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Rurouni Kenshin The Final Rises to #1 as Demon Slayer Film Drops Off Top 10

Rurouni Kenshin Saishūshō The Final, the first of two "final chapter" films in the live-action film series based on Nobuhiro Watsuki's Rurouni Kenshin manga, rose from #4 to #1 in its sixth weekend. The film earned 113,985,560 yen (about US$1.04 million) from Friday to Sunday. The film has earned a cumulative total of 3,174,456,060 yen (about US$29.01 million).

The film ranked at #2 and earned 745 million yen (about US$6.9 million) in its opening weekend.

The film opened in Japan on April 23. Rurouni Kenshin Saishūshō The Beginning, the second film, will open on June 4.

The films were originally slated to open on July 3 and August 7 last year, but were delayed to this year due the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Rurouni Kenshin Saishūshō The Final has an original story that differs from the story in the manga. The film centers on the story from the manga's "Jinchū" arc, which features Kenshin's conflict with the mysterious weapons dealer Enishi. Rurouni Kenshin Saishūshō The Beginning will tell the story of how Kenshin got his cross-shaped scar. Kasumi Arimura will play the character Tomoe Yukishiro in the films. Tomoe was Kenshin's wife during his days as the assassin Battōsai, and her story ties into Kenshin's iconic X-shaped scar. Kenshin and Tomoe's relationship was previously portrayed in the Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal original video anime (OVA) project.

Keishi Ōtomo is returning to direct the films. The rock band ONE OK ROCK returns to perform the theme song "Renegade" for the films.

The Detective Conan: The Scarlet Bullet (Meitantei Conan: Hiiro no Dangan) film rose from #5 to #4 in its seventh weekend. It earned 85,531,550 yen (about US$781,700) from Friday to Sunday, and has earned a cumulative total of 6,587,579,700 yen (about US$60.21 million).

The film sold 1,533,054 tickets and earned 2,218,130,800 yen (about US$20.5 million) in its first three days to rank #1 in the Japanese box office in its opening weekend.

Detective Conan: The Scarlet Bullet is the 24th film in the franchise. The film was slated to open on April 17 last year, but was delayed from its original date due to concerns about the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The film opened in Japan on April 16. The film also had a simultaneous release in 22 countries and territories outside of Japan: Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, Thailand, Vietnam, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and France.

Tomoka Nagaoka (Detective Conan: Fist of Blue Sapphire) directed the film, and Takeharu Sakurai (Detective Conan: Zero the Enforcer) wrote the script. Katsuo Ono returned to compose the music. Rock band Tokyo Jihen performed the theme song "Eien no Fuzaishōmei" (The Eternal Alibi).

Evangelion: 3.0+1.0: Thrice Upon A Time (Shin Evangelion Gekijō-ban :||), the "final" Evangelion film, dropped from #6 to #8 in its 12th weekend. The film earned 27,287,900 yen (about US$249,400) from Friday to Sunday. It has earned a cumulative total of 8,605,093,500 yen (about US$78.65million).

In its third week, the film surpassed the domestic earnings of Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, which earned a total of 5.3 billion yen. The new film is now the highest-earning film in the series domestically and internationally.

The film ranked #1 in its opening weekend. The film sold 2,194,533 tickets for 3,338,422,400 yen (about US$30.6 million) in its first seven days in 466 theaters in Japan. The film sold 33.6% more tickets for 45.1% more yen than the previous Evangelion film during their respective first seven days. The film earned the equivalent of US$3.4 million in 38 IMAX theaters during its first seven days— the second-highest opening week for IMAX screenings of a domestic title in Japan, behind only last year's Demon Slayer – Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train. Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 also played in 82 theaters equipped for 4D screenings.

The staff had delayed the film from January 23 to March 8, after careful consideration due to the new state of emergency declared in four prefectures in Japan on January 8, and then extended to a total of 11 prefectures. The film had an earlier delay due to concerns over COVID-19 and its spread inside and outside of Japan. The film was originally scheduled to open in Japan on June 27, 2020.

Paladin: Agateram, the second film in the Fate/Grand Order The Movie Divine Realm of the Round Table: Camelot (Fate/Grand Order Shinsei Entaku Ryōiki Camelot) film project, dropped from #7 to #10 in its third weekend. The film earned 17,107,900 yen (about US$156,300) from Friday to Sunday, and has earned a cumulative total of 157,699,400 yen (about US$1.44 million).

The film ranked at #5 in its opening weekend.

The film was slated to open on May 8, but was delayed by one week for a May 15 opening due to COVID-19 and the state of emergency declared in four prefectures.

The first film, Wandering: Agateram, opened on December 5. The first film had been delayed from its August 15 opening, due to the effects of COVID-19 on its production.

The two Fate/Grand Order The Movie Divine Realm of the Round Table: Camelot films, Wandering: Agateram and Paladin: Agateram, adapt the "Dai Roku Tokuiten Shinsei Entaku Ryōiki: Camelot" (Order VI: The Sacred Round Table Realm: Camelot) story from the game.

Kazuto Arai (FLCL Progressive) directed the second film at Production I.G. Takashi Takeuchi (Fate anime franchise) was the lead character designer, while Mieko Hosoi (Aiura, Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū, Grimgar, Ashes and Illusions) adapted those designs for animation. Film composers included Keita Haga (Fate/stay night theme song lyrics) and Hideyuki Fukasawa (Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works).

The Demon Slayer – Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train anime dropped off the top 10 for the first time in its 33rd weekend, but still earned 16,708,150 yen (about US$152,700) from Friday to Sunday, and has earned a cumulative total of 40,059,064,900 yen (about US$366.09 million).

Sources: Kōgyō Tsūshin, Eiga.com, comScore via KOFIC