¥15 billion?

Yep I def feel it might happen 15 Billion yen for Suzume and hopefully so.

This forum has gone really quiet. I don't think 'How Do You Live' will gross much more than 53 million in Japan even though a teaser trailer has been made public for its North American release and seems to be getting good reviews in America. Its box office takings have flatlined a bit unless there is some sort of resurgence. I hear from Ghibli that it might not even be Miyazaki's last film as he keeps on coming up with new ideas. We'll see!

https://twitter.com/ghiblipicture/statu ... 1050356015

Is Corpse okay?

I noticed he was already midway through his absence before coming back to comment on a wrestler's death, so he is probably just busy or something.

I hope Corpse is fine. This is (was?) one of the most useful threads on the english language web for japanese box office.

I’m pretty sure I found Corpse’s twitter, he is active on it/fine.

Why, hello!

Apologies in "abandoning" this thread so suddenly and unannounced. I haven't "abandoned" it exactly, though, but it's not going to be the same as before. I needed to cut something out of my daily/weekly routine earlier this year, and this thread/forum was something I could step away from. With everything going on, just generally busy with limited free time, keeping everything updated here was definitely entering chore territory over the summer.

If having to schedule time on certain days is required to put together the weekend actuals and update all the various charts, which I was having to do, it turns an interest and hobby into work.

I've been doing this for thirteen years, of which the last ten or so has had me putting in several hours every week to do it. Which is fine. I enjoy doing this and had such a strict method and routine going for so long that I didn't want anyone else really "messing" with that. So I probably made it become closer to work than a hobby as time went on.

And life has just gotten busier, and it seems as more time goes on, every year, month and day has less time in them. So I needed to step away for a while. It felt weird at first, then it felt like I wasn't getting my "work" done by doing it after a few weeks, and that's what told me I had indeed allowed it to become more work than hobby. I thought I was going to come back just out of routine, but thankfully I started to believe I didn't have to and would be okay if I never did. Not my intention, of course, but it's also not healthy to be so linked to something that if it disappeared suddenly that it'd have an impact on you.

So I think I'm in a good place now to "let this go" if I ever wanted to, be it just stopping entirely or if something happens to the forum. And I'm not ready to return to the day-to-day or weekly updates yet either. If anything, I'll just update the Yearly Charts once in a while. This might sound strange to discuss this like it's something really important or matters, but spending nearly every day over thirteen years doing something related to made it apart of my daily life.

Anyway, I won't disappear again. And if I would decide to fully call it quits, I'll make a post to let it be known. (It'll be MUCH SHORTER than this post has become!) I'll still be posting in the forum itself, too.

This is also "permission" for someone, any individual or group of posters, to post and update anything they want here from now on too. I can provide links to where I get the actuals, admissions, etc., too. This is by far the most informative and source of data on the Japan Box Office on the internet. Having it continue on in some form would be nice.

So just post away if there's interest among anyone here, and feel free to ask or PM me for anything you may need, like a specific chart or something (although you can search for them here, e.g., "Biggest October Opening Weekends" using the search will get you the most recent update and any other from the past).

Nice to see you back Corpse!

The trailer for the Spy x Family movie dropped today, releasing 12.22.

I think that has the possibility of being pretty big.

Yeah, I think the Spy x Family movie will do very well. Could have ¥10 billion potential.

And thanks, Shack.

One Piece: Red reaches 20 billion yen from the 4K re-release, Blue Giant "Improved" version also screened this week but not reaching the top ten.

Meanwhile, even after 17 months, Top Gun Maverick is still in cinema...

Glad to see Corpse back

probably right around 1B 3-day OW then

A must-read article that somehow able to summarizes the state of anime, anime film, Ghibli, and Japan's box-office in 2023. (And predict one Spy X Family box-office milestone)

How wish is gonna do?

I figured Oppenheimer would eventually get released. Japan sees so many films released and uncensored and all that, that it would have been very unusual for Oppenheimer to not get some kind of theatrical release. Yeah, this is an even more unique case, but they ended up working it out in the end.

Warner Bros. decided to not release it, put it up to bidding, and the distribution rights went to Bitters End (small, independent distributor), so the release probably won't be very wide, but anyone interested in seeing it should be able to without worry. Just don't expect it to gross too much here.

