by Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie -Walpurgisnacht: Rising- has crossed a major box-office milestone in Japan, earning more than 1.5 billion yen within just 10 days of its theatrical release. The highly anticipated sequel attracted 904,721 viewers between August 28 and September 6, 2026, putting it within reach of the coveted one-million-admissions mark.
According to the latest figures, the film has grossed ¥1,537,959,580 during its first 10 days in Japanese theaters. It opened at No. 1 in both audience attendance and box-office revenue for its opening weekend and passed the ¥1 billion mark within only four days.
The strong performance is particularly significant because Walpurgisnacht: Rising is the first completely new Madoka Magica theatrical story in roughly 13 years. The previous major film installment, Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie -Rebellion-, was released in 2013. The long wait has clearly helped create enormous anticipation among longtime fans.
Walpurgisnacht: Rising Is Already Closing in on 1 Million Viewers
From August 28 through September 6, Walpurgisnacht: Rising welcomed 904,721 moviegoers across Japan. With fewer than 100,000 additional admissions needed, the film is now approaching the 1 million viewers milestone.
Its box-office performance has also remained strong beyond its opening weekend. Rather than experiencing a sharp drop after its first few days, the movie continued to attract audiences throughout its second week, allowing it to reach ¥1.5 billion on its 10th day.
For a franchise that began as a television anime in 2011, this is an impressive return to the big screen. The results also demonstrate how strongly Madoka Magica has maintained its fanbase despite the long gap between major theatrical installments.
What Is Puella Magi Madoka Magica?
For newcomers, Puella Magi Madoka Magica is a dark fantasy and magical-girl anime created by the creative team known as Magica Quartet.
The original television anime premiered in 2011 and follows Madoka Kaname, an ordinary middle school student whose life changes after she encounters a mysterious creature and learns about the world of magical girls.
At first glance, the series may look like a traditional magical-girl story involving colorful costumes, supernatural powers, and heroic battles. However, Madoka Magica quickly takes a much darker and more complicated direction.
The series explores themes such as wishes, sacrifice, hope, despair, fate, and the consequences of making seemingly simple choices. This combination of emotional storytelling, psychological drama, striking visuals, and mystery helped the anime become one of the most influential modern magical-girl series.
How the Madoka Magica Movies Led to Walpurgisnacht: Rising
After the original 2011 TV series, the story was adapted into two theatrical films in 2012.
The first film, Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part I: Beginnings, re-edited and retold the early portion of the television story. It was followed by Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part II: Eternal, which covered the latter portion of the original series.
The franchise then moved into completely new territory with Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie -Rebellion-, released in 2013. Unlike the first two films, Rebellion presented a new story and continued the narrative beyond the television anime.
Walpurgisnacht: Rising is the direct theatrical follow-up to Rebellion. The official website describes it as a legitimate sequel to Rebellion and “a new beginning” for the story.
This makes the new movie particularly important for longtime fans. Viewers who have followed Madoka, Homura, Sayaka, Mami, Kyoko, and the rest of the cast since the original anime have been waiting for the next chapter for more than a decade.
A 13-Year Wait Finally Comes to an End.
The wait for Walpurgisnacht: Rising has been unusually long.
The new film project was announced in 2021 as part of the franchise’s 10th-anniversary celebrations. Its release schedule subsequently changed several times before the final Japanese theatrical release date of August 28, 2026 was confirmed.
That lengthy production period only increased expectations surrounding the film. By the time it finally arrived in Japanese cinemas, Madoka Magica had become a long-running franchise spanning anime, films, manga, games, merchandise, and other projects.
The new film therefore represents more than simply another anime movie. For many viewers, it is the continuation of a story they first experienced during the early 2010s.
Strong Opening Weekend and Fast ¥1 Billion Milestone
The film immediately made an impact at the Japanese box office.
During its opening weekend, Walpurgisnacht: Rising ranked first in both audience attendance and box-office revenue. It then crossed ¥1 billion in revenue within its first four days.
Reaching ¥1 billion so quickly gave the film a strong start, but its continued performance was arguably even more important. The movie maintained enough momentum during its second week to pass ¥1.5 billion by September 6.
With 904,721 admissions already recorded, the film is now only a short distance away from reaching one million viewers.
Special Screenings and Events Added to the Release
The theatrical launch was also supported by special events designed to celebrate the long-awaited return of Madoka Magica.
Some Japanese theaters held midnight “earliest screenings” on opening day, allowing dedicated fans to watch the film as soon as it officially premiered.
The first weekend also featured stage greetings involving cast and staff, with live-viewing events allowing fans at theaters around Japan to participate in the celebrations.
The promotional activity continued during the second weekend. On September 5 and 6, character greetings were held at theaters in Kyoto, Umeda, and Hiroshima, extending the film’s promotional campaign into its second week.
These events have helped keep the movie in the spotlight even after its initial opening weekend.
The Film’s International Rollout Is Also Beginning
Although Japan received the film first on August 28, Walpurgisnacht: Rising is also scheduled for theatrical releases in several international markets.
Taiwan received the movie on September 4, 2026, while Mexico and Latin America are scheduled for October 1. Hong Kong is scheduled for October 8, and Germany has a November 24 release date in selected theaters.
The staggered international rollout means that many overseas fans are still waiting for their chance to experience the film legally in theaters. Release dates can vary considerably by territory, so viewers should check announcements from their local distributors and theaters.
For international fans, this staggered schedule is also important because Madoka Magica is a franchise where avoiding spoilers can be particularly difficult once a new movie has been released.
A New Chapter for a Beloved Franchise
The success of Walpurgisnacht: Rising is especially notable because the movie is not a standalone entry aimed primarily at newcomers. It continues a complicated story that began with the original television anime and developed further through Rebellion.
That gives the film a significant advantage with established fans, but it also means that newcomers should ideally watch the earlier material before seeing the new movie.
For beginners, the best starting point remains the 2011 television series, followed by Rebellion. The first two compilation films can also serve as alternate ways of revisiting the original story, although viewers who want the fullest introduction should consider watching the TV anime.
The new film’s official materials continue to emphasize the creative team behind the franchise, including chief director Akiyuki Shinbo, screenwriter Gen Urobuchi, original character designer Ume Aoki, composer Yuki Kajiura, and animation studio SHAFT.
Why the Box-Office Milestone Matters
Passing ¥1.5 billion in only 10 days is an important achievement for Madoka Magica, particularly given the franchise’s long theatrical absence.
The film has already demonstrated that the series still has a large and dedicated audience in Japan. The combination of strong opening-weekend attendance, the rapid ¥1 billion milestone, and continued second-week performance suggests that interest has not disappeared during the 13-year gap.
The upcoming international releases could also bring a new wave of attention to the franchise as more viewers finally gain access to the sequel.
Of course, its final box-office total will depend on how strongly the film continues to perform in the coming weeks. For now, however, Walpurgisnacht: Rising has made an impressive start.
What Happens Next for Walpurgisnacht: Rising?
The immediate target is clear: 1 million admissions.
With 904,721 viewers already recorded by September 6, the film is fewer than 100,000 admissions away from that milestone.
Beyond Japan, the next major stage will be its international theatrical rollout. As additional countries receive the movie, the global audience for the latest Madoka Magica story is expected to expand.
For now, the film is continuing its theatrical run in Japan, where its second-week momentum remains one of the biggest talking points surrounding the franchise.
After more than a decade of waiting, Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie -Walpurgisnacht: Rising- has finally arrived—and its first 10 days suggest that audiences were more than ready for the next chapter.
