[JAPAN BOX OFFICE | Demon Slayer breaks all time record for OW]

[JAPAN BOX OFFICE | Demon Slayer breaks all time record for OW]

Biggest Fourth Weekends/Four Week Totals (2001-)

 

Fourth Weekend (% change) / 4-Week Total -> Final Total - Film

¥972.2 million (-19%) / ¥8.43 billion -> ¥20.30 billion - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

¥953.2 million (-06%) / ¥8.45 billion -> ¥19.60 billion - Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

¥940.0 million (+06%) / ¥10.75 billion -> ¥30.40 billion - Spirited Away (2001)

¥922.9 million (-21%) / ¥8.13 billion -> ¥17.30 billion - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

¥850.9 million (-04%) / ¥7.71 billion -> ¥25.44 billion - Frozen (2014)

¥765.7 million (+07%) / ¥7.20 billion -> ¥17.35 billion - Bayside Shakedown: Save the Rainbow Bridge (2003)

¥755.2 million (-03%) / ¥7.21 billion -> ¥15.50 billion - Ponyo (2008)

¥733.5 million (-27%) / ¥7.11 billion -> ¥13.50 billion - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

¥683.5 million (-27%) / ¥7.45 billion -> ¥10.90 billion - Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

¥657.9 million (-05%) / ¥6.23 billion -> ¥8.87 billion - Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

¥618.6 million (-23%) / ¥6.02 billion -> ¥8.55 billion - Rookies (2009)

¥617.1 million (+15%) / ¥5.41 billion -> ¥10.80 billion - Toy Story 3 (2010)

¥604.4 million (-22%) / ¥7.55 billion -> ¥11.00 billion - The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

¥565.4 million (-12%) / ¥5.08 billion -> ¥11.00 billion - Finding Nemo (2003)

¥556.0 million (-34%) / ¥5.91 billion -> ¥11.00 billion - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

¥543.9 million (-07%) / ¥5.77 billion -> ¥8.04 billion - Umizaru: The Last Message (2010)

¥542.8 million (+07%) / ¥4.47 billion -> ¥13.70 billion - The Last Samurai (2003)

¥524.4 million (-26%) / ¥6.15 billion -> ¥10.32 billion - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2004)

¥521.6 million (-52%) / ¥8.38 billion -> ¥11.80 billion - Alice in Wonderland (2010)

¥520.8 million (-01%) / ¥3.83 billion -> ¥8.50 billion - Crying Out Love in the Center of the World (2004)

¥519.9 million (+09%) / ¥5.81 billion -> ¥?.?? billion - Stand By Me, Doraemon (2014)

¥518.5 million (-01%) / ¥5.22 billion -> ¥10.02 billion - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)

¥510.3 million (-07%) / ¥5.60 billion -> ¥12.02 billion - The Wind Rises (2013)

¥510.1 million (-20%) / ¥5.93 billion -> ¥15.60 billion - Avatar (2009)

¥503.4 million (-09%) / ¥4.19 billion -> ¥9.37 billion - Monsters, Inc. (2002)

¥501.2 million (-27%) / ¥6.26 billion -> ¥9.05 billion - The Da Vinci Code (2006)

¥500 million+

[JAPAN BOX OFFICE | Demon Slayer breaks all time record for OW]

Weekend Ranking (08/30-31)

 

01 (01) Stand By Me, Doraemon (Toho) Week 4

02 (--) Lupin III (Toho) DEBUT

03 (--) Lucy (Toho-Towa) DEBUT

04 (02) Hot Road (Shochiku) Week 3

05 (03) Rurouni Kenshin: The Great Kyoto Fire Arc (Warner Bros.) Week 5

06 (04) Transformers: Age of Extinction (Paramount) Week 4

07 (07) Memories of Marnie (Toho) Week 7

08 (09) Pokemon XY: The Cocoon of Destruction & Diancie (Toho) Week 7

09 (05) Into the Storm (Warner Bros.) Week 2

10 (06) Maleficent (Disney) Week 9

 

>Stand By Me, Doraemon retains its hold atop the box-office for a 4th-consecutive week, and even increased by 9%.  It earned ¥519,995,800 ($5.1 million) with 380,005 admissions, making it the 6th biggest 4th weekend this decade (2010-) so far.  It's also just one of five blockbuster films (5 billion or more) to ever experience a 4th weekend increase, and actually the only one that wasn't assisted by a holiday or anything else.  

