,766 :: Iron Man 3 [535]
¥402.4 million ($4.4 million) / 318,514 :: A Good Day to Die Hard [643]
¥400.5 million ($4.3 million) / 305,743 :: Platinum Data [310]
¥400 million ↨
¥398.8 million ($4.1 million) / 322,162 :: The After-Dinner Mysteries [306]
¥349.7 million ($3.5 million) / 307,701 :: Oblivion [365]
¥339.7 million ($3.7 million) / 267,276 :: Wreck-It Ralph [416]
¥330.6 million ($3.5 million) / 236,910 :: World War Z [644]
¥329.8 million ($3.7 million) / 219,536 :: Life of Pi [713]
¥326.2 million ($3.6 million) / 229,584 :: Ted [253]
¥317.9 million ($3.6 million) / 241,095 :: Strawberry Night [311]
¥300.2 million ($3.1 million) / 236,082 :: The Lone Ranger [518]
¥300 million ↨
¥295.4 million ($3.4 million) / 229,295 :: Les Miserables [360]
¥281.9 million ($2.9 million) / 221,469 :: Gintama: The Final Chapter [127]
¥281.6 million ($3.3 million) / 244,870 :: Kamen Rider X Kamen Rider Wizard & Fourze [298]
¥269.9 million ($2.9 million) / 184,281 :: Oz: The Great and Powerful [582]
¥251.8 million ($2.6 million) / 215,560 :: Kamen Rider Wizard in Magic Land [303]
¥233.5 million ($2.4 million) / 201,006 :: Kamen Rider X Super Sentai X Space Sherrif: Super Hero Z [289]
¥227.8 million ($2.7 million) / 187,422 :: Jack Reacher [321]
¥225.3 million ($2.3 million) / 199,993 :: Crayon Shin-chan: Gourmet Survival Class [324]
¥225.3 million ($2.7 million) / 188,378 :: Today, I Started Loving You [301]
¥220.5 million ($2.6 million) / 146,315 :: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey [878]
¥216.8 million ($2.3 million) / 164,178 :: Library Wars [311]
¥211.2 million ($2.4 million) / 169,600 :: Aibou Series: X-Day [198]
¥209.6 million ($2.4 million) / 194,902 :: Tokyo Family [317]
¥208.1 million ($2.2 million) / 134,056 :: Pacific Rim [596]
¥207.8 million ($2.1 million) / 142,246 :: G.I. Joe: Retaliation [628]
¥206.4 million ($2.3 million) / 166,049 :: Brain Man [302]
¥206.3 million ($2.3 million) / 175,438 :: Humanoid Monster, Bem [331]
¥200.5 million ($2.1 million) / 158,406 :: After Earth [571]
¥200 million ↨
¥197.1 million ($2.1 million) / 134,262 :: Star Trek Into Darkness [693] DEBUT
¥196.6 million ($2.1 million) / 175,930 :: Pretty Cure All Stars: New Stage 2 [174]
¥190.2 million ($2.0 million) / 156,286 :: White House Down [444]
¥186.9 million ($1.9 million) / 145,148 :: Shield of Straw [325]
¥183.2 million ($1.9 million) / 157,964 :: Emperor [301]
¥173.5 million ($1.9 million) / 172,222 :: Inazuma Eleven GO: Ultimate Bonds [270]
¥162.9 million ($1.7 million) / 137,546 :: Lincoln [331]
¥161.8 million ($1.7 million) / 113,172 :: The Great Gatsby [571]
¥156.3 million ($1.7 million) / 129,920 :: Flight [321]
¥154.7 million ($1.5 million) / 117,032 :: Phone Call to a Bar 2 [304]
¥154.6 million ($1.6 million) / 119,092 :: To Cry 100 Times [223]
¥153.4 million ($1.5 million) / 118,885 :: The Complex [162]
¥147.0 million ($1.6 million) / 131,959 :: A Boy Called H [307]
¥137.1 million ($1.6 million) / 138,287 :: Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters vs. Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger [175]
¥126.1 million ($1.3 million) / 107,368 :: Miracle Apples [305]
¥124.4 million ($1.2 million) / 98,076 :: Prefecture Government's Hospitality Division [293]
¥119.9 million ($1.4 million) / 92,646 :: Looper [201]
¥115.7 million ($1.2 million) / 90,318 :: Gatchaman [307] DEBUT
¥114.7 million ($1.3 million) / 94,122 :: Taken 2 [288]
¥113.7 million ($1.2 million) / 93,065 :: We Knit Ship [237]
¥111.8 million ($1.2 million) / 80,903 :: Frankenweenie [489]
¥108.0 million ($1.1 million) / 96,165 :: Real [270]
¥100.8 million ($1.1 million) / 69,177 :: A Certain Magical Index [30]
¥100 million ↑

