Godzilla Minus Zero Film Opens at #1 in Japan, Grotesqqque Anime Film at #8
Godzilla Minus Zero, the new Godzilla sequel film from Godzilla Minus One's Takashi Yamazaki, ranked at #1 in its first weekend. The film sold 699,000 tickets and earned 1,130,171,300 yen (about US$7.11 million) over the November 6-8 weekend.
However, the film actually had an irregular opening day in Japan, opening on Tuesday, November 3 (films in Japan usually open on Fridays), which is "Godzilla Day" in Japan, celebrating the anniversary of the first Godzilla film's November 3, 1954 release. The film earned 590,000 tickets for 910 million yen (about US$5.75 million) in Japan in its opening day alone, setting a new record for the highest opening day earnings for a live-action film (among both foreign and domestic live-action films) in Japan. The film had 201% higher opening day earnings than its predecessor Godzilla Minus One in Japan. The film sold 1.61 million tickets and earned 2,539,531,100 yen (about US$15.98 million) in its first six days.
Godzilla Minus One similarly opened in Japan on November 3, 2023. (Godzilla Day fell on a Tuesday this year, but it is also the Japanese holiday known as Culture Day.)
The sequel is set in 1949, two years after the Godzilla Minus One film's story.
Min Tanaka (47 Ronin, live-action Rurouni Kenshin films) plays biologist Kanji Murakami. He joined returning cast members Ryūnosuke Kamiki (Koichi Shikishima), Minami Hamabe (Noriko Ōishi), and Hidetaka Yoshioka (Noda) from Godzilla Minus One. Also returning in the cast are Yūki Yamada (Shiro Mizushima), Kuranosuke Sasaki (Seiji Akitsu), Sakura Andō (Sumiko Ota), and Miō Tanaka (Tatsuo Ho tta).
Yamazaki returned as director, screenwriter, and VFX supervisor. Naoki Satō also returned to compose the music. Shirogumi Inc. handled the film's visual effects.
The live-action film adaptation of Yuu Nagira's Nanji, Hoshi no Gotoku (You Are Akin to the Stars) novel dropped from #2 to #3 in its fifth weekend. The film sold 72,000 tickets and earned 107,330,000 yen (about US$675,700) from Friday to Sunday. The film has sold a total of 1.32 million tickets and earned a cumulative total of 1,937,022,200 yen (about US$12.19 million).
The film opened in Japan on October 9, and ranked at #4 in its opening weekend. The film sold 234,000 tickets and earned 350,531,400 yen (about US$2.23 million) in its first three days.
The film stars Ryūsei Yokohama (Detective Conan: Highway no Datenshi's Kazuaki Ōmae) as Kai Aono and Suzu Hirose (live-action Chihayafuru films' Chihaya, The Boy and The Beast's Kaede) as Akimi Inoue. Michihito Fujii (live-action Last Samurai Standing) directed the film off a screenplay by Naoko Adachi (live-action Daytime Shooting Star, Un chocolatier de l'amour perdu).
The novel's story begins on an island in the Seto Inland Sea. Akimi, who lives on the island, meets Kai, who just moved to the island. Both bond over their misgivings about their own families and life. Akimi's home life is strained by her father constantly cheating, while Kai's mother constantly makes both of them move to be with a new relationship. The two get into a complicated, supporting, and co-dependent relationship over the course of 15 years.
The Kamen Rider Kabuto Tuentīsu Ten o Tsugu Mono film ranked at #4 in its opening weekend. The film earned 88,085,058 yen (about US$554,500) in its first three days. The film opened in Japan on November 6.
Eiga Chiikawa: Ningyo no Shima no Himitsu (Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island), the first anime film adaptation of Nagano's Chiikawa manga, stayed at #5 in its 16th weekend in Japan's box office. The film earned 55,518,700 yen (about US$349,500) from Friday to Sunday.
The film has sold a total of 12.86 million tickets, and earned a cumulative total of 18,793,145,700 yen (about US$118 million). The film is currently the biggest film in Japan this year, and now ranks 12th in Japan's all-time box office ranking.
