Anime Films and the Box Office — 2026-09-28
Chiikawa's mermaid-island film keeps rewriting the all-time Japan rankings, crossing 16.85 billion yen and overtaking Slam Dunk over the weekend announced September 28. Meanwhile, Studio Ghibli's U.S. catalog celebration heads into its final act with Spirited Away screenings October 1 and 8, and a 15-film steelbook set lands September 29.
Anime Films and the Box Office — 2026-09-28
Top developments
Chiikawa film climbs to 14th all-time with 16.85 billion yen
On September 28 it was announced that Chiikawa: The Movie — Secret of the Mermaid Island has passed 16.85 billion yen (approx. ¥168.5 oku-en) in box office revenue with 11.55 million admissions over 66 days of release, overtaking Slam Dunk to rise to 14th place on the all-time domestic earnings chart. A sixth admission bonus was also announced, continuing the film's rewards-driven long-tail strategy.

Earlier in the week (announced September 21–23), the film confirmed 15.84 billion yen and 10.857 million admissions in 59 days, making it the No. 1 release of 2026 in Japan — surpassing Detective Conan: The Million-Dollar Pentagram's 15.8 billion yen record and edging past Toy Story 5.
Weekend ranking: live-action tops, Chiikawa holds at #2
The September 25–27 Japanese weekend chart saw Bayside Shakedown N.E.W. take #1 in its second week with 243,000 admissions and ¥360 million over three days (¥2.1 billion cumulative from 1.49 million admissions), while Chiikawa slipped to #