2013 Top Grossing Films
Total Gross / Admissions :: Film :: Days in Release :: Distributor

¥10 billion ↨
¥8.23 billion ($84.2 million) / 6.48 million :: Monsters University :: 51 :: Disney
¥8.09 billion ($83.1 million) / 6.50 million :: The Wind Rises :: 37 :: Toho
¥6.85 billion ($76.9 million) / 5.67 million :: One Piece Film Z :: Final Estimate :: Toei
¥6.11 billion ($67.7 million) / 4.96 million :: Les Miserables :: Final Estimate :: Toho-Towa
¥5 billion ↨
¥4.21 billion ($46.2 million) / 3.09 million :: Ted :: Final Estimate :: Toho-Towa
¥4 billion ↨
¥3.96 billion ($43.2 million) / 3.64 million :: Doraemon: Nobita's Secret Gagdet Museum :: Final Estimate :: Toho
¥3.61 billion ($36.9 million) / 3.01 million :: Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea :: Final Estimate :: Toho
¥3.21 billion ($33.3 million) / 2.62 million :: Midsummer Formula :: 58 :: Toho
¥3.00 billion ($31.0 million) / 2.35 million :: Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods :: Final Estimate :: Toei
¥3 billion ↨
¥2.93 billion ($31.6 million) / 2.40 million :: Wreck-It Ralph :: Final Estimate :: Disney
¥2.87 billion ($29.4 million) / 2.76 million :: Pokemon Wishes: ExtremeSpeed Genesect - Mewtwo Awakens :: 44 :: Toho
¥2.82 billion ($32.4 million) / 2.21 million :: 007: Skyfall :: Final Estimate :: Sony
¥2.64 billion ($28.3 million) / 2.12 million :: Platinum Data :: Final Estimate :: Toho
¥2.60 billion ($26.7 million) / 1.77 million :: Iron Man 3 :: Tracking Ends :: Disney
¥2.51 billion ($26.0 million) / 2.16 million :: The After-Dinner Mysteries :: 23 :: Toho
¥2.15 billion ($23.9 million) / 1.73 million :: Strawberry Night :: Final Estimate :: Toho
¥2.03 billion ($22.3 million) / 1.49 million :: A Good Day to Die Hard :: Final Estimate :: Fox
¥2 billion ↨
¥1.98 billion ($20.4 million) / 1.52 million :: Fast and Furious 6 :: Tracking Ends :: Toho-Towa
¥1.84 billion ($21.3 million) / 1.28 million :: Life of Pi :: Final Estimate :: Fox
¥1.81 billion ($19.0 million) / 1.44 million :: Shield of Straw :: Final Estimate :: Warner Bros.
¥1.79 billion ($18.4 million) / 1.41 million :: The Lone Ranger :: 24 :: Disney
¥1.77 billion ($20.2 million) / 1.46 million :: Today, I Started Loving You :: Final Total :: Toho
¥1.75 billion ($18.9 million) / 1.25 million :: Oz: The Great and Powerful :: Final Estimate :: Disney
¥1.71 billion ($18.0 million) / 1.38 million :: Library Wars :: Final Estimate :: Toho
¥1.64 billion ($18.9 million) / 1.16 million :: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey :: Tracking Ends :: Warner Bros.
¥1.57 billion ($16.2 million) / 1.11 million :: World War Z :: 16 :: Toho-Towa
¥1.55 billion ($16.9 million) / 1.42 million :: Tokyo Family :: Final Estimate :: Shochiku
¥1.53 billion ($15.6 million) / 1.24 million :: Gintama: The Final Chapter :: Tracking Ends :: Warner Bros.
¥1.40 billion ($14.9 million) / 1.13 million :: Oblivion :: Tracking Ends :: Toho-Towa
¥1.30 billion ($13.3 million) / 1.13 million :: Crayon Shin-chan: Gourmet Survival Class :: Final Estimates:: Toho
¥1.25 billion ($13.9 million) / 0.99 million :: Brain Man :: Final Estimate :: Toho
¥1.21 billion ($13.5 million) / 1.02 million :: Hunter X Hunter: The Phantom Rouge :: Final Total :: Toho
¥1.18 billion ($12.9 million) / 1.02 million :: Aibou Series: X-Day :: Final Estimate :: Toei
¥1.17 billion ($13.3 million) / 0.99 million :: Humanoid Monster, Bem :: Final Total :: Toho
¥1.17 billion ($12.1 million) / 0.79 million :: Pacific Rim :: 17 :: Warner Bros.
¥1.14 billion ($13.0 million) / 1.03 million :: Kamen Rider X Kamen Rider Fourze & Wizard :: Final Total :: Toei
¥1.12 billion ($11.6 million) / 0.89 million :: The Great Gatsby :: Tracking Ends :: Warner Bros.
¥1.09 billion ($11.3 million) / 0.97 million :: Emperor :: 30 :: Shochiku
¥1.08 billion ($11.3 million) / 0.94 million :: Kamen Rider Wizard in Magic Land :: 23 :: Toei
¥1.07 billion ($11.3 million) / 0.87 million :: Jack Reacher :: Tracking Ends :: Paramount
¥1.05 billion ($11.0 million) / 0.98 million :: Pretty Cure All Stars: New Stage 2 :: Final Estimate :: Toei
¥1.02 billion ($10.8 million) / 0.83 million :: The Complex :: Tracking Ends :: Shochiku
¥1.01 billion ($10.4 million) / 0.93 million :: A Boy Called H :: 16 :: Toho
¥1 billion ↑