They just waited for the backlash over the celebratory meme nature of Barbenheimer to die out before making it official. WB Japan issued an apology, and Barbie bombed if you recall. Oppenheimer also released over the summer under a month away from the actual bombings, so questionable release window this past year anyway. Best to distance themselves from all that by selling the rights to Oppenheimer and having it released sometime next year.

And NezuKo, I haven't been following the box office really in the last 3+ months, but I expect Wish to bomb or disappoint due to two major disadvantages: 1. Disney failed to break their (now) 4-year losing streak again this year. Four years is far too long to go without a legit successful film, so it's 100% clear audiences have largely abandoned Disney at movie theaters for the time being. 2. Wish has mixed reviews and low box office results everywhere it's already been released, a sign Japan theaters will be less confident in giving it abundant seating.

Soooo, I'm going to update the Top Grossing Films of 2023 later today since December begins the new box office year. Sure everyone probably knows by now, but Eiren's year runs from Dec-Nov, so December releases (and sometimes mid/late Nov. releases if they earn enough from Dec. on) go on the following year's charts.

Anyway, I wanted it to be a bit of a surprise since it's been 3 MONTHS since I updated anything here, but I just wanted to let everyone know that the exchange rate is still utter trash. There has been no improvement all year, and I think it may be even slightly worse (YoY) than last year. So the rate still remains at 20-30 years lows (consistently at 20/25 year lows, sometimes nears 30-35 year lows), meaning USD figures continue to be far less than what you might expect out of Japan as a result.

And I honestly think this will be the norm for quite some time, if it ever really improves enough to talk about for maybe years? Japan can't do anything but stall it out at its current levels, basically, so it mostly comes down to the USD weakening on its own. But since the USD is just so strong vs the JPY and Japan has barely had any inflation in 30 years, any significant improvement will take something major to happen in the US like a (sizable) recession. So... low USD totals out of Japan for the foreseeable future.

Some notes since the last update back in August:

-The Super Mario Bros. Movie ended up winning the very close battle with Detective Conan: The Black Iron Submarine that took a half year to decide, both films doing stellar numbers. Super Mario became the second highest grossing imported animated film ever, and Detective Conan shattered its franchise record.

-The Boy and the Heron is barely earning anything now, and while its gross isn't "bad", it's certainly an underwhelming way for Miyazaki and likely Studio Ghibli to go out on. It's his lowest grossing film by a wide margin since Porco Rosso in 1994. Japan's interests in animation has simply moved past Studio Ghibli, and this result represents that shift.

-Indiana Jones: The Dial of Destiny, Elemental and Haunted Mansion got Disney three ¥2 billion earners for the year, which isn't too bad for the latter and at least an improvement on their post-pandemic animated films for Elemental, but it's poor for Indiana Jones. And ultimately these numbers just aren't cutting it, they're still down a lot compared to pre-pandemic Disney.

-Crayon Shin-chan: Super-Powered Climactic Battle: Soaring Hand-Rolled Sushi, the 31st film in the long-running franchise and first 3D entry, became the highest grossing film in the franchise.

-Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part 1 did very well in Japan, becoming the third highest grossing film in the franchise only behind the first two films.

-Kingdom III: Flame of Destiny exceeding ¥5 billion makes this the first domestic live-action franchise to have three (or more) films achieve blockbuster status since Bayside Shakedown and Umizaru both achieved the feat together in 2010.

-Godzilla Minus One will end up knocking Avatar: The Way of Water out of the yearly top 10, which makes it the fourth consecutive year now that Disney has missed the yearly top 10. And Godzilla Minus One is doing very well. It doesn't compare to 2016's Shin Godzilla, but it's going to get pretty close to ¥5 billion which is a great result and a needed victory for director Takashi Yamazaki (one of Japan's more prolific directors today) after a couple disappointments in recent years.

-And for non 2023 releases, One Piece Film Red was re-released in the Fall where it took second place (first in admissions) in its first week after over a year since its debut in August 2022. The re-released allowed it to exceed ¥20 billion and surpass Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Princess Mononoke on the All-Time Chart.

