Japan’s weekend box‑office chart saw a surprise shift on October 14, with the newly released Chiikawa: The Secret of Mermaid Island climbing from fourth to the top position. The film, based on Eiga Chiikawa: Ningyo no Shima no Himitsu, sold 375,000 tickets and generated ¥562,647,900 (≈US$3.56 million) from Friday to Sunday, pushing it to #1 for its 12th weekend.
Since its July 24 debut, the movie has amassed a total of 12.29 million admissions and ¥17,807,643,600 (≈US$112 million) in cumulative earnings, making it the highest‑grossing Japanese release of the year and ranking 12th on the all‑time Japanese box‑office list. The opening weekend alone brought in ¥990 million (≈US$6.05 million) and 1.51 million tickets, according to the official site chiikawa.toho-movie.jp. Director Kei Oikawa—known for Uma Musume Pretty Derby and My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU—helmed the project under the supervision of original creator Nagano. Production was managed by QTORY inc. and distribution handled by TOHO.
In the same weekend, the long‑awaited live‑action reboot of Capcom’s Resident Evil franchise secured the #2 spot, selling 356,000 tickets and earning ¥626,567,150 (≈US$3.97 million) over its first three days. The film’s four‑day total rose to ¥813 million (≈US$5.15 million) after a national holiday on Monday, October 12. The movie opened in Japan on October 9 and had already taken the U.S. box office by storm, debuting on September 18 and topping the American weekend chart with roughly US$60 million.
Directed by Zach Cregger—who previously worked on Barbarian—the film stars Austin Abrams as Bryan, alongside Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser. For readers looking for more background on the reboot, see our earlier piece Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil Reboot Film Shares First Clip. Official details are posted on the Resident Evil movie site, while Capcom’s corporate profile can be found on ANew’s Capcom page.
Rounding out the top five, the fifth installment of the six‑part Girls und Panzer das Finale series entered the chart at #5, pulling in ¥267,301,400 (≈US$1.69 million) in its opening three days. The film, which continues the story after Ōarai Girls High School’s semi‑final victory in the Winter Continuous Track Cup, showcases a new showdown against St. Gloriana Girls’ College. This release marks the series’ first appearance in Dolby Cinema, alongside Dolby Atmos, 4DX, and MX4D formats.
Other anime releases saw modest movements: the 23rd mainline Precure film, Detective Precure! The Movie: The Mysterious Garden and the Secret of 2 People, slipped from #5 to #9 in its fourth weekend, earning ¥446 million (≈US$2.82 million) in its opening three days. Directed by Hanako Ueda, the film features voice talents Akari Kitō and Nobunaga Shimazaki.
Meanwhile, the sequel to Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Walpurgisnacht: Rising, fell from #7 to #10 in its seventh weekend, adding ¥75,584,180 (≈US$479,200) to its total. The movie opened on August 28 with IMAX screenings, drawing 535,000 tickets and ¥939,647,100 (≈US$5.95 million) in its first three days. Long‑time staff from the original series, including director Yukihiro Miyamoto and composer Yuki Kajiura, returned for this installment.
These results illustrate a diverse Japanese market where both original manga adaptations and Hollywood‑originated franchises can thrive side by side. With Chiikawa leading the pack, the anime‑film sector continues to demonstrate strong domestic appeal, while the Resident Evil reboot underscores the enduring pull of globally recognized video‑game properties.
Featured image: ©ナガノ / 2026「映画ちいかわ」製作委員会
Source: Anime News Network