The Wind Rises caught up to Monsters University a little quicker than I expected (ahead in admissions now) and will probably pass it by Friday.

Summer vacation is over now, so expect MU and Pokemon to really slow down. The After-Dinner Mysteries will also slow down a great deal too I suspect since it's been appealing more towards teens and young adults.

Also announced yesterday, Disney will indeed release The Wind Rises in North America afterall under Touchstone Pictures. No release date is currently available, though it's being rumored it may be released late this year so it can compete at the Academy Awards. It wasn't certain that Disney would want to take on the adult themes of Miyazaki's new film, so excellent news.

The Wind Rises will premiere at the Venice Film Festival tomorrow (the only animated film in competition), and at the Toronto and New York Film Festivals in September/October.

The 20 Films Competing in Venice this upcoming week for the Golden Lion:

"Es-Stouh" ("The Rooftops") by Merzak Allouache; Algeria, France.
"L'intrepido" (The Intrepid) by Gianni Amelio, Italy.
"Miss Violence" by Alexandros Avranas, Greece.
"Tracks" by John Curran; Britain, Australia.
"Via Castellana Bandiera" (Castellana Bandiera Street) by Emma Dante; Italy, Switzerland, France.
"Tom a la ferme" (Tom at the Farm) by Xavier Dolan; Canada, France.
"Child of God" by James Franco, United States.
"Philomena" by Stephen Frears, Britain.
"La jalousie" (Jealousy) by Philippe Garrel, France.
"The Zero Theorem" by Terry Gilliam; Britain, United States.
"Ana Arabia" by Amos Gitai; Israel, France.
"Under the Skin" by Jonathan Glazer; Britain, United States.
"Joe" by David Gordon Green, United States.
"Die Frau des Polizisten" ("The Police Officer's Wife") by Philip Groening, Germany.
"Parkland" by Peter Landesman, United States.
"Kaze tachinu" ("The Wind Rises") by Hayao Miyazaki, Japan.
"The Unknown Known: the Life and Times of Donald Rumsfeld" by Errol Morris, United States.
"Night Moves" by Kelly Reichardt, United States.
"Sacro GRA" (Sacred GRA) by Gianfranco Rosi, Italy.
"Jiaoyou" ("Stray Dogs") by Tsai Ming-liang; Chinese Taipei, France.

Very happy with Star Trek's opening in Japan.

Into Darkness couldn't even beat week 8 of Monsters University. LMFAO

That comparison is hilarious Algren.

Not really. Into Darkness is a worldwide disappointment.

Comparison Algren we were talking about comparing the two movies. Its OS numbers are kinda disappointing but the franchise never caught up with OS audience so these numbers are good. 32% increase from the original is a good increase.