 

After 24 days in release, it's now grossed ¥5.81 billion ($56.8 million) with 4.38 million admissions.  It is currently the 4th Highest-Grossing non-Ghibli/Disney animated film, but looks on track to rise to #1 on that chart as it doesn't look likely to finish under ¥7.5 billion ($75 million), and could go higher.  

 

>Lupin III got off to a great start, taking in ¥444,121,700 ($4.3 million) with 335,148 admissions on 307 screens.  Unless its poor/mixed reviews have a negative impact on its box-office, it's likely to finish with ¥2.5-3.0 billion ($25-30 million) - very strong for a post-Summer film.

 

>Lucy debuted in 3rd place, earning ¥199,838,700 ($1.9 million) with 149,575 admissions on only 205 screens.  I didn't realize it was playing on so few screens (no dubbed versions), so this debut is great even if it came in below estimates.  And by comparison, since Scarlett Johansson is apart of the Avengers, her film beat the opening weekends of Thor: The Dark World and Captain America: The Winter Soldier on 1/3 of the screens.  

 

>Hot Road continues to do well for Shochiku and became their highest-grossing film of the year so far, exceeding ¥1.6 billion ($15 million).  It'll have no problem reaching ¥2 billion+ ($20 million+), a milestone that is rather difficult for Shochiku.

[How to Train Your Dragon 2 OS (418 mil OS!!!)]

It was at $574.4 million last week, I thought. 

[JAPAN BOX OFFICE | Demon Slayer breaks all time record for OW]

He appears to be losing his star power.  Japan used to be his best market, but lately it's been ranking 3rd/4th best for his films.  Other markets are growing, which explains some of this, but it hasn't been an issue for Depp or Jolie films, which Japan has been the #1 country for them consistently in past and recent years.  

 

Edge of Tomorrow outgrossed both Jack Reacher and Oblivion, though.

[JAPAN BOX OFFICE | Demon Slayer breaks all time record for OW]

Yeah.  It and Transformers are going to be really close in the end ($28-30 million).  

 

In USD, Summer 2014 (July/August Releases) should be looking like...

 

$80 million or higher - Stand By Me, Doraemon

$63-65 million - Maleficent

$44-46 million - Ruroini Kenshin: The Great Kyoto Fire Arc

$35-37 million - Memories of Marnie

$30-32 million - Godzilla

$28-30 million - Transformers: Age of Extinction

$28-30 million - Pokemon XY: The Cocoon of Destruction & Diancie

$24-29 million - Lupin III

$23-25 million - Hot Road

$16 million - Edge of Tomorrow

$11-15 million - Lucy

$11 million - Say, "I Love You"

$10 million+

 

Lupin III and Lucy having just opened make their total range bigger than the rest which are most likely going to fall within the projected range (Doraemon aside, since it's hard to say how high it's going still). 

[JAPAN BOX OFFICE | Demon Slayer breaks all time record for OW]

Mmm... it'll be close, $29 million is probably more likely.

[JAPAN BOX OFFICE | Demon Slayer breaks all time record for OW]

Biggest Fourth Weekends/Four Week Totals (2001-)

 

Fourth Weekend (% change) / 4-Week Total -> Final Total - Film

¥972.2 million (-19%) / ¥8.43 billion -> ¥20.30 billion - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

¥953.2 million (-06%) / ¥8.45 billion -> ¥19.60 billion - Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

¥940.0 million (+06%) / ¥10.75 billion -> ¥30.40 billion - Spirited Away (2001)

¥922.9 million (-21%) / ¥8.13 billion -> ¥17.30 billion - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

¥850.9 million (-04%) / ¥7.71 billion -> ¥25.43 billion - Frozen (2014)

¥765.7 million (+07%) / ¥7.20 billion -> ¥17.35 billion - Bayside Shakedown: Save the Rainbow Bridge (2003)

¥755.2 million (-03%) / ¥7.21 billion -> ¥15.50 billion - Ponyo (2008)

¥733.5 million (-27%) / ¥7.11 billion -> ¥13.50 billion - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

¥683.5 million (-27%) / ¥7.45 billion -> ¥10.90 billion - Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

