News: 3rd Installment of Live-Action Kingdom Film Remains Dominant at #1, The Boy and the Heron Reclaims #3 Position

Kingdom: Unmei no Honō (Flames of Destiny), the third live-action film based on Yasuhisa Hara’s Kingdom manga, maintained its position as the number one movie in the Japanese box office for the third consecutive weekend. Over the course of Friday to Sunday, the film sold 401,400 tickets, earning 601,578,930 yen (about US$4.13 million). Since its release on July 28, the film has sold a total of 2.272 million tickets, accumulating a total of 3,282,464,270 yen (about US$22.58 million). This makes it the highest-grossing live-action film in Japan in 2023 so far.

The film focuses on the manga’s Shi Ka (Zi Xia) arc and the Battle of Bayou, which depicts the first joint effort of Shin (Xin) and Ō Ki (Wang Qi) against the Chō (Zhao) invaders from the north. Anne Watanabe joined the cast as the pivotal character Shi Ka (Zi Xia), along with other new cast members Kataoka Ainosuke VI, Kōji Yamamoto, Yuki Yamada, Eri Murakawa, and Hinako Sakurai. The film also features the return of previous cast members Kento Yamazaki, Ryō Yoshizawa, Takao Osawa, and Kanna Hashimoto.

Directed by Shinsuke Satō and written by Yasuhisa Hara and Tsutomu Kuroiwa, the film has received critical acclaim and strong audience support.

Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film, The Boy and the Heron (Kimi-tachi wa Dō Ikiru ka, or How Do You Live?), climbed from the fourth to the third spot in the Japanese box office during its fifth weekend. It sold 288,900 tickets, earning 444,294,400 yen (about US$3.05 million) from Friday to Sunday. Since its release, the film has sold a total of 4,125,000 tickets, accumulating 6,235,444,700 yen (about US$42.88 million).

In its first three days, the film sold 1.003 million tickets and earned approximately US$13.2 million. Over its Friday-Monday long weekend release, including the Marine Day holiday in Japan, it sold 1.353 million tickets and earned 2.149 billion yen (about US$15.53 million). The film opened simultaneously on IMAX in Japan on July 14 and has broken records, surpassing Miyazaki’s previous films Spirited Away and The Wind Rises in terms of initial box office success.

The film, featuring the theme song “Chikyūgi” by Kenshi Yonezu, is the first Studio Ghibli film to receive a simultaneous IMAX release. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki and with music composed by Joe Hisaishi, it has been well-received by both critics and audiences.

Shin Jigen! Crayon Shin-chan The Movie Chōnōryoku Dai Kessen: Tobetobe Temakizushi (New Dimension! Crayon Shin-chan the Movie Super-Powered Climactic Battle: Soaring Hand-Rolled Sushi), the first 3DCG anime film in the Crayon Shin-chan franchise, dropped from the second to the fourth position in its second weekend. It earned 354,089,770 yen (about US$2.43 million) from Friday to Sunday, with a total of 1,092,463,300 yen (about US$7.51 million) overall.

The film, which opened on August 4, showcases kindergartener Shinnosuke gaining telekinetic superpowers after Earth is exposed to a white light from space. Mitsuru Hiriya, affected by a counterpart black light, acquires psychic abilities and attempts to destroy the world. Amidst the fear gripping Japan, Shinnosuke emerges as a new hero.

Directed and written by Hitoshi Ōne, the film took an impressive seven years to complete. It has garnered attention for its innovative animation style and exciting storyline.

Transformers: Beast Kakusei (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts), the first film in a planned trilogy for Paramount Pictures’ live-action Transformers franchise, remained at the sixth position in its second weekend. It earned 220,433,250 yen (about US$1.51 million) from Friday to Sunday, accumulating a total of 769,851,410 yen (about US$5.29 million) to date.

The film opened on August 4 and ranked sixth during its first weekend. It debuted in North America on June 9, approximately one year after its original release date. In its US opening weekend, it earned an estimated US$60.5 million in 3,678 theaters.

Directed by Steven Caple Jr. and starring Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback, the film features an ensemble cast and a thrilling storyline. It has captivated audiences with its action-packed sequences and impressive special effects.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie dropped from the eighth to the tenth spot in its 16th weekend at the Japanese box office. It earned 84,329,700 yen (about US$579,700) from Friday to Sunday, with a cumulative total of 13,683,418,850 yen (about US$94.06 million).

The film achieved great success in its first three days in Japan, selling 1.276 million tickets and earning 1.843 billion yen (about US$13.54 million). It currently stands as the third highest-grossing animated film worldwide (if Disney’s The Lion King is counted as animated) or the second highest-grossing if not. The Super Mario Bros. Movie opened globally on April 5 and has become the highest-grossing film of 2023. It is also the highest-earning video game adaptation in history.

Gekijо̄ban IDOLiSH7 LIVE 4bit BEYOND THE PERiOD, the theatrical anime concert for the IDOLiSH7 multimedia franchise, earned 74,237,240 yen (about US$510,300) from Friday to Sunday in its 13th weekend. The film has earned a cumulative total of 2,371,481,821 yen (about US$16.30 million).

Tokubetsuhen Hibike! Euphonium: Ensemble Contest, the Kyoto Animation theatrical anime depicting the “Ensemble Concert” arc of its Sound! Euphonium anime, earned 64,569,000 yen (about US$443,800) from Friday to Sunday in its second weekend. The film’s overall earnings are 234,621,560 yen (about US$1.61 million).

The Eiga Kamen Rider Geats: 4-nin no Ace to Kurogitsune / Eiga Ōsama Sentai King-Ohger: Adventure Heaven double-feature tokusatsu film screenings for the Kamen Rider and Super Sentai series earned 58,101,810 yen (about US$399,300) from Friday to Sunday in their third weekend. The films have accumulated a total of 398,510,500 yen (about US$2.73 million).

These films continue to captivate audiences and demonstrate the diverse range of offerings in the Japanese box office.

Sources: Kōgyō Tsūshin (link 2), comScore via KOFIC

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