Misc. 2013 Box Office Year Stats

Weekend #1 Films
Dec. 01-02 (Skyfall - ¥455 million ($5.4 million)) W1
Dec. 08-09 (Kamen Rider X Kamen Rider Fourze & Wizard - ¥282 million ($3.3 million)) W1
Dec. 15-16 (One Piece Film Z - ¥1.37 billion ($16.7 million)) W1
Dec. 22-23 (One Piece Film Z - ¥704 million ($8.6 million)) W2
Dec. 29-30 (One Piece Film Z - ¥447 million ($5.4 million)) W3
Jan. 05-06 (One Piece Film Z - ¥323 million ($3.7 million)) W4
Jan. 12-13 (Hunter X Hunter: The Phantom Rouge -¥457 million ($5.4 million)) W1
Jan. 19-20 (Ted - ¥326 million ($3.6 million)) W1
Jan. 26-27 (Ted - ¥331 million ($3.8 million)) W2
Feb. 02-03 (Ted - ¥299 million ($3.4 million)) W3
Feb. 09-10 (Ted - ¥320 million ($3.5 million)) W4
Feb. 16-17 (A Good Day to Die Hard - ¥402 million ($4.4 million)) W1
Feb. 23-24 (A Good Day to Die Hard - ¥260 million ($2.8 million)) W2
Mar. 02-03 (Flight - ¥156 million ($1.7 million)) W1
Mar. 09-10 (Doraemon: Nobita's Secret Gadget Museum - ¥667 million ($7.2 million)) W1
Mar. 16-17 (Doraemon: Nobita's Secret Gadget Museum - ¥429 million ($4.6 million)) W2
Mar. 23-24 (Wreck-It Ralph - ¥340 million ($3.7 million)) W1
Mar. 30-31 (Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods - ¥683 million ($7.3 million)) W1
Apr. 06-07 (Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods - ¥424 million ($4.6 million)) W2
Apr. 13-14 (Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods - ¥228 million ($2.5 million)) W3
Apr. 20-21 (Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea - ¥672 million ($7.0 million)) W1
Apr. 27-28 (Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea - ¥426 million ($4.4 million)) W2
May 04-05 (Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea - ¥430 million ($4.5 million)) W3
May 11-12 (Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea - ¥160 million ($1.6 million)) W4
May 18-19 (The Complex - ¥153 million ($1.5 million)) W1
May 25-26 (The Complex - ¥137 million ($1.4 million)) W2
June 01-02 (Oblivion - ¥350 million ($3.5 million)) W1
June 08-09 (G.I. Joe: Retaliation - ¥208 million ($2.1 million)) W1
June 15-16 (The Great Gatsby - ¥161 million ($1.7 million)) W1
June 22-23 (After Earth - ¥201 million ($2.1 million)) W1
June 29-30 (Midsummer Formula - ¥464 million ($4.8 million)) W1
July 06-07 (Monsters University - ¥847 million ($8.5 million)) W1
July 13-14 (Monsters University - ¥704 million ($7.2 million)) W2
July 20-21 (The Wind Rises - ¥961 million ($9.8 million)) W1
July 27-28 (The Wind Rises - ¥811 million ($8.3 million)) W2
Aug. 03-04 (The Wind Rises - ¥556 million ($5.7 million)) W3
Aug. 10-11 (The Wind Rises - ¥510 million ($5.3 million)) W4
Aug. 17-18 (The Wind Rises - ¥473 million ($4.9 million)) W5
Aug. 24-25 (The Wind Rises - ¥321 million ($3.3 million)) W6
*Imported (15) / Japanese (24) :: Live-Action (15) / Animated (24)*

Best Multipliers [Wide Releases]
1. Les Miserables (20.68)
2. Ted (12.85)
3. Monsters University (9.71) [After 8 Weeks]
4. Shield of Straw (9.68)
5. Wreck-It Ralph (8.63)
-The Wind Rises (8.43) [After 6 Weeks]

Worst Multipliers [Wide Releases]
1. Hunter X Hunter: The Phantom Rouge (2.65)
2. Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters vs. Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger (3.44)
3. Oblivion (4.01)
4. Kamen Rider X Kamen Rider Fourze & Wizard (4.04)
5. Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods (4.39)
*Multipliers NOT Final*

Most Weeks in the Top 10
1. Les Miserables (13)
2. Ted (9)
2. One Piece Film Z (9)
2. Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea (9)
3. Skyfall (8)
3. Monsters University (8)

Best Opening Weekend PSA (2-Day) [Wide Releases]
1. One Piece Film Z - ¥4.57 million ($55,700)
2. Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods - ¥2.19 million ($23,400)
3. The Wind Rises - ¥2.12 million ($21,600)
4. Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea - ¥1.95 million ($20,300)
5. Doraemon: Nobita's Secret Gadget Museum - ¥1.89 million ($20,400)