¥657.9 million (-05%) / ¥6.23 billion -> ¥8.87 billion - Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

¥618.6 million (-23%) / ¥6.02 billion -> ¥8.55 billion - Rookies (2009)

¥617.1 million (+15%) / ¥5.41 billion -> ¥10.80 billion - Toy Story 3 (2010)

¥604.4 million (-22%) / ¥7.55 billion -> ¥11.00 billion - The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

¥565.4 million (-12%) / ¥5.08 billion -> ¥11.00 billion - Finding Nemo (2003)

¥556.0 million (-34%) / ¥5.91 billion -> ¥11.00 billion - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

¥543.9 million (-07%) / ¥5.77 billion -> ¥8.04 billion - Umizaru: The Last Message (2010)

¥542.8 million (+07%) / ¥4.47 billion -> ¥13.70 billion - The Last Samurai (2003)

¥524.4 million (-26%) / ¥6.15 billion -> ¥10.32 billion - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2004)

¥521.6 million (-52%) / ¥8.38 billion -> ¥11.80 billion - Alice in Wonderland (2010)

¥520.8 million (-01%) / ¥3.83 billion -> ¥8.50 billion - Crying Out Love in the Center of the World (2004)

¥518.5 million (-01%) / ¥5.22 billion -> ¥10.02 billion - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)

¥511.0 million (+05%) / ¥5.70 billion -> ¥?.?? billion - Stand By Me, Doraemon (2014) [Estimate]

¥510.3 million (-07%) / ¥5.60 billion -> ¥12.02 billion - The Wind Rises (2013)

¥510.1 million (-20%) / ¥5.93 billion -> ¥15.60 billion - Avatar (2009)

¥503.4 million (-09%) / ¥4.19 billion -> ¥9.37 billion - Monsters, Inc. (2002)

¥501.2 million (-27%) / ¥6.26 billion -> ¥9.05 billion - The Da Vinci Code (2006)

¥500 million+

[JAPAN BOX OFFICE | Demon Slayer breaks all time record for OW]

Weekend Estimates (08/30-31)

 

01 (01) ¥511 million ($5.0 million), +05%, ¥5.70 billion ($55.9 million), Stand By Me, Doraemon (Toho) Week 4

02 (--) ¥440 million ($4.2 million), 0, ¥440 million ($4.2 million), Lupin III (Toho) NEW

03 (--) ¥231 million ($2.2 million), 0, ¥300 million ($2.8 million), Lucy (Toho-Towa) NEW

04 (02) ¥182 million ($1.7 million), -22%, ¥1.54 billion ($14.9 million), Hot Road (Shochiku) Week 3

05 (03) ¥177 million ($1.6 million), -21%, ¥4.18 billion ($40.5 million), Rurouni Kenshin: The Great Kyoto Fire Arc (Warner Bros.) Week 5

06 (04) ¥107 million ($1.0 million), -37%, ¥2.56 billion ($25.0 million), Transformers: Age of Extinction (Paramount) Week 4

07 (07) ¥75 million ($0.73 million), -17%, ¥3.15 billion ($30.8 million), Memories of Marnie (Toho) Week 7

08 (05) ¥60 million ($0.57 million), -56%, ¥360 million ($3.4 million), Into the Storm (Warner Bros.) Week 2

09 (09) ¥54 million ($0.52 million), -27%, ¥2.67 billion ($26.1 million), Pokemon XY: The Cocoon of Destruction & Diancie (Toho) Week 7

10 (06) ¥53 million ($0.51 million), -42%, ¥6.32 billion ($61.8 million), Maleficent (Disney) Week 9

11 (08) ¥51 million ($0.49 million), -37%, ¥2.98 billion ($29.2 million), Godzilla (Toho) Week 6

 

>Stand By Me, Doraemon actually saw a weekend increase it appears, without the assistance of any holiday, discount day, or added showings/screens.  It's even one of the bigger 4th-weekends of all-time if it stays above ¥500 million.  It's incredibly likely to exceed ¥7.5 billion ($75 million) now I believe, to become the highest-grossing non-Ghibi/Disney animated film ever, and could earn over ¥8 billion ($80 million+).  

 

Lupin III, the live-action adaptation of the popular character, performed very, very well.  Its Sunday was actually on par with Saturday, so the poor reviews may not hinder its box-office afterall, though it is early.  Even with poor legs though, it'll probably still reach ¥2.5 billion ($25 million), and could make a run at ¥3 billion ($30 million).  

