by Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgisnacht Rising has officially surpassed 2.1 billion yen at the Japanese box office, setting a new record for the highest-grossing film in the Madoka Magica franchise. The achievement comes more than a decade after the release of Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion, which had previously held the series record.
According to the latest reported figures, Walpurgisnacht Rising had attracted 1,262,137 moviegoers and earned 2,102,605,880 yen in Japan through September 23, 2026, after 27 days in theaters. This places the new film ahead of Rebellion, which finished its theatrical run in 2013 with approximately 2.08 billion yen in domestic box-office revenue.
The milestone is particularly significant because Walpurgisnacht Rising is not a remake or a compilation film. It is a completely new theatrical installment and a direct continuation of the story presented in Rebellion. The movie brings back the creative team behind the original franchise while introducing new developments, characters, and mysteries.
‘Walpurgisnacht Rising’ Breaks the Previous Series Record
Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgisnacht Rising opened in Japanese theaters on August 28, 2026. The film immediately attracted strong audience interest, opening at No. 1 on its first weekend and continuing to perform strongly during its early weeks.
The movie crossed the 1 billion yen mark only four days after its release. Between August 28 and August 31, it recorded 583,638 admissions and approximately 1.018 billion yen in box-office revenue. For comparison, Rebellion took 13 days to reach the 1 billion yen milestone in 2013.
The film later passed 1 million admissions, and by its 27th day in theaters, it had exceeded 2.1 billion yen. With that achievement, Walpurgisnacht Rising has now become the biggest theatrical release in the Madoka Magica franchise based on Japanese box-office revenue.
This also means that the franchise’s previous record holder, Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion, has finally been surpassed after roughly 13 years.
A Long-Awaited Sequel to ‘Rebellion’
One of the biggest reasons Walpurgisnacht Rising has attracted so much attention is its position within the franchise’s story.
The original Puella Magi Madoka Magica television anime premiered in 2011 and quickly became known for combining cute character designs with a much darker and more dramatic story. The franchise follows Madoka Kaname and other magical girls who enter into contracts that grant them wishes but also expose them to dangerous consequences.
The story was later re-edited into two theatrical compilation films, Beginnings and Eternal, before the completely original movie Rebellion was released in 2013.
Walpurgisnacht Rising continues directly from the events of Rebellion. The official movie site describes it as the legitimate sequel to Rebellion and the beginning of a new chapter for the franchise.
Because of that, the new movie is especially important for longtime fans who have been waiting years to discover what happens next to Madoka, Homura, and the other magical girls.
Homura and Madoka Remain at the Center of the Story
At the heart of the Madoka Magica story is the complicated relationship between Madoka Kaname and Homura Akemi.
The events of Rebellion dramatically changed the balance of the franchise’s world, leaving viewers with major questions about Homura’s choices and the future of the magical girls.
Rather than starting over, Walpurgisnacht Rising builds on those events and continues the story from that point. This makes the film especially important for fans who have followed the franchise since the original 2011 television series.
The film once again features familiar characters including Madoka, Homura, Sayaka Miki, Kyoko Sakura, Mami Tomoe, Nagisa Momoe, and Kyubey. The cast also includes newer characters introduced as part of the film’s expanded story.
The Original Creative Team Returns
Another major attraction is the return of the core creative team.
Akiyuki Shinbo serves as chief director, while Gen Urobuchi of Nitroplus handles the screenplay. Ume Aoki returns as the original character designer, and Yukihiro Miyamoto serves as director. Animation production is handled by SHAFT, the studio responsible for the distinctive visual style of the franchise.
The film also features music by acclaimed composer Yuki Kajiura, whose dramatic soundtrack has become an important part of the Madoka Magica experience.
The combination of Shinbo, Urobuchi, Aoki, Kajiura, and SHAFT has helped maintain the visual and creative identity associated with the franchise while allowing the new movie to explore a new chapter.
Strong Box-Office Performance From the Opening Weekend
The movie’s impressive performance began immediately after its release.
Walpurgisnacht Rising opened on August 28 and quickly established itself as one of the major anime movies of the summer. Its first-weekend performance placed it at the top of the Japanese weekend box-office rankings.
The film’s rapid progress was particularly notable when compared with Rebellion. Although Rebellion eventually became a major success and crossed the 2 billion yen mark, the new movie reached several milestones considerably faster.
By September 23, the film had attracted more than 1.26 million people and generated over 2.1 billion yen in revenue.
For a franchise whose television series first aired in 2011, the continued audience interest demonstrates how strongly Madoka Magica has remained connected with its fanbase.
New Characters and More Mysteries
The film has also generated considerable discussion because of its new characters and mysterious story elements.
One of the characters highlighted in promotional material is the Nameless High School Girl, also referred to as Was, who is voiced by Maaya Sakamoto. Promotional material released in September introduced the character while deliberately keeping many details about her identity and role mysterious.
The introduction of new characters has added another layer of mystery to the film, encouraging fans to examine promotional videos, visuals, dialogue, and individual scenes for clues about the direction of the story.