Top Grossing Animated Films (¥3 billion+)

1. Spirited Away :: ¥30.4 billion ($244 million)
2. Howl's Moving Castle :: ¥22.0 billion ($207 million)
3. Princess Mononoke :: ¥19.3 billion ($165.5 million)
4. Ponyo :: ¥15.5 billion ($164 million)
5. Finding Nemo :: ¥11.0 billion ($102.4 million)
6. Toy Story 3 :: ¥10.8 billion ($130.7 million)
7. Monsters, Inc. :: ¥9.37 billion ($76.8 million)
8. Arrietty :: ¥9.25 billion ($111.9 million)
9. Monsters University :: ¥8.23 billion ($84.2 million) [8 Weeks in Release]
10. The Wind Rises :: ¥8.09 billion ($83.1 million) [6 Weeks in Release]
11. Tales from Earthsea :: ¥7.65 billion ($62.9 million)
12. Pokemon: Mewtwo Strikes Back! :: ¥7.54 billion ($67.8 million)
13. One Piece Film Z :: ¥6.85 billion ($76.9 million) [Final Estimate]
14. The Cat Returns :: ¥6.46 billion ($54.4 million)
15. Pokemon: The Power of One :: ¥6.36 billion ($64.8 million)
16. Evangelion 3.0: You Can (Not) Redo :: ¥5.30 billion ($64.0 million)
17. The Incredibles :: ¥5.26 billion ($51.1 million)
18. Pokemon Diamond & Pearl: The Rise of Darkrai :: ¥5.02 billion ($47.2 million)
19. Up :: ¥5.00 billion ($60.5 million)
20. Dinosaur :: ¥4.90 billion ($42.1 million)
21. Pokemon: Spell of the Unown :: ¥4.85 billion ($45.8 million)
22. One Piece Film Strong World :: ¥4.80 billion ($58.1 million)
23. Pokemon Diamond & Pearl: Giratina and the Sky Warrior :: ¥4.80 billion ($53.3 million)
24. Pokemon Diamond & Pearl: Arceus and the Jewel of Life :: ¥4.67 billion ($51.6 million)
25. Pokemon Advanced: Jirachi - Wishmaker :: ¥4.50 billion ($38.4 million)
26. From Kokuriko Hill :: ¥4.47 billion ($57.8 million)
27. Pokemon Advanced: Destiny Deoxys :: ¥4.38 billion ($39.1 million)
28. Pokemon Best Wishes: White - Victini and Zekrom / Black - Victini and Reshiram :: ¥4.33 billion ($56.1 million)
29. Pokemon Advanced: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew :: ¥4.30 billion ($38.9 million)
30. The Wolf Children Ame and Yuki :: ¥4.22 billion ($53.9 million)
31. Pokemon Diamond & Pearl: Zoroark - Master of Illusions :: ¥4.16 billion ($50.3 million)
32. Porco Rosso :: ¥4.05 billion ($32.5 million)
33. Wall-E :: ¥4.00 billion ($44.2 million)
34. Evangelion 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance :: ¥4.00 billion ($44.2 million)
35. Doraemon: Nobita's Secret Gadget Museum :: ¥3.96 billion ($43.2 million) [Final Estimate]
36. Ratatouille :: ¥3.90 billion ($36.3 million)
37. Pokemon: Celebi - Voice of the Forest :: ¥3.90 billion ($32.5 million)
38. Doraemon: Nobita and the Island of Miracles :: ¥3.62 billion ($46.2 million)
39. Pokemon Best Wishes: Kyurem Vs. The Sacred Swordsman :: ¥3.61 billion ($46.1 million)
40. Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea :: ¥3.61 billion ($36.9 million) [Final Estimate]
41. Doraemon: Nobita's Great Adventure into the Underworld :: ¥3.54 billion ($30.0 million)
42. Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser :: ¥3.50 billion ($35.6 million)
43. Toy Story 2 :: ¥3.45 billion ($29.9 million)
44. Pokemon Advanced: Pokemon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea :: ¥3.40 billion ($28.2 million)
45. Detective Conan: The Phantom of Barker Street :: ¥3.40 billion ($30.3 million)
46. Doraemon: Nobita and the Green Giant Legend :: ¥3.37 billion ($32.1 million)
47. Detective Conan: The Eleventh Striker :: ¥3.28 billion ($42.3 million)
48. Doraemon: Nobita's Dinosaur :: ¥3.28 billion ($27.6 million)
49. Detective Conan: Crossroad in the Ancient Capital :: ¥3.20 billion ($28.6 million)
50. Detective Conan: Lost Ship in the Sky :: ¥3.20 billion ($35.2 million)
51. Doraemon: Nobita's Great Merman Sea Adventure :: ¥3.16 billion ($33.6 million)
52. Detective Conan: 15 Minutes of Silence :: ¥3.13 billion ($39.85 million)
53. Doraemon: Nobita and the Legend of the Sun King :: ¥3.05 billion ($29.0 million)
54. Doraemon: Nobita's Wannyan Space-Time Odyssey :: ¥3.05 billion ($28.9 million)
55. Detective Conan: The Private Eyes' Requiem :: ¥3.03 billion ($26.8 million)
56. Cars 2 :: ¥3.01 billion ($39.0 million)
57. Doraemon: Nobita and the Winged Braves :: ¥3.00 billion ($25.8 million)
58. Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods :: ¥3.00 billion ($31.0 million) [Final Estimate]

