2026 Doraemon Film Stays at #1, 2nd Live-Action Golden Kamuy Film Opens at #3
Weekend Box Office Update: Doraemon Reigns Supreme as New Films Debut
The latest weekend box office figures reveal a dynamic landscape with established hits maintaining their ground and new contenders making their mark. Eiga Himitsu no AiPri Mankai Bazulium Live! debuted at number eight, joining other films in a busy period for cinematic releases.
Doraemon Film Holds Top Spot for Third Weekend
The 2026 Doraemon film, Eiga Doraemon: Shin Nobita no Kaitei Kiganjo, also known as Doraemon the Movie: New Nobita and the Castle of the Undersea Devil, successfully held the number one position in its third weekend. Over the three-day period, the film sold 274,600 tickets and accumulated 357,032,400 yen, equivalent to approximately 2.23 million US dollars. Its cumulative performance has reached 1.47 million tickets sold, totaling 1,894,756,550 yen, which is about 11.85 million US dollars.
The film initially premiered on February 27, securing the number one rank in its opening weekend by selling 621,000 tickets and earning 779,681,350 yen, roughly 4.96 million US dollars, in its first three days. This new film, the 45th 2D anime installment not counting the 3D CG Stand By Me Doraemon films, is a remake of the 1983 classic Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Castle of the Undersea Devil. Tetsuo Yajima, known for Pokemon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle and Pokemon the Movie: The Power of Us, returned to direct after previously working on Doraemon television anime episodes and other Doraemon films such as Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's New Great Adventure into the Underworld, Doraemon the Movie: Nobita and the Steel Troops: The New Age, and Eiga Doraemon: Nobita no Chikyu Symphony. Isao Murayama, a veteran writer for series like Witchy Precure! and Star Twinkle Precure, penned the screenplay for this new movie.
Golden Kamuy Live Action Sequel Enters at Number Three
Golden Kamuy: Abashiri Kangoku Shugeki-hen, the second live-action film adaptation of Satoru Noda's Golden Kamuy manga, opened strongly at number three. In its first three days, the film sold 246,900 tickets and earned 368,611,300 yen, approximately 2.30 million US dollars. The film is also being presented in IMAX screenings.
Kento Yamazaki reprised his role as Saichi Sugimoto, and Anna Yamada returned as Asirpa. The cast saw new additions including Yu Inaba as Tokishige Usami, Soko Wada as Toshiyuki Kadokura, and Tetta Sugimoto as Anji Toni. Kenji Katagiri directed the film at CREDEUS, working from a script by returning writer Tsutomu Kuroiwa. Yutaka Yamada once again composed the music, with Hiroshi Nakagawa and Debo Akibe providing their expertise as Ainu culture and language supervisors. The rock band 10-FEET performed the theme song, titled "Kowarete Kieru made" or "Until It Breaks and Disappears". The first live-action Golden Kamuy film debuted in January 2024, topping the Japanese box office in its opening weekend with 356,000 tickets sold and earnings of 533,848,690 yen, approximately 3.44 million US dollars at its conversion rate.
Cosmic Princess Kaguya! Extends Its Theatrical Success
Shingo Yamashita's anime film Cosmic Princess Kaguya! saw a significant jump from number ten to number five in its fourth weekend. This rise followed the extension of its limited one-week theatrical screening run in Japan. From Friday to Sunday, the film earned 286,511,000 yen, about 1.79 million US dollars, bringing its cumulative total to 1,116,389,400 yen, approximately 6.98 million US dollars.
The film's initial limited theatrical run commenced on February 20. Tickets rapidly sold out, prompting some theaters to increase the number of screenings to more than ten times daily. In its first three days after the run extension, the film garnered 223,485,400 yen, roughly 1.43 million US dollars, in Japanese theaters. Netflix began streaming the film on January 22. Yamashita, known for Pokemon: Twilight Wings and opening animations for Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man, made his feature-length directorial debut with this film, a collaboration between his Studio Chromato and Studio Colorido. Hechima, from The Idolmaster Gakuen, and Akihiro Nagae, known for Drifting Home, were responsible for character designs, with Hechima focusing on Tsukuyomi designs and Nagae on real-world character designs. Saori Hayami, voicing Yachiyo, performs the theme song "Ex-Otogibanashi" or "Ex-Fairy Tale", composed by Ryo of supercell. The film also features songs by Vocaloid producers Ryo from supercell, kz from Livetune, 40mP, HoneyWorks, Aqu3ra, and yuigot.
Himitsu no AiPri Film Debuts
Eiga Himitsu no AiPri Mankai Bazulium Live!, an anime film part of the Himitsu no AiPri mixed media project, debuted at number eight. The film earned 105,373,000 yen, approximately 659,500 US dollars, during its first three days. All screenings of this film are designed to allow viewers to shout out loud during the presentation.
The film's narrative involves the Ring Princess inviting everyone to participate in a "Spring Float Race," where an unexpected incident occurs during the contest. The feature also includes a concert segment. TAKARA TOMY A.R.T.S and syn Sophia are once again credited with the original work. Avex Film Labels handles the distribution, while OLM and DongWoo Animation are responsible for producing the animation. The film also features a returning cast.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Film Continues Run
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea, the second anime film in the That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime franchise, moved from number six to number ten in its third weekend. The film secured 74,104,010 yen, approximately 463,800 US dollars, from Friday to Sunday, bringing its cumulative total to 659,819,410 yen, about 4.12 million US dollars.
The film launched in Japan on February 27, ranking at number three in its initial weekend. It sold 225,000 tickets and earned 301,175,600 yen, roughly 1.91 million US dollars, in its first three days. Crunchyroll has acquired the worldwide theatrical rights for the film, with Sony Pictures Entertainment and Crunchyroll planning to screen it in theaters globally, with specific dates yet to be announced. The film brings back cast members from the television anime. New additions to the film's cast include Saori Onishi as Yura, Koichi Domoto as Zodon, and Koji Yusa as Djeese. Hinatazaka46 members Nao Kosaka and Kaho Fujishima lend their voices to Mio and Yori, two original shrine maiden characters created for the film. 8-Bit produced the film's animation. TRUE performs the theme song "Utopia." Cast member Saori Onishi, as Yura, sings the insert song "Sokoku," translated as "Blue Moment," and the six-member unit ARCANA PROJECT performs another insert song titled "Renaino," or "Talent for Romance." STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION and ASH DA HERO member ASH collaborated on the insert song "Harmonics."
Other Film News
Shin-Gekijo-ban Gintama: Yoshiwara Daienjo, a new compilation film based on Hideaki Sorachi's Gintama manga, concluded its run on the box office list in its fifth weekend. The 4K remaster of Hiroyuki Okiura and Mamoru Oshii's Jin-Roh - The Wolf Brigade film debuted at number three in the mini-theater rankings.
