News

Uirabu., Precure, Godzilla Films Stay in Top 10 at Japanese Box Office

The live-action film of Yukimo Hoshimori's Uirabu. -Uiuishii Koi no Ohanashi- (Uirabu.: Story of Innocent Love) manga fell from #3 to #5 in its second weekend. The film earned 99,410,600 yen (about US$883,000) from Friday to Sunday, and has earned a cumulative total of 434,451,900 yen (about US$3.85 million).

The film sold 143,000 tickets and earned 170 million yen (about US$1.49 million) in its opening weekend. Uirabu. -Uiuishii Koi no Ohanashi- opened on November 9 in 215 theaters.

King & Prince performed the film's theme song "High On Love!" Yuichi Sato directed the film, with a script by Natsuko Takahashi (My Love Story!!, Norn9, Comic Girls).

Hoshimori launched the manga in Sho-Comi in 2015, and ended it in July 2017. Shogakukan published the manga's 10th and final compiled book volume in November 2017. The series has more than 1 million copies in print as of August 2017.

The Eiga Hugtto! Precure ♡ Futari wa Precure All Stars Memories crossover film dropped from #5 to #6 on its fourth weekend. The film earned 79,555,200 yen (about US$706,800) from Friday to Sunday, and has earned a cumulative total of 934,673,800 yen (about US$8.30 million).

The film opened in Japan on October 27, and it sold more than 300,000 tickets and earned more than 350 million yen (about US$3.13 million) in its first two days.

The film, with a theme of "memories," marks a revival of the "All Stars" film series, and also commemorates the overall franchise's 15th anniversary. The film features 55 Precures, and earned the Guinness World Record for "Most magical warriors in an anime film" on Saturday. The previous film in the "All Stars" series, Eiga Precure All Stars: Minna de Utau Kiseki no Mahō!, opened in Japan in March 2016. Crossover films after that were titled Eiga Precure Dream Stars! and Precure Super Stars!.

Godzilla: The Planet Eater (Godzilla: Hoshi wo Kū mono), the third and final film in the Godzilla anime film trilogy, fell from #6 to #8 in its second weekend. The film earned 28,085,200 yen (about US$249,500) from Friday to Sunday, and has earned a cumulative total of 171,859,000 yen (about US$1.52 million).

The film opened in 158 theaters on November 9 and film ranked #6 in its opening weekend. The film also closed out the Tokyo International Film Festival, which ran from October 25 to November 3 at Roppongi Hills, EX Theater Roppongi, and the Hibiya Step Square.

The website describes the film's story in English:

20,000 years into the future, the Earth is ruled by Godzilla. Pitted against him are the straggling remnants of the human race. The final chapter, Godzilla: The Planet Eater, finds the Mechagodzilla city, the peak of scientific evolution and mankind's best hope, burned to cinders. Godzilla Earth reigns supreme but he has one more challenge: the winged creature, KING GHIDORAH.

Kobun Shizuno (Detective Conan: The Darkest Nightmare and other Detective Conan movies, Fist of the North Star: The Legend of Kenshirô, Fist of the North Star: The Legend of Toki) and Hiroyuki Seshita (Ajin, Knights of Sidonia) directed the films at Polygon Pictures. Gen Urobuchi (Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Fate/Zero, Psycho-Pass) of Nitroplus is credited with the story concept and screenplay. Urobuchi was also responsible for series composition with Yūsuke Kozaki.

The anime adaptation of NisiOisin's Zoku Owarimonogatari novel fell off the top 10 in its second weekend, but still earned 23,860,600 yen (about US$212,000) from Friday to Sunday, and has earned a cumulative total of 104,548,320 yen (about US$929,000). The film still ranked at #1 in the mini-theater rankings for the second weekend.

Peacemaker Kurogane: Friend (Peacemaker Kurogane: Yūmei), the second film for the two-part anime film series based on Nanae Chrono's Peacemaker Kurogane manga, ranked at #4 in the mini-theater rankings in its opening weekend. The film opened in Japan last Saturday.

Anemone: Kōkyōshihen Eureka Seven Hi-Evolution (Anemone: Eureka Seven: Hi - Evolution), the second film in the Eureka Seven: Hi - Evolution film, also fell off the top 10 in its second weekend.

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