The latest success of the "Demon Slayer" film franchise in Japan has reshaped the country's all-time highest-grossing film list, notably leading to the complete absence of Japanese live-action movies from the top ten. This significant shift was highlighted by journalist Gearoid Reidy, who noted the "Demon Slayer" movie's ascent pushed out the 1998 hit "Bayside Shakedown," a long-standing fixture in the top ranks. The current landscape underscores a growing trend of animated and foreign productions dominating the Japanese box office.
"Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train," released in 2020, stands as the highest-grossing film of all time in Japan, with over ¥40.43 billion (approximately US$376.8 million). Its monumental success, alongside other popular anime films like "Spirited Away" and "Your Name.," has solidified animation's strong hold on the domestic market. This consistent performance from the anime genre has progressively altered the historical composition of Japan's most successful films.
The displacement of "Bayside Shakedown" marks a symbolic moment in Japanese cinema. The 1998 film, based on a popular television series, was a cultural phenomenon and held the record for the highest-grossing Japanese live-action film for many years, grossing ¥10.1 billion. Its departure from the top ten signifies the immense commercial power of recent animated blockbusters and major international releases.
According to Reidy's tweet, the revised top ten list now contains "zero live-action Japanese movies." The list predominantly features animated Japanese films and a select few foreign live-action productions. Reidy further observed that "Only two live-action movies remain: Titanic and the first Harry Potter," illustrating the near-total dominance of animation and foreign blockbusters in Japan's most lucrative film category.
This evolving landscape reflects broader industry trends where globally appealing anime franchises and major Hollywood productions increasingly capture the largest audience shares. While Japanese live-action cinema continues to thrive creatively, the box office charts indicate a clear preference among the mass audience for animated spectacles and established international franchises, posing a challenge for domestic live-action films to reach the same commercial heights.