Recent releases still playing or that added to their gross since August highlighted.

Top 100 Highest-Grossing Films of All-Time

001. ¥40.43 billion ($386.1 million) - Demon Slayer: Mugen Train (2020)
_______________
002. ¥31.68 billion ($261.2 million) - Spirited Away (2001)*
_______________
003. ¥27.77 billion ($226.1 million) - Titanic (1997)*
004. ¥25.50 billion ($249.6 million) - Frozen (2014)
005. ¥25.17 billion ($237.6 million) - Your Name. (2016)*
006. ¥20.33 billion ($148.2 million) - One Piece Film Red (2022)* *Final*
007. ¥20.30 billion ($163.7 million) - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
008. ¥20.18 billion ($173.7 million) - Princess Mononoke (1997)*
_______________
009. ¥19.60 billion ($190.0 million) - Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
010. ¥17.35 billion ($164.5 million) - Bayside Shakedown: Save the Rainbow Bridge! (2003)
011. ¥17.30 billion ($147.8 million) - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
012. ¥15.90 billion ($169.5 million) - Avatar (2009)*
013. ¥15.73 billion ($117.4 million) - The First Slam Dunk (2022) *Final*
014. ¥15.50 billion ($156.0 million) - Ponyo (2008)
_______________
015. ¥14.86 billion ($108.9 million) - Suzume (2022)
016. ¥14.23 billion ($132.0 million) - Weathering With You (2019)*
017. ¥14.01 billion ($101.9 million) - The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) *Final*
018. ¥13.83 billion ($102.1 million) - Detective Conan: The Black Iron Submarine (2023) *Final*
019. ¥13.80 billion ($122.7 million) - Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (2021)
020. ¥13.74 billion ($102.7 million) - Top Gun: Maverick (2022) *79 Weeks in Release*
021. ¥13.70 billion ($126.7 million) - The Last Samurai (2003)
022. ¥13.51 billion ($120.2 million) - Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)*
023. ¥13.50 billion ($125.1 million) - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
023. ¥13.50 billion ($66.9 million) - E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
023. ¥13.50 billion ($100.0 million) - Armageddon (1998)
026. ¥13.37 billion ($122.4 million) - Frozen II (2019)
027. ¥12.85 billion ($120.6 million) - Jurassic Park (1993)
028. ¥12.70 billion ($117.6 million) - Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
029. ¥12.40 billion ($109.7 million) - Beauty and the Beast (2017)
030. ¥12.16 billion ($112.0 million) - Aladdin (2019)
031. ¥12.02 billion ($123.5 million) - The Wind Rises (2013)
032. ¥11.80 billion ($142.8 million) - Alice in Wonderland (2010)
033. ¥11.63 billion ($96.3 million) - Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
034. ¥11.00 billion ($46.0 million) - Antarctica (1983)
034. ¥11.00 billion ($88.0 million) - The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
034. ¥11.00 billion ($102.4 million) - Finding Nemo (2003)
034. ¥11.00 billion ($90.5 million) - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
038. ¥10.90 billion ($102.4 million) - Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
039. ¥10.80 billion ($130.7 million) - Toy Story 3 (2010)
040. ¥10.65 billion ($92.7 million) - Independence Day (1996)
041. ¥10.32 billion ($100.2 million) - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2004)
042. ¥10.28 billion ($94.0 million) - Evangelion 3.0+1.0: Thrice Upon a Time (2021)
043. ¥10.10 billion ($85.0 million) - Bayside Shakedown (1998)
044. ¥10.09 billion ($94.3 million) - Toy Story 4 (2019)
045. ¥10.02 billion ($82.3 million) - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
_______________
046. ¥9.80 billion ($63.0 million) - The Adventures of Milo and Otis (1986)
047. ¥9.78 billion ($76.4 million) - Detective Conan: The Bride of Halloween (2022)
048. ¥9.70 billion ($94.1 million) - Mission: Impossible II (2000)
049. ¥9.67 billion ($125.3 million) - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 (2011)
050. ¥9.66 billion ($77.7 million) - A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
