Interest
Fans Pick the Best Live-Action Film Adaptations of 2018
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
The decision to adapt an anime or manga into a live-action film is met with both excitement and skepticism in the fan community. News of Hollywood's take on beloved properties like Attack on Titan and My Hero Academia have garnered their share of both, but that doesn't mean live-action films are always panned.
The website "Ranking!" held its own poll to see what its Japanese readers think is the most successful live-action adaptation of the year. 7,880 readers responded and ultimately chose Chihayafuru: Musubi, the third live-action film of Yuki Suetsugu's Chihayafuru manga, as the top choice. The film ranked #3 during its opening weekend in March. The film takes place two years after the first two films, and depicts Chihaya, Taichi, and Arata in their third year of high school.
This year's second live-action Gintama film came in second place. Gintama 2: Okite wa Yaburu Tame ni Koso Aru is based on Hideaki Sorachi's Gintama manga and earned more than 3 billion yen (about US$26.77 million) during its box office run.
The film's story covers both the "Shinsengumi Crisis" and the "Shogun Reception" arcs, the latter of which features the introduction of the Shogun. The film stars Shun Oguri as Gintoki Sakata, Masaki Suda as Shinpachi Shimura, Kanna Hashimoto as Kagura, Masami Nagasawaas Tae Shimura, and Masaki Okada as Kotarō Katsura.
Rounding out the top three is the live-action adaptation of Gantz creator Hiroya Oku's Inuyashiki manga. The sci-fi film opened at #5 at the box office in its opening weekend. The story follows Ichiro Inuyashiki, a dying elderly man who gets a new lease on life when his body "upgraded" after an accident.
The complete top 10 list is below.
The 'Most Successful' Live-Action Adaptations of 2018
- Chihayafuru: Musubi
- Gintama 2: Okite wa Yaburu Tame ni Koso Aru
- Inuyashiki
- Marmalade Boy
- Saint Young Men
- My Little Monster
- Koi wa Ameagari no You ni
- Impossibility Defense
- Principal Koisuru Watashi wa Heroine desu ka?
- Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A