As with previous Madoka Magica installments, the film has generated extensive online discussion and theories surrounding its characters and world.
Dolby Cinema, 4DX and MX4D Screenings Expand the Experience.
The theatrical run has continued to receive additional support through premium-format screenings.
Dolby Cinema screenings began on September 18, giving audiences another way to experience the film’s distinctive visuals and sound design.
In addition, 4DX and MX4D screenings are scheduled to begin on October 3, 2026, allowing audiences to experience the movie with motion effects and other theater features. The date is also significant because October 3 is Madoka Kaname’s birthday.
The continued expansion into premium formats comes as the movie remains in theaters and has already broken the franchise’s previous box-office record.
New Theater Bonus for the Fifth Week
The movie’s theatrical campaign is also continuing with special audience bonuses.
From September 26 through October 2, theaters are distributing an original postcard illustrated by SHAFT as a fifth-week visitor bonus, while supplies last. The design cannot be selected by viewers.
These limited theater bonuses are a familiar promotional strategy for anime films in Japan and can encourage fans to return to theaters for additional screenings.
For Madoka Magica, the continued rollout of new bonuses and premium screenings has helped maintain attention around the movie several weeks after its initial release.
A New Chapter for a 15-Year-Old Franchise
The success of Walpurgisnacht Rising is particularly notable when viewed in the context of the franchise’s history.
The original Madoka Magica television anime debuted in 2011, meaning the franchise is now roughly 15 years old. Rebellion followed in 2013, and fans have spent more than a decade waiting for the next major theatrical continuation.
The official movie website describes Walpurgisnacht Rising as both a direct sequel to Rebellion and the beginning of a new chapter.
Despite the long gap between the films, the new installment has attracted more than 1.26 million moviegoers in Japan and has surpassed the box-office total of its predecessor.
That makes the film’s performance an important milestone for both the Madoka Magica franchise and the anime movie market.
What Makes ‘Madoka Magica’ So Popular?
For viewers unfamiliar with the series, Madoka Magica may initially look like a traditional magical-girl anime. However, the story gradually introduces darker themes, complex character relationships, psychological conflict, and unexpected twists.
The franchise is known for combining contrasting elements: cute character designs, emotional storytelling, suspense, fantasy, and experimental visuals.
SHAFT’s animation style also plays an important role. The series uses unusual backgrounds, surreal imagery, dramatic camera angles, and distinctive visual compositions to create an atmosphere that feels different from many other anime productions.
The combination of these elements has helped the franchise maintain its identity for more than a decade.
What Happens Next for ‘Walpurgisnacht Rising’?
With the movie now having surpassed 2.1 billion yen in Japanese box-office revenue, attention is turning toward its continued theatrical run and international release schedule.
The film is scheduled for release in several international markets during late 2026. For example, releases have been announced for regions including Hong Kong, Latin America, Germany, Italy, France, and Thailand, with dates varying by territory.
As more audiences get the opportunity to see the film, discussion surrounding its story, characters, and ending is expected to continue.
For longtime fans, the biggest question is no longer whether Madoka Magica still has an audience. The new box-office record has already demonstrated the franchise’s continued theatrical strength.
‘Walpurgisnacht Rising’ Basic Information
Title: Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgisnacht Rising
Japanese Title: Gekijōban Mahō Shōjo Madoka☆Magica: Walpurgis no Kaiten
Release Date in Japan: August 28, 2026
Animation Production: SHAFT
Chief Director: Akiyuki Shinbo
Director: Yukihiro Miyamoto
Screenplay: Gen Urobuchi (Nitroplus)
Original Character Design: Ume Aoki
Music: Yuki Kajiura
Theme Song: “Kanata” by FictionJunction
Main Cast
- Madoka Kaname: Aoi Yuki
- Homura Akemi: Chiwa Saito
- Sayaka Miki: Eri Kitamura
- Kyoko Sakura: Ai Nonaka
- Mami Tomoe: Kaori Mizuhashi
- Nagisa Momoe: Kana Asumi
- Kyubey: Emiri Kato
- Shichika: Shion Wakayama
- Selma Therese: Tomoyo Kurosawa
- Nameless High School Girl / Was: Maaya Sakamoto
Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgisnacht Rising has achieved a major milestone by surpassing 2.1 billion yen in Japanese box-office revenue, overtaking Rebellion to become the highest-grossing film in the Madoka Magica franchise. As of September 23, the film had attracted 1,262,137 viewers and earned 2,102,605,880 yen after 27 days in theaters.
The achievement comes more than a decade after Rebellion and around 15 years after the original television anime began. With Dolby Cinema screenings already underway, a new theater bonus available from September 26, and 4DX and MX4D screenings scheduled for October 3, the film’s theatrical campaign is continuing to expand.
For longtime viewers, the movie represents the return of a beloved story. For newcomers, it offers an opportunity to discover one of anime’s most distinctive magical-girl franchises—but watching the earlier Madoka Magica entries first is recommended because Walpurgisnacht Rising directly follows Rebellion.
With its new box-office record and continued theatrical events, Walpurgisnacht Rising has become one of the major anime movie stories of 2026.