051. ¥9.53 billion ($77.9 million) - Jurassic World (2015)
052. ¥9.50 billion ($66.0 million) - Back to the Future Part II (1989)
052. ¥9.50 billion ($85.6 million) - Jurassic Park: The Lost World (1997)
054. ¥9.40 billion ($80.6 million) - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
055. ¥9.37 billion ($85.5 million) - Detective Conan: The Fist of Blue Sapphire (2019)
055. ¥9.37 billion ($76.8 million) - Monsters, Inc. (2002)
057. ¥9.35 billion ($78.2 million) - Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
058. ¥9.30 billion ($83.6 million) - Code Blue (2018)
059. ¥9.25 billion ($111.9 million) - Arrietty (2010)
060. ¥9.20 billion ($59.0 million) - Heaven and Earth (1990)
061. ¥9.18 billion ($83.6 million) - Detective Conan: Zero the Enforcer (2018)
061. ¥9.18 billion ($77.7 million) - Big Hero 6 (2014)
063. ¥9.17 billion ($83.4 million) - Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
064. ¥9.07 billion ($69.2 million) - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2002)
065. ¥9.05 billion ($79.5 million) - The Da Vinci Code (2006)
066. ¥9.00 billion ($30.0 million) - Jaws (1975)
067. ¥8.96 billion ($91.3 million) - Monsters University (2013)
068. ¥8.87 billion ($114.9 million) - Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)
069. ¥8.79 billion ($49.6 million) - Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
070. ¥8.76 billion ($85.1 million) - The Eternal Zero (2013)
071. ¥8.70 billion ($62.0 million) - The Matrix (1999)
072. ¥8.60 billion ($59.8 million) - The Boy and the Heron (2023) *21 Weeks in Release*
073. ¥8.55 billion ($94.5 million) - Rookies (2009)
074. ¥8.50 billion ($76.5 million) - Crying Out Love in the Center of the World (2004)
075. ¥8.38 billion ($80.2 million) - Stand By Me, Doraemon (2014)
076. ¥8.25 billion ($79.2 million) - Shin Godzilla (2016)
077. ¥8.20 billion ($54.0 million) - Back to the Future Part III (1990)
077. ¥8.20 billion ($67.9 million) - Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
077. ¥8.20 billion ($61.2 million) - The Silk Road (1988)
080. ¥8.15 billion ($74.6 million) - Hero (2007)
081. ¥8.10 billion ($56.7 million) - Deep Impact (1998)
082. ¥8.07 billion ($72.3 million) - Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)
083. ¥8.04 billion ($97.2 million) - Umizaru: The Last Message (2010)
084. ¥8.00 billion ($84.3 million) - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
085. ¥7.90 billion ($66.0 million) - The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2003)
086. ¥7.84 billion ($65.3 million) - Tales from Earthsea (2006)*
087. ¥7.80 billion ($66.2 million) - Yo-Kai Watch: It's the Secret of Birth, Nyan! (2014)
088. ¥7.75 billion ($72.0 million) - Boys Over Flowers: Final (2008)
089. ¥7.68 billion ($73.8 million) - The Sixth Sense (1999)
090. ¥7.65 billion ($70.5 million) - Detective Conan: The Scarlet Bullet (2021)
091. ¥7.63 billion ($70.6 million) - Zootopia (2016)
092. ¥7.51 billion ($66.3 million) - Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
093. ¥7.50 billion ($59.2 million) - Spider-Man (2002)
094. ¥7.40 billion ($49.4 million) - Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
095. ¥7.34 billion ($64.8 million) - Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
096. ¥7.33 billion ($93.6 million) - Umizaru: Brave Hearts (2012)
097. ¥7.32 billion ($66.9 million) - Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
098. ¥7.31 billion ($88.4 million) - Bayside Shakedown: Set the Guys Loose! (2010)
098. ¥7.31 billion ($66.1 million) - Despicable Me 3 (2017)
100. ¥7.24 billion ($64.8 million) - Pokemon: Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998)
_______________

Bonus 25 (101-125)


Note: Most films released before 1998 have estimated USD ($) totals.

*=re-release earnings included.

Speed being above Spider-Man 1 and 3 is the best part of that chart.

So if we compared Miyazaki to Nolan, the Boy and the Heron would be an Interstellar solid performance but nothing special.