Cells at Work! Film Earns 581 Million Yen, Leads Box Office for Third Week
Discover how the Cells at Work! live-action adaptation dominates Japan’s box office, earning 2.7 billion yen in just 16 days.
The live-action adaptation of Akane Shimizu’s acclaimed manga series Cells at Work! continues to reign at the Japanese box office, securing the top spot for three consecutive weekends. From December 27-29, the film grossed an impressive 581 million yen (approximately 3.71 million USD), bringing its total earnings to 2.7 billion yen (17.2 million USD) after just 16 days in theaters.
A Steady Climb Amid New Year’s Celebrations
The third weekend gross marked a 9.2% increase from the previous weekend, likely fueled by Japan’s New Year’s vacation season, which began on December 28. This festive period, spanning up to nine days depending on business practices, contributed to an influx of moviegoers. The film has now surpassed the earnings of Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Our Dinosaur Diary to become the 10th highest-grossing Japanese film of 2024, including both live-action and anime.
Other Box Office Highlights
Gekijouban Nintama Rantaro Dokutake Ninja-tai Saikyou no Gunshi, the first feature film in 13 years for the Nintama Rantaro anime series, retained its fourth-place position. Based on Kazuhisa Sakaguchi’s spin-off novel, the movie continues to attract loyal fans.
Saint☆Oniisan THE MOVIE ~Holy Men VS Akuma Gundan, a live-action adaptation of Hikaru Nakamura’s slice-of-life comedy Saint Young Men, held steady at sixth place for the second week.
The live-action adaptation of Reiko Hiroshima’s Fushigi Dagashiya Zenitendo climbed one spot to rank seventh in its third weekend.
Oshi no Ko -The Final Act-, the cinematic sequel to the web drama series, dropped to eighth place in its second week.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Struggles to Match Predecessors
The much-anticipated Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which opened on December 27 under the Japanese title Sonic X Shadow TOKYO MISSION, debuted at ninth place. While it performed slightly better than its predecessor’s Japanese release in 2022, the film’s debut falls short of the first installment’s June 2020 success.
Anime and Franchise Films Face Challenges
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, an anime adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s universe, directed by Kenji Kamiyama, failed to break into Japan’s Top 10 despite debuting in 333 theaters.
Inazuma Eleven the Movie 2025, featuring a dual storyline centered on the Football Frontier Arc and the prologue to Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road, also missed the Top 10 during its opening weekend.
A Strong Close to 2024
As Japan’s box office landscape continues to evolve, Cells at Work! remains a standout, appealing to fans of both manga and live-action adaptations. Its enduring popularity highlights the potential of well-executed adaptations to transcend formats and attract broad audiences. With its remarkable box office performance, the film is poised to cement its place among the year’s top cinematic successes.
(Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available box office data and reports from Kogyo Tsushinsha.)
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