2012 New Entries
2013 New Entries

Monsters University and The Wind Rises entered the Top 10 this past week (making the Top 11 all Ghibli and Pixar).

The Wind Rises will reach at least 7th place and might go as high as 5th. It's on track for a total almost identical to Toy Story 3 and Finding Nemo, but if it performs well at the Intl. Film Festivals, it will go above them.

Monsters University will probably remain in 9th place with a slight chance at 8th.

This year's Pokemon film will hit ¥3 billion either this weekend or a couple days after. And Wreck-It Ralph might end up with ¥3 billion when it's final estimate/total is released (tracking ending a little early on it).

At the same point in time (Post-Obon Festival),

2013 Vs. 2012 [Top 12 Films Comparison]
Total Gross / Admissions :: Film :: Days in Release :: Distributor

2013
01 :: ¥8.23 billion ($84.2 million) / 6.48 million :: Monsters University :: 51 :: Disney
02 :: ¥8.09 billion ($83.1 million) / 6.50 million :: The Wind Rises :: 37 :: Toho
03 :: ¥6.85 billion ($76.9 million) / 5.67 million :: One Piece Film Z :: Final Estimate :: Toei
04 :: ¥6.11 billion ($67.7 million) / 4.96 million :: Les Miserables :: Final Estimate :: Toho-Towa
05 :: ¥4.21 billion ($46.2 million) / 3.09 million :: Ted :: Final Estimate :: Toho-Towa
06 :: ¥3.96 billion ($43.2 million) / 3.64 million :: Doraemon: Nobita's Secret Gagdet Museum :: Final Estimate :: Toho
07 :: ¥3.61 billion ($36.9 million) / 3.01 million :: Detective Conan: Private Eye in the Distant Sea :: Final Estimate :: Toho
08 :: ¥3.21 billion ($33.3 million) / 2.62 million :: Midsummer Formula :: 58 :: Toho
09 :: ¥3.00 billion ($31.0 million) / 2.35 million :: Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods :: Final Estimate :: Toei
10 :: ¥2.93 billion ($31.6 million) / 2.40 million :: Wreck-It Ralph :: Final Estimate :: Disney
11 :: ¥2.87 billion ($29.4 million) / 2.76 million :: Pokemon BW: ExtremeSpeed Genesect - Mewtwo Awakens :: 44 :: Toho
12 :: ¥2.82 billion ($32.4 million) / 2.21 million :: 007: Skyfall :: Final Estimate :: Sony
Top 12 Total: ¥55.9 billion ($595.9 million), +19% (-0.4%) / 46.7 million admissions, +25%


