by “Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgis Night” opens at the top of Japan’s box office, while “Sometimes, Confession” and “Last Survivor” also enter the weekend rankings.
The latest nationwide Japanese box office rankings have been released, covering the three days from August 28 to August 30, 2026, according to figures compiled by Kogyo Tsushinsha.
The biggest news of the weekend was the impressive debut of “Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgis Night”, which opened at No. 1.
The highly anticipated theatrical installment attracted approximately 535,000 moviegoers during its first three days and earned around ¥940 million at the Japanese box office.
The strong opening demonstrates that interest in the “Madoka Magica” franchise remains extremely high more than a decade after the original television anime first became a major phenomenon.
“Madoka Magica” Takes the Top Spot
“Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgis Night” is the fourth theatrical film connected to the popular “Puella Magi Madoka Magica” anime franchise.
The original TV anime aired in 2011 and quickly became one of the most influential magical-girl anime of its era. Although the series initially appears to follow the familiar formula of magical girls fighting supernatural enemies, it gradually develops into a much darker and more complicated story involving sacrifice, fate, friendship, and the consequences of making wishes.
The new movie brings together many of the key creators and voice actors associated with the franchise.
Akiyuki Shinbo returns as general director, while Gen Urobuchi is responsible for the screenplay and Ume Aoki provides the original character designs.
The returning voice cast includes Aoi Yuki, Chiwa Saito, Eri Kitamura, and other familiar performers.
The combination of the original creative team and the long-awaited continuation has made “Walpurgis Night” one of the most anticipated anime movies of the year.
Its opening weekend performance suggests that fans responded strongly to the opportunity to return to the world of Madoka, Homura, and the other magical girls.
“Chiikawa” Holds Strong at No. 2
Taking second place in the weekend rankings is “Eiga Chiikawa: The Secret of the Mermaid Island.”
The movie continues to perform strongly even after its initial release period, recording approximately 369,000 admissions and ¥547 million in weekend box-office revenue.
Its cumulative performance is even more impressive.
The film has now surpassed approximately 8.49 million admissions, while total box-office revenue has exceeded ¥12.2 billion.
These figures demonstrate the enormous popularity of the “Chiikawa” franchise in Japan.
What began as a simple and charming character series has grown into a major multimedia phenomenon, with anime, merchandise, collaborations, books, games, and theatrical releases attracting fans of different ages.
To encourage audiences to return to theaters, a new admission bonus will also be introduced.
Beginning September 5, the fourth round of moviegoer gifts will feature mini charm figures, with four different designs available at random.
The random nature of the merchandise is likely to encourage dedicated fans and collectors to revisit the film in hopes of obtaining their favorite character.
“Toy Story 5” Remains in the Top Three
At No. 3 is Pixar’s “Toy Story 5,” which continues to demonstrate impressive staying power in its ninth week of release.
The film recorded approximately 132,000 admissions and ¥183 million in weekend revenue.
Its cumulative performance has now surpassed 9.01 million admissions, with total box-office revenue exceeding ¥12.5 billion.
The latest installment continues the long-running story of the beloved “Toy Story” characters while introducing a new chapter for the franchise.
Its ability to remain among Japan’s top-grossing movies after nine weeks shows the continued strength of the “Toy Story” brand.
The film is also benefiting from its broad appeal to both longtime fans who grew up with the franchise and younger audiences discovering the characters for the first time.
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” Takes Fourth Place
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” placed No. 4 during the weekend.
The film recorded approximately 117,000 admissions and ¥192 million in weekend box-office revenue.
Its cumulative total has reached around 3.21 million admissions, while box-office revenue has climbed to approximately ¥5.2 billion.
The movie has already achieved an important milestone for the franchise, becoming the highest-grossing Tom Holland-led “Spider-Man” film in Japan.
To celebrate the film’s success, original postcards will be distributed to moviegoers beginning September 5.
The new bonus gives fans another reason to visit theaters, particularly collectors interested in exclusive movie merchandise.
“Sometimes, Confession” Debuts at No. 9
Among the weekend’s other new releases, “Sometimes, Confession” opened at No. 9.
The film is directed by acclaimed filmmaker Tetsuya Nakashima and is based on the mystery novel by Bunzo Uchiumi.
