Japan’s film industry is showing signs of recovery from the pandemic’s impact, with annual box office revenues reaching 222,182 million yen in 2023, marking a 3.9% increase from the previous year. This growth, reported by Eiren, the organization representing major film companies Shochiku, Toho, Toei, and KADOKAWA, signals a third consecutive year of gains, although the figures still fall short of the pre-pandemic peak in 2019.
The increase in revenues can be partly attributed to a rise in ticket prices, which reached a record high average of 1,424 yen in 2023. Attendance also grew by 2.3% to 155.53 million, yet it remains 20% below the 2019 levels, highlighting an industry not yet fully recovered.
A closer look at the figures reveals a divide in performance between Japanese and Western films. Japanese movies saw a modest increase, with box office earnings of 148,181 million yen, nearly matching the record high of 2016. However, foreign films experienced a slump, earning 73.3 billion yen, well below the 100 billion yen mark achieved between 2017 and 2019. Despite releasing fewer films, Japanese cinema captured a significant share of the market, with anime films leading the charge.
Anime continues to be a powerhouse for the Japanese box office, with 12 films grossing over 1 billion yen each and contributing to 40% of the total revenue for Japanese movies. Hits like “THE FIRST SLAM DUNK,” “Detective Conan: The Black Iron Fish Shadow,” and “How Are You Living?” topped the charts, demonstrating the genre’s enduring appeal and significant impact on the industry’s success.
In contrast, foreign films faced challenges, with “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” standing out as the exception, earning 14 billion yen and dominating the foreign film category. Despite this, the overall performance of Western films has been lackluster, with only a handful surpassing the 1 billion yen milestone.
As the Japanese film industry navigates post-pandemic recovery, the stark contrast between the robust performance of domestic films, particularly anime, and the struggles of foreign titles underscores the evolving dynamics of cinema in Japan. With Japanese films almost returning to their peak performance and anime leading the way, the industry’s future appears promising, albeit with challenges in fully regaining its pre-pandemic stature.