 

>Lucy did very well, too, and should have no problem exceeding ¥1 billion ($10 million) and could reach ¥1.5 billion ($15 million).  It's certainly exceeding expectations.

[JAPAN BOX OFFICE | Demon Slayer breaks all time record for OW]

Toho, Movix, 109, Kinzeo Cinema Chain Saturday Admissions (08/30)

 

61,844 (new) - Lupin III (Toho) NEW

56,202 (+08%) - Stand By Me, Doraemon (Toho) Week 4

34,294 (new) - Lucy (Toho-Towa) NEW

20,382 (-23%) - Hot Road (Shochiku) Week 3

19,177 (-23%) - Rurouni Kenshin: The Great Kyoto Fire Arc (Warner Bros.) Week 5

11,104 (-38%) - Transformers: Age of Extinction (Paramount) Week 4

9,256 (-16%) - Memories of Marnie (Toho) Week 7

7,191 (-58%) - Into the Storm (Warner Bros.) Week 2

6,758 (new) - Tokyo Tribe (Nikkatsu) NEW

6,254 (-43%) - Maleficent (Disney) Week 9

 

Great start for Lupin III.  It's aiming for ¥350-425 million ($3.5-4.2 million) and 275-325,000 admissions based on Saturday, depending on what happens tomorrow.  But while an impressive start, it's not going to be enough to dethrone Doraemon it appears.

 

Stand By Me, Doraemon managed to pull off an increase over last Saturday, and close to double digits, too.  Even if tomorrow isn't as strong as last Sunday, it looks set for ¥450-500 million ($4.5-5 million) and 325-375,000 admissions, so a 4th-consecutive week in 1st looks very likely.  I think this is a sign it isn't going to fall apart in September like family/children films tend to do, and is going to have a long, long run.  

 

Lucy is doing quite well and should exceed ¥200 million ($2 million) and 150,000+ admissions over the weekend if it doesn't fall too much on Sunday (which I doubt it will).    

 

10th place looks quite competitive between Tokyo Tribe (doing surprisingly well), and Maleficent and Godzilla (just below in 11th).  All were only 500 admissions apart at the usual locations on Saturday, so if Sunday doesn't separate them, it'll come down to ticket prices.  And Pokemon XY may not be out of the running yet, either.  It'll have one of the bigger Sunday increases, so it could catch up despite ranking lower on Saturday.  

[JAPAN BOX OFFICE | Demon Slayer breaks all time record for OW]

Of course.  It'll be over $29 million this weekend and should cross $30 million next weekend.  It'll end up $31/32 million. 

[JAPAN BOX OFFICE | Demon Slayer breaks all time record for OW]

Dunno what happened with the bb codes in that post, haha.  

[JAPAN BOX OFFICE | Demon Slayer breaks all time record for OW]

Weekend Forecast (08/30-31)

 

 

01 (--) ¥380 million ($3.7 million), 0, ¥380 million ($3.7 million), Lupin III (Toho) NEW

02 (01) ¥365 million ($3.5 million), -25%, ¥5.55 billion ($54.5 million), Stand By Me, Doraemon (Toho) Week 4

03 (--) ¥200 million ($1.9 million), 0, ¥270 million ($2.5 million), Lucy (Toho-Towa) NEW

04 (02) ¥159 million ($1.5 million), -31%, ¥1.51 billion ($14.6 million), Hot Road (Shochiku) Week 3

05 (03) ¥156 million ($1.5 million), -30%, ¥4.16 billion ($40.2 million), Rurouni Kenshin: The Great Kyoto Fire Arc (Warner Bros.) Week 5

06 (04) ¥106 million ($1.0 million), -38%, ¥2.55 billion ($24.9 million), Transformers: Age of Extinction (Paramount) Week 4

07 (05) ¥77 million ($0.74 million), -43%, ¥380 million ($3.6 million), Into the Storm (Warner Bros.) Week 2

08 (07) ¥65 million ($0.62 million), -29%, ¥3.14 billion ($30.7 million), Memories of Marnie (Toho) Week 7

09 (06) ¥62 million ($0.60 million), -33%, ¥6.33 billion ($61.9 million), Maleficent (Disney) Week 9

10 (08) ¥49 million ($0.46 million), -40%, ¥2.98 billion ($29.2 million), Godzilla (Toho) Week 6

 

>Lupin III, the live-action adaptation of the popular character, is putting the pressure on Stand By Me, Doraemon at the stop this weekend.  Pre-sales are solid for Lupin III, but not so strong that its guaranteed to debut on top with Doraemon still so strong. 