2012
01 :: ¥6.59 billion ($83.7 million) / 5.21 million :: Umizaru: Brave Hearts :: 45 :: Toho
02 :: ¥5.94 billion ($76.0 million) / 4.67 million :: Thermae Romae :: Final Estimate :: Toho
03 :: ¥5.38 billion ($70.5 million) / 4.24 million :: Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol :: Final Total :: Paramount
04 :: ¥3.59 billion ($45.4 million) / 3.32 million :: Doraemon: Nobita and the Island of Miracles :: Final Estimate :: Toho
05 :: ¥3.42 billion ($43.4 million) / 2.79 million :: The Wolf Children Ame and Yuki :: 37 :: Toho
06 :: ¥3.40 billion ($43.3 million) / 2.66 million :: ALWAYS: Sunset on Third Street '64 :: Final Estimate :: Toho
07 :: ¥3.28 billion ($42.3 million) / 2.74 million :: Detective Conan: The Eleventh Striker :: Final Estimate :: Toho
08 :: ¥3.26 billion ($41.4 million) / 3.12 million :: Pokemon BW: Kyurem Vs. The Sacred Swordsman :: 44 :: Toho
09 :: ¥3.16 billion ($40.9 million) / 2.12 million :: Men in Black 3 :: Tracking Ends :: Toho-Towa
10 :: ¥3.13 billion ($40.8 million) / 2.39 million :: Kaibutsu-Kun: The Movie :: Final Total :: Toho
11 :: ¥3.11 billion ($39.5 million) / 2.12 million :: The Amazing Spider-Man :: 58 :: Sony
12 :: ¥2.51 billion ($31.3 million) / 2.10 million :: We Were There: Part I :: Final Estimate :: Asmik Ace/Toho
Top 12 Total: ¥46.8 billion ($598.5 million) / 37.5 million admissions

Weekend Ranking [8/31-9/1]



1 (1) The Wind Rises (Toho) ¥280 million ($2.9 million) Week 7
2 (-) Man of Steel (Warner Bros.) ¥250 million ($2.6 million) DEBUT [317 theaters]
3 (-) Sadako 3D Part 2 (Kadokawa Pictures) ¥210 million ($2.2 milion) DEBUT [231 theaters]
4 (2) Monsters University (Disney) ¥140 million ($1.5 million) Week 9
5 (3) Star Trek Into Darkness (Paramount) ¥135 million ($1.4 million) Week 2
6 (4) The After-Dinner Mysteries (Toho) ¥115 million ($1.2 million) Week 5
7 (-) Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day (Aniplex) ¥105 million ($1.1 million) DEBUT [64 theaters]
8 (5) World War Z (Toho-Towa) ¥95 million ($1.0 million) Week 4
9 (6) Gatchaman (Toho) ¥90 million ($910,000) Week 2
10 (7) White House Down (Sony) ¥80 million ($810,000) Week 3

Sunday is the 1st of the Month, meaning tickets will be 40% off at all major cinema chains. This greatly boosts admissions for the day and weekend, which can really benefit most films. Last year, the 1st of Sept. also fell on this weekend, and most films dropped 25% or less (a couple films had single digit drops or small increases, too). I'm not going to predict any single digit drops or increases, though, so if it does happen it'll be a nice "surprise"!

The Wind Rises is depending it's #1 spot against the debuts of Man of Steel and Sadako 3D Part 2. I'm predicting it comes out on top since it should have the best drop in the Top 10 (Wolf Children actually saw an increase this weekend last year, which was also in it's 7th weekend), and because if it does manage to remain in first place for a 7th-consecutive weekend, it'll be the first to do it since Alice in Wonderland and the 13th film ever since 1998 to achieve this goal:

Most-Consecutive Weeks at #1 (1998-)

Spoiler: show

Spirited Away (16)
Armageddon (14)
Avatar (10)
Bayside Shakedown: Save the Rainbow Bridge (9)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (9)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (9)
Howl's Moving Castle (9)
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (9)
Alice in Wonderland (7)
Hero (7)
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (7)
Spider-Man (7)

I might be taking a risk on Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day since it's only playing on 64 screens, but a number of those are large auditoriums and it's reaching 50% capacity or better for many of it's showtimes hours beforehand. I'm almost tempted to place it a couple positions higher. A Certain Magical Index did ¥100 million on just 30 screens earlier this year, and the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha films also did over ¥120 million last year on 43/50 screens.

