The First Slam Dunk Archives

Animated Features Lift Japanese Box Office To New Post-Pandemic Heights

Japanese box office numbers rose from 2022 to 2023, although there is still a long way to go before the country hits its pre-pandemic figures.

With so many quality qualified films in this year’s animated feature race, voters will have a tough time picking the five best.

Makoto Shinkai’s ‘Suzume’ and Takehiko Inoue’s ‘The First Slam Dunk’ both passed major milestones over the weekend as well.

Adapted by Takehiko Inoue from his classic 1990s manga, the film has already grossed $232.9 million from just six territories.

‘The First Slam Dunk’ finished another week in the global top ten and ‘Suzume’ nears $10 million in the U.S.

‘Mario’ posted a historic third weekend domestically while ‘The First Slam Dunk’ dominated in China.

‘The First Slam Dunk’ topped the Chinese box office on Thursday with a $13.93 million first day.

The company pulled in nearly a quarter-billion dollars at the Japanese box office, surpassing its previous record set in 2009.

Despite the largest theatrical release in Japanese history, ‘Avatar’ sold fewer tickets than either film.