 

 It should be a close race with Lupin III winning Saturday, and Doraemon likely winning Sunday.

 

>Lucy opened yesterday with around ¥65/70 million ($600-700,000) from my estimates, so it should debut around ¥200 million ($2 million) over the weekend.  I wouldn't have pegged this one at reaching ¥1 billion+ ($10 million+), but it looks possible.  

 

>Godzilla may fall out of the Top 10, with Pokemon XY taking the spot in its 7th week in release.  Pokemon has been holding much better throughout the week, but its losing quite a few showings this weekend and Godzilla still has a much higher avg. ticket price to give it an advantage.  

[JAPAN BOX OFFICE | Demon Slayer breaks all time record for OW]

Top Grossing Films - 2014

Gross ¥ ($) / Admissions [Days in Release] - Film (Distributor)

 

¥25.43 billion ($249.2 million) / 19.99 million [164] - Frozen (Disney) #3 All-Time

¥10 billion ↨

¥8.74 billion ($84.9 million) / 7.15 million [F] - The Eternal Zero (Toho) #47 All-Time

¥6.17 billion ($60.4 million) / 4.71 million [51] - Maleficent (Disney) #88 All-Time

¥5 billion ↨

¥4.58 billion ($44.9 million) / 3.45 million [17] - Stand By Me, Doraemon (Toho) #140 All-Time

¥4.43 billion ($43.5 million) / 3.46 million [F] - Thermae Romae II (Toho) #147 All-Tme

¥4.25 billion ($41.2 million) / 3.55 million [F] - Lupin III vs. Detective Conan (Toho)

¥4.09 billion ($40.1 million) / 3.29 million [F] - Detective Conan: The Sniper from Another Dimension (Toho)

¥3.79 billion ($36.9 million) / 2.93 million [24] - Rurouni Kenshin: The Great Kyoto Fire Arc (Warner Bros.)

¥3.58 billion ($35.1 million) / 3.27 million [F] - Doraemon: Nobita's Great Demon - Peko and the Exploration Party (Toho)

¥3.17 billion ($30.6 million) / 2.06 million [F] - Gravity (Warner Bros.)

¥3.10 billion ($30.3 million) / 2.04 million [F] - The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (Sony)

¥3 billion ↨

¥2.94 billion ($29.7 million) / 2.35 million [37] - Memories of Marnie (Toho)

¥2.85 billion ($27.9 million) / 1.99 million [31] - Godzilla (Toho)

¥2.53 billion ($24.7 million) / 2.34 million [37] - Pokemon XY: The Cocoon of Destruction & Diancie (Toho)

¥2.47 billion ($23.9 million) / 2.05 million [F] - The Tale of Princess Kaguya (Toho)

¥2.26 billion ($22.4 million) / 1.46 million [17] - Transformers: Age of Extinction (Paramount)

¥2.19 billion ($21.2 million) / 1.73 million [F] - The Mole Song: Undercover Agent Reiji (Toho)

¥2.15 billion ($20.7 million) / 1.69 million [F] - Partners the Movie 3 (Toei)

¥2 billion ↨

¥1.82 billion ($17.6 million) / 1.52 million [F] - Crayon Shin-chan: Serious Battle! Robot Dad Strikes (Toho)

¥1.80 billion ($17.4 million) / 1.39 million [F] - Trick: The Last Stage (Toho)

¥1.76 billion ($17.0 million) / 1.45 million [E] - The Liar and His Lover (Toho)

¥1.58 billion ($15.5 million) / 1.11 million [52] - Edge of Tomorrow (Paramount)

¥1.51 billion ($14.8 million) / 1.26 million [F] - I Want to Hold You (Toho)

¥1.45 billion ($14.1 million) / 1.17 million [E] - Mission Impossible: Samurai (Shochiku)

¥1.40 billion ($13.6 million) / 1.08 million [E] - The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (Warner Bros.)