Eiga Chiikawa: Ningyo no Shima no Himitsu opened on July 24 and ranked at #1 for its opening weekend. The film earned 990 million yen (about US$6.05 million) on its opening day. The film sold 1,508,500 tickets and earned 2,240,333,500 yen (about US$13.70 million) in its first three days.
The film's 4DX screenings began on September 5. One-day-only cheering screenings for the film took place on September 11. Penlight screenings took place on September 23.
The film is based on the manga's arc posted on X (formerly Twitter) from March to November 2023, nicknamed the "Siren Arc" or "Island Arc."
Nagano is credited for the original story and also wrote the film's script. Under Nagano's supervision, Kei Oikawa (Uma Musume Pretty Derby 3 seasons, Hinamatsuri, My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU TOO!, My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU Climax) directed the film at Cygames Pictures. QTORY inc. managed the production, and TOHO is distributing the film.
The live-action film reboot of CAPCOM's Resident Evil survival horror game franchise dropped from #3 to #7 in its fifth weekend. The film earned 60,618,750 yen (about US$381,600) from Friday to Sunday, and has earned a cumulative total of 2,153,054,600 yen (about US$13.55 million).
The film opened in Japan on October 9 and ranked at #2 in its opening weekend. The film sold 356,000 tickets and earned 626,567,150 yen (about US$3.97 million) in its first three days.
The film opened in the United States on September 18. The film ranked at #1 and earned an estimated US$60 million in its opening weekend in the U.S.
The film stars Austin Abrams (Weapons, Euphoria, Wolfs) as Bryan. The cast also includes Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser (Richard Jewell, Black Bird, The Fantastic Four: First Steps).
Zach Cregger (Barbarian, Weapons) directed the new film.
Atsushi Nishigori's original anime film Grotesqqque (previously titled Grotesque) opened at #8. The film earned 47,185,800 yen (about US$297,000) in its first three days.
The film is an omnibus film of three stories with different worldviews.
- "A(E)liens"
- "Yoroshiku★Girl," (also known as "4649 Girl," pronounced as "Yoroshiku★Shōjo," a pun on the words "Nice to Meet You★Girl" with the literal meaning of the kanji being "Evening Dew Heads to Its Death★Girl." The numbers 4649 can be read in Japanese as "Yoroshiku.")
- "Nocturne: Nuit Grotesque" ("Nocturne: Kono Grotesque na Yoru ni," literally, Nocturne: On This Grotesque Night, romanized in a previous video as "Nocturn: En Cette Nuit Grotesque.")
Atsushi Nishigori (The IDOLM@STER, DARLING in the FRANXX) directed the film, and also wrote the screenplay and designed the characters.
The band METALVERSE performs the opening theme song "Shoot Shoot Shoot." Haoto performs the ending theme song with lyrics by momosu momosu.
The film comes from JOEN, the company jointly established by Sony media subsidiary Aniplex, its CloverWorks animation studio, Production I.G sister company Wit Studio, and publisher Shueisha. CloverWorks producer Yūichi Fukushima and Wit Studio producer Tetsuya Nakatake are the representative directors of JOEN.
The film opened in Japan on November 6. The film had its world premiere at this year's Fantasia International Film Festival, which took place in Montreal from July 16-August 2.
The live-action film of Mika Yamamori's In the Clear Moonlit Dusk (Uruwashi no Yoi no Tsuki) manga left the top 10 in its third weekend.
Made in Abyss: Mezameru Shinpi (Made in Abyss: Awakening Mystery), the first film in the new Made in Abyss anime film series, dropped off the list in its third weekend.
The 4K restoration of Studio Ghibli's Whisper of the Heart is off the top 10 in its third week and final week, but still earned 42,232,800 yen (about US$265,800) from Friday to Sunday. The 4K restoration screenings have earned a cumulative total of 410,503,800 yen (about US$2.58 million). It ranked at #10 in its first weekend. The film earned 112,466,900 yen (about US$713,200) in its first three days.
Nijiiro no Rinne (Rainbow-Colored Reincarnation), the seventh film in Yamato yo Towa ni: Rebel 3199 (Star Blazers: Be Forever Yamato - Rebel 3199), the latest project in the Space Battleship Yamato remakes, left the list in its second weekend.
Sources: Kōgyō Tsūshin (link 2), comScore via KOFIC
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