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Scarlet Anime Film Crosses US$626,800 in U.S. Box Office

Box Office Mojo reported that Mamoru Hosoda and Studio Chizu's new anime film Scarlet (Hateshi naki Scarlet in Japanese, literally "Scarlet Without Limits") reached US$626,864 after its third weekend in the United States. The film earned US$936 last Friday, US$2,195 on Saturday, and US$2,064 on Sunday.

According to Box Office Mojo, the film has earned US$2,086,389 worldwide.

The film earned US$260,000 at the United States box office in its first weekend. Scarlet screened in 160 theaters and earned US$75,000 on Friday, US$63,000 on Saturday, and US$27,000 on Sunday. The film earned US$329,157 worldwide in its first three days. 

The film was previously slated to open in the United States on December 12, but its wide release was delayed to February 6 in North America. The film did start an awards-qualifying run in select IMAX theaters in North America on December 12.

Scarlet opened in Japan on November 21 in both regular theaters and those with IMAX screens. The film ranked at #3 in its opening weekend.

The 82nd Venice International Film Festival screened the world premiere with five screenings on September 4-5. The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) screened the North American premiere at the 50th annual event as a Special Presentation, with four screenings on September 10-12. The New York Film Festival presented the film with two screenings on October 7-8. October 17-19's Animation is Film Festival showed the film in competition in Los Angeles. 

Sony Pictures describes the film:

From visionary Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda (MIRAI) comes a powerful, time-bending animated adventure about SCARLET, a medieval-era, sword fighting princess on a dangerous quest to avenge the death of her father. After failing at her mission and finding herself gravely injured in the Otherworld that exists somewhere between life and death, she encounters an idealistic young man from our present day who not only helps her to heal but shows her the possibility of a future free of bitterness and rage. When confronted again by her father's killer, Scarlet faces her most daunting battle: can she break the cycle of hatred and find meaning in life beyond revenge?

Mana Ashida stars as the princess Scarlet and Masaki Okada as Hijiri, a nurse from modern Japan.

This is Miyano's third role in a Hosoda work after The Boy and The Beast and BELLE, and Tsuda's second after BELLE. These are also Hazama and Furukawa's first-ever roles in a Hosoda work. 

Many of these characters share the same names as characters in William Shakespeare's tragedy play Hamlet.

Hosoda directed the film and writing the screenplay, and is also credited for the original work. Hosoda stated the film is not 2D animation or "Hollywood-style CG," and he is aiming for a completely new look. Hosoda also stated the film will have a different feel to his past works, and will also have action and romance elements. He added that the film is based on a "global classic."

Ashida (voice of Scarlet) performs the theme song "Hateshi naki" (Without Limits) with lyrics by Hosoda. Maya & Ayumu Matsuda of Rikon Densetsu perform the song "Shukusai no Uta" (Festival Song).

Source: Box Office Mojo