¥1.35 billion ($13.0 million) / 1.10 million [F] - Noah (Paramount)

¥1.14 billion ($11.1 million) / 1.04 million [E] - The Little House (Shochiku)

¥1.14 billion ($11.0 million) / 0.95 million [F] - Planes (Disney)

¥1.14 billion ($11.0 million) / 0.85 million [F] - Crows: Explode (Toho)

¥1.10 billion ($10.8 million) / 0.85 million [E] - A Bolt from the Blue (Toho)

¥1.09 billion ($10.6 million) / 0.84 million [09] - Hot Road (Shochiku)

¥1.06 billion ($10.3 million) / 0.87 million [44] - Say, "I Love You" (Shochiku)

¥1.05 billion ($10.3 million) / 0.78 million [F] - X-Men: Days of Future Past (Fox)

¥1.02 billion ($9.9 million) / 0.85 million [E] - Kamen Rider X Kamen Rider Gaim & Wizard (Toei)

¥1.00 billion ($9.8 million) / 0.82 million [E] - Heisei Rider vs. Showa Rider: Kamen Rider Taisen feat. Super Sentai (Toei)

¥1.00 billion ($9.7 million) / 0.78 million [E] - The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (Fox)

¥1 billion ↑

 

[E] = End of Tracking

[F] = Final Estimate/Total Released

[JAPAN BOX OFFICE | Demon Slayer breaks all time record for OW]

[JAPAN BOX OFFICE | Demon Slayer breaks all time record for OW]

Didn't 'Pokemon: Mewtwo Strikes Back' top the mark as well ?

Oh yes, you're right!  It's the only other one, my bad.

[JAPAN BOX OFFICE | Demon Slayer breaks all time record for OW]

Also, if Stand By Me, Doraemon breaks ¥7 billion, it'll be the only non-Studio Ghibli, non-Disney/Pixar animated film to ever do so.  

[JAPAN BOX OFFICE | Demon Slayer breaks all time record for OW]

Weekend Ranking (08/23-24)

 

01 (01) Stand By Me, Doraemon (Toho) Week 3

02 (02) Hot Road (Shochiku) Week 2

03 (03) Rurouni Kenshin: The Great Kyoto Fire Arc (Warner Bros.) Week 4

04 (04) Transformers: Age of Extinction (Paramount) Week 3

05 (--) Into the Storm (Warner Bros.) DEBUT

06 (07) Memories of Marnie (Toho) Week 6

07 (05) Maleficent (Disney) Week 9

08 (06) Godzilla (Toho) Week 5

09 (08) Pokemon XY: The Cocoon of Destruction & Diancie (Toho) Week 6

10 (--) Over Your Dead Body (Toei) DEBUT 

 

>Stand By Me, Doraemon held strong in its third weekend.  It grossed ¥486,676,700 ($4.7 million) with 348,299 admissions, down just 31% in its post-Obon weekend.  After 17-days, it's earned a very impressive ¥4,580,302,400 ($44.9 million) with 3,446,629 admissions.  It, easily, became the highest-grossing Doraemon film ever over the weekend.

 

If all goes well when it hits September (its dailies are remaining very strong), it should be able to exceed ¥7 billion ($70 million) and 5 million admissions.  

 

>Hot Road maintained its second place position, taking in ¥232,656,100 ($2.2 million) with 176,750 admissions.  After 9-days, its earned ¥1,090,276,500 ($10.6 million) with 846,005 admissions.  Not a great second weekend, but it's good enough that reaching ¥2 billion ($20 million) should be doable.

 

>Into the Storm was the weekend's top opener, grossing ¥135,323,000 ($1.3 million) with 104,233 admissions on 371 screens.  Not bad, and shouldn't have a problem reaching ¥500 million ($5 million).

 

>Maleficent brings its 8-week total up to ¥6.17 billion ($60.4 million) and 4.7 million admissions.  It's really slowed down now that Obon is over and Summer is coming to an end, and doesn't look like it'll quite reach 5 million admissions.  

 

Regardless of that though, it has become the highest-grossing imported live-action film since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 3 years ago.  

 

>Over Your Dead Body rounded out the Top 10, debuting to a very poor ¥43,142,500 ($420,000) with 31,853 admissions on 194 screens.  While not expected to do any serious business, Toei continues to have major problems lately distributing live-action films.