The cast includes prominent Japanese actors such as Hidetoshi Nishijima, Hikari Mitsushima, Haru Kuroki, and Kankuro Kudo.
Nakashima is known for films with distinctive visual styles and intense human drama, making the new mystery particularly interesting for audiences who enjoy Japanese suspense films.
Although the movie did not enter the top five during its opening weekend, its strong cast and established director could help it maintain attention in the weeks ahead.
Word of mouth will likely be an important factor in determining how well the film performs over the longer term.
“Last Survivor” Enters at No. 10
Another notable new release is “Last Survivor,” which debuted at No. 10.
The film is directed by Ridley Scott and is based on the bestselling dystopian novel by Peter Heller.
The movie stars Jacob Elordi, adding another major international name to the weekend’s new releases.
Scott is known for films spanning science fiction, historical drama, action, and thriller genres, so his involvement gives “Last Survivor” additional appeal among international-film audiences.
Its No. 10 debut places it within the weekend’s nationwide top 10 and allows the film to build momentum through audience reactions and word of mouth.
Anime Continues to Dominate Japan’s Box Office
One of the most noticeable trends in this week’s rankings is the continued strength of anime-related theatrical releases.
“Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgis Night” immediately claimed the top position, while “Eiga Chiikawa: The Secret of the Mermaid Island” remained in second place.
The success of these films reflects the increasingly important role that anime and character-driven franchises play in Japan’s movie market.
Anime films are no longer limited to a niche audience. Major releases can attract millions of moviegoers, generate significant merchandise sales, and create long-running theatrical events.
The “Madoka Magica” opening is particularly notable because the franchise has been around for more than 15 years.
Its ability to generate a ¥940 million opening weekend demonstrates the strength of its established fan base and the anticipation surrounding a new installment.
Admission Bonuses Continue to Influence Japanese Movie Culture
Another important feature of the Japanese theatrical market is the use of limited admission bonuses.
Several films in this weekend’s rankings are using special gifts to encourage moviegoers to visit theaters.
“Eiga Chiikawa” will offer random mini charm figures, while “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” will distribute original postcards.
Anime movies in particular frequently use exclusive illustrations, character goods, clear files, postcards, mini figures, and other collectibles as admission bonuses.
These items can become highly desirable among fans because they are usually available only for a limited time or while supplies last.
As a result, admission bonuses can become an important part of the theatrical experience rather than simply an additional promotion.
What to Watch at the Japanese Box Office Next
The next few weeks could produce several interesting changes in the rankings.
The biggest question will be whether “Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgis Night” can maintain its No. 1 position after its strong opening.
A ¥940 million opening weekend gives the film an excellent start, but maintaining momentum will depend on repeat viewings, audience reactions, theater capacity, and promotional campaigns.
“Eiga Chiikawa,” meanwhile, has already demonstrated remarkable staying power. With another admission bonus scheduled for September 5, the film could continue attracting audiences even as newer releases enter theaters.
“Toy Story 5” is another film to watch because of its impressive ¥12.5 billion-plus cumulative total.
At the same time, the new releases “Sometimes, Confession” and “Last Survivor” will be looking to climb the rankings through strong word of mouth.
The latest Japanese box-office rankings offer a fascinating mix of anime, family entertainment, superhero action, Japanese mystery, and international cinema.
“Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Walpurgis Night” made the biggest impact, opening at No. 1 with approximately 535,000 admissions and ¥940 million in three days.
Meanwhile, “Eiga Chiikawa: The Secret of the Mermaid Island” continued its extraordinary run at No. 2, pushing beyond ¥12.2 billion in cumulative box-office revenue.
“Toy Story 5” also remained a major success in its ninth week, while “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” crossed the ¥5 billion mark in Japan.
Among the new releases, “Sometimes, Confession” and “Last Survivor” entered the top 10 at No. 9 and No. 10, respectively.
With new admission bonuses arriving in September and more films competing for audiences, the Japanese box office is likely to remain highly competitive in the coming weeks.
For anime fans in particular, the No. 1 debut of “Madoka Magica: Walpurgis Night” is a major highlight—and it will be interesting to see how far the film can climb after its powerful opening weekend.