Release Date Updates:

2013
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Nov. 2013 (NEW), TBA (Old)
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters - 11/01/13 (NEW), 08/14/13 (Old)
The Kiyosu Conference - 11/09/13 (NEW), Nov. 2013 (Old)
The Tale of Princess Kaguya - 11/23/13 (NEW), Fall 2013 (Old) [Isao Takahata, Studio Ghibli]
Captain Phillips - 11/29/13 (NEW), Oct. 2013 (Old)
Red 2 - 11/30/13 (NEW), Dec. 2013 (Old)
47 Ronin - 12/06/13 (NEW), NY 2013 (Old)
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - 12/27/13 (NEW), Dec. 2013 (Old)

2014
Trick 3: The Last Stage - 01/11/14 (NEW), TBA (Old)
Black Butler the Movie - 01/18/14 (NEW), Jan. 2014 (Old)
Thor: Dark World - 02/14/14 (NEW), Feb. 2014 (Old)
The Snow Queen and Anna (aka Frozen) - Mar. 2014 (NEW), TBA (Old)
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - Mar. 2014 (NEW), 12/13/13 (Old)
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 - 04/25/14 (NEW), GW 2014 (Old)
Partners the Movie 3 - GW 2014 (NEW), TBA (Old)

I believe that is a little better date for Hobbit. What do you say Corpse?

I just checked, the first Percy Jackson actually did rather well in Japan. YOu think the second will do as well or even outgross the first?

All of the Lord of the Ring films opened in Feb./Mar. and did very, very well as Spring releases. So I'm glad they're going back to the franchise's original spot for the Hobbit sequels. The release date in December probably had very, very little to do with the first film being a total bomb, but the Winter release always felt off.



I was surprised by the original's performance. Having Chris Columbus on board with the Harry Potter connection may have helped quite a bit, but I think there was a little more to it's success than that. I don't know if it'll outgross the first film, but I think it'll at least have a comparable total. It may be able to attract a few of the Harry Potter fans now that the series is finished.

November is a better release date than August would have been, I feel. Many films can thrive together during the Summer, but this year's August was a bit more crowded than usual, so I'm glad they decided not to risk opening there.

Toho Cinemas Saturday Admissions [8/31]

Top 12
Admissions [# of showings]

20,382 [278] - The Wind Rises (Week 7)
13,918 (44% 3D) [285] - Man of Steel (NEW)
10,857 [50] - Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day (NEW)
10,081 [307] - Sadako 3D Part 2 (NEW)
8,122 [273] - Star Trek into Darkness (Week 2)
7,932 [160] - The After-Dinner Mysteries (Week 5)
6,542 [128] - Monsters University (Week 9)
4,954 [226] - Gatchaman (Week 2)
3,781 (30% 3D) [109] - World War Z (Week 4)
3,523 [117] - A Boy Called H (Week 4)
3,348 [130] - White House Down (Week 3)
2,543 [131] - Time Scoop Hunter (NEW)

The Wind Rises reactions from Venice:

@olilyttelton: THE WIND RISES: Miyazaki goes period drama by way of the Kunstlerroman. His most atypical, personal and romantic film. #Venezia70

@TaybackX: THE WIND RISES is a beautiful reflection on love, told through some of the most mind-boggling animation work I have ever witnessed. #venezia

@SandroCalice: #TheWindRises tenero e saggio Miyazaki, biografia di una nazione, atlante dei sogni, poesia illustrata, capolavoro #Venezia70

@Nevskyp: The Wind Rises: Miyazaki magic applied to the art of airplane design. Unlike anything he's dir'd before. Gorgeous. Bold. Loved it #venezia70

@Carlos_Elorza: THE WIND RISES. Una filigrana delicada y llena de encanto. Un placer visual. Romántica y emotiva. Qué gran final. Mi favorita de #Venezia70

@daveyjenkins: THE WIND RISES (Miyazaki) Biography as autobiography. Heartfelt tribute to the art of engineering with fascination in the morbid. #Venezia70

@LinkinMovies_it: Hayao Miyazaki commuove e incanta con il suo #TheWindRises: al momento il film più bello visto a #Venezia70

@drjonty: The Wind Rises: a moving meditation on dreams of flight and the nightmare of war via the designer of the Zero #Venezia70

@CriticiSospetti: #TheWindRises #Venezia70 | Il vento come l'amore e la passione. Un po' biografico, un po' onirico. Miyazaki non tradisce mai.

@btown_lou: #Miyazaki just blew my mind. Once again. #Thewindrises

@gabrielecapo: The Wind Rises: the most mature Miyazaki to date. Remarkable and complex story, poetic reflection on love, devastating last part. #Venezia70

And here's the Variety Review:

Hayao Miyazaki's hauntingly beautiful historical epic draws a sober portrait of Japan between the two World Wars, marked by flights of incredible visual fancy, harrowing images of poverty and destruction, and touches of swooning romance.

It's the only animated film in competition, and any potential wins here, especially if it managed the Golden Lion or Silver Lion (for Miyazaki), will give the film's already huge box-office a boost in the coming weeks.