[JAPAN BOX OFFICE | Demon Slayer breaks all time record for OW]

Weekend Estimates (08/23-24)

 

01 (01) ¥476 million ($4.6 million), -32%, ¥4.58 billion ($44.9 million), Stand By Me, Doraemon (Toho) Week 3

02 (03) ¥219 million ($2.1 million), -39%, ¥3.77 billion ($36.8 million), Rurouni Kenshin: The Great Kyoto Fire Arc (Warner Bros.) Week 4

03 (02) ¥218 million ($2.1 million), -46%, ¥1.07 billion ($10.4 million), Hot Road (Shochiku) Week 2

04 (04) ¥169 million ($1.6 million), -52%, ¥2.29 billion ($22.6 million), Transformers: Age of Extinction (Paramount) Week 3

05 (--) ¥125 million ($1.2 million), 0, ¥150 billion ($1.4 million), Into the Storm (Warner Bros.) DEBUT

06 (07) ¥90 million ($0.87 million), -45%, ¥2.93 billion ($28.7 million), Memories of Marnie (Toho) Week 6

07 (05) ¥89 million ($0.86 million), -49%, ¥6.15 billion ($60.2 million), Maleficent (Disney) Week 8

08 (06) ¥82 million ($0.79 million), -53%, ¥2.88 billion ($28.2 million), Godzilla (Toho) Week 5

09 (08) ¥73 million ($0.71 million), -38%, ¥2.52 billion ($24.7 million), Pokemon XY: The Cocoon of Destruction & Diancie (Toho) Week 6

 

 

>Stand By Me, Doraemon remains strong in the post-Obon Weekend and is on track to surpass Maleficent to become the #1 film this Summer.  It also become the highest-grossing Doraemon film of all-time over the weekend, easily beating the totals of all 34 annual films before it in just 3 weeks.  

 

>Transformers: Age of Extinction is suffering from post-Obon.  While its first week was impressive, opening just days before Obon (as well as New Year or Golden Week) can often lead to sharp declines for the remainder of a film's run.  Let's see if it can recover the same way The Amazing Spider-Man 2 did earlier this year by opening the weekend before Golden Week.

 

>Into the Storm had an alright debut.  I'd probably even call it a success for opening above ¥100 million ($1 million).  It should be able to reach about ¥600 million ($5/6 million) with this start. 

 

>Maleficent had a surprisingly bad hold this weekend.  It did have one of the better holds last weekend with Obon, so that may explain things, but it's still a little unusual to have drop near 50% based on its audience.  

 

>10th place is really open this weekend, so I'm going to leave it off.  I doubt it's New Initial D, and am leaning towards Over Your Dead Body since it's playing on a lot more screens despite ranking 11th at the usual locations.  There's also another Gundam film in very limited release that could make a play at 10th since its tickets were likely sky high.  We'll see tomorrow.

[JAPAN BOX OFFICE | Demon Slayer breaks all time record for OW]

Go Kenshin! Warner Bros. should release these films to a wide-scale international audience.  

[JAPAN BOX OFFICE | Demon Slayer breaks all time record for OW]

No, it doesn't work that way.  Frozen is about the equivalent of a $600 million film in the US. 

 

Here is a rough, revised equivalent chart:

 

Approx. Yen to Dollar Equivalent (Japan vs US)¥30.0 billion = $750 million¥25.0 billion = $600 million¥20.0 billion = $500 million¥17.5 billion = $475 million¥15.0 billion = $450 million¥12.5 billion = $400 million¥10.0 billion = $350 million¥9.0 billion = $325 million¥8.0 billion = $300 million¥7.0 billion = $275 million¥6.0 billion = $250 million¥5.0 billion = $225 million¥4.0 billion = $200 million¥3.0 billion = $150 million¥2.5 billion = $125 million¥2.0 billion = $100 million¥1.5 billion = $75 million¥1.0 billion = $50 million

[JAPAN BOX OFFICE | Demon Slayer breaks all time record for OW]

Looks like the entire top 10 will be doing ¥4+ billion this year. A great increase compared to 2013 where the 10th movie did ¥3.20 billion.

Maybe.  There'll be at least 8, most likely 9 (the next Rurouni Kenshin).  I don't think Marnie is going to reach the mark, and 4 billion is always a difficult mark to reach for most films, so we'll see how the latter releases in the year do.

