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Chiikawa Anime Film Rises Back to #2, Made in Abyss: Mezameru Shinpi Anime Film Opens at #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, rose from #7 to #2 in its 14th weekend in Japan's box office. The film sold 185,000 tickets and earned 279,333,800 yen (about US$1.77 million) from Friday to Sunday.

The film has sold a total of 12.65 million tickets, and earned a cumulative total of 18,486,970,600 yen (about US$117 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 adaptation of Yuu Nagira's Nanji, Hoshi no Gotoku (You Are Akin to the Stars) novel stayed at #3 in its third weekend. The film sold 143,000 tickets and earned 217,530,200 yen (about US$1.37 million) from Friday to Sunday. The film has sold a total of 940,000 tickets and earned a cumulative total of 1,382,872,600 yen (about US$8.77 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 film opened in Japan on October 23.

Shunsuke Michieda (live-action My Love Mix-Up! TV series, live-action The Kindaichi Case Files series) stars as Kohaku Ichimura, and Seira Anzai (live-action Insomniacs After School film, live-action Trillion Game TV series) stars as Yoi Takiguchi.

Other cast members include Rintarō Mizusawa as Takuto Ohji, Yuna Hoshino as Nobara Tone, Sayu Suzukawa as Kotobuki Hibiya, Takato Ōkura as Sentarō Akane, Tatsumi Asa as Shun Kuwabatake, Yūki Yoda as Yoshiko, and Naohito Fujiki as Seiichi Takiguchi, Yoi's father.

Kentarō Takemura (live-action Trillion Game TV series) directed the film, and Yuichi Tokunaga (live-action Densha Otoko TV series) wrote the script. Shū Kanematsu (My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!, Aquarion: Myth of Emotions) composed the music. TBS TV oversaw production at TBS Sparkle, and TOHO is distributing.

The live-action film reboot of CAPCOM's Resident Evil survival horror game franchise dropped from #2 to #5 in its third weekend. The film earned 216,221,050 yen (about US$1.37 million) from Friday to Sunday. The film has sold a total of 1.03 million tickets and earned a cumulative total of 1,766,489,750 yen (about US$11.20 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.

Made in Abyss: Mezameru Shinpi (Made in Abyss: Awakening Mystery), the first film in the new Made in Abyss anime film series, opened at #6. The film earned 145,525,480 yen (about US$922,900) in its first three days.

Masayuki Kojima (Black Bullet, Tibetan Dog) returned to direct the anime at the studio Kinema Citrus (My Happy Marriage, The Rising of The Shield Hero). Hideyuki Kurata (Samurai Flamenco, The World God Only Knows) was again in charge of scripts, and Kazuchika Kise (Ghost in the Shell: Arise Alternative Architecture, xxxHOLiC) and Yuka Kuroda (Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun) returned as character designers.

Kadokawa announced in January 2023 a sequel to the Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun (Made in Abyss: Retsujitsu no Ōgonkyō) anime.

The 4K restoration of Studio Ghibli's Whisper of the Heart ranked at #10 in its first weekend. The film earned 112,466,900 yen (about US$713,200) in its first three days.

Seishun Buta Yarō wa Dear Friend no Yume o Minai (Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dear Friend), the latest anime of Hajime Kamoshida's Rascal Does Not Dream (Seishun Buta Yarō or Aobuta) novel series, left the top 10 in its second weekend.

Legendary Entertainment's new live-action film of CAPCOM's Street Fighter game series also left the list in its second weekend.

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