 

Here is my projected Top 10:

 

Projected Top 10 of 2014 (Dec.-Dec.)

 

01. ¥25.5 billion ($250 million) - Frozen (Disney)

02. ¥8.74 billion ($84.9 million) - The Eternal Zero (Toho)

03. ¥6.50-8.00 billion ($63-78 million) - Stand By Me, Doraemon (Toho)

04. ¥6.60-6.80 billion ($64-66 million) - Maleficent (Disney)

05. ¥4.40-4.60 billion ($43-45 million) - Rurouni Kenshin: The Great Kyoto Fire Arc (Warner Bros.)

06. ¥4.43 billion ($43.5 million) - Thermae Romae II (Toho)

07. ¥4.25 billion ($41.2 million) - Lupin III vs Detective Conan (Toho)

08. ¥4.09 billion ($40.1 million) - Detective Conan: The Sniper from Another Dimension (Toho)

09. ¥3.70-4.00 billion ($36-39 million) - Memories of Marnie (Toho)

10. ¥3.58 billion ($35.1 million) - Doraemon: Nobita's Great Demon - Peko and the Exploration Party (Toho) 

 

Stand By Me, Doraemon's range is quite wide because it's still pretty new, and with it appealing to an audience much broader outside the normal Doraemon film, it's hard to predict what will happen to it at the end of the month.  Children/family films usually fall apart when September begins, but it's appealing to a much broader audience.  Maleficent, Rurouni Kenshin 2, and Marnie are unlikely to land outside of their ranges, and other notable films in release (Godzilla, Transformers 4, and Pokemon XY) don't have enough left to make a run at the Top 10 for the year.  

 

Remaining 2014 Top 10 (¥3.5/4 billion+) Contenders:

Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends (Warner Bros.) [09/13]

Interstellar (Warner Bros.) [11/22]

Parasyte Part 1 (Toho) [11/29]

 

Director Takashi Yamazaki could have 3 films in the Top 10 (The Eternal Zero, Stand By Me, Doraemon, and possibly Patasyte Part 1).  I don't think any director has ever accomplished this feat.

 

If 2014 can manage 10 films above ¥4 billion (locked for 8, 9/10 is possible), it'll be the first time the Top 10 have all been above the mark since 2010, and then 2007 before that.  Think of ¥4 billion as about the $225 million equivalent release in the US. 

[JAPAN BOX OFFICE | Demon Slayer breaks all time record for OW]

So maleficent took only 3 million the entire week? Corpse, do you think that next week drops will be biggers?

Its run is coming to an end soon.  It should finish around 6.6/6.7 billion ($64/65 million). 

[JAPAN BOX OFFICE | Demon Slayer breaks all time record for OW]

Edits

[JAPAN BOX OFFICE | Demon Slayer breaks all time record for OW]

Toho, Movix, 109, Kinezo Cinema Chains' Saturday Admissions (08/23)

 

51,793 (-44%) - Stand By Me, Doraemon (Toho) Week 3

26,632 (-55%) - Hot Road (Shochiku) Week 2

24,767 (-49%) - Rurouni Kenshin: The Great Kyoto Fire Arc (Warner Bros) Week 4

17,889 (-58%) - Transformers: Age of Extinction (Paramount) Week 3

17,039 (--) - Into the Storm (Warner Bros.) NEW

10,980 (-58%) - Maleficent (Disney) Week 8

10,975 (-53%) - Memories of Marnie (Toho) Week 6

9,696 (-61%) - Godzilla (Toho) Week 5

7,060 (--) - New Initial D the Movie: Legend 1 - The Awakening (Avex Entertainment) NEW

6,888 (-52%) - Pokemon XY: The Cocoon of Destruction & Diancie

 

Rough drops from last Saturday, but last Saturday was also stronger than last Sunday meaning it was still receiving some of that Obon crowd boost.  Tomorrow should improve all of these drops by 5/10% for the weekend.

 

Not bad for Into the Storm.  Japan could be its best market overseas pending a China release.  

 

New Initial D probably isn't in the Top 10 when all the other chains are factored in, and even if it is, it'll fall out tomorrow and for the weekend itself.  It's still impressive to have shown up here, though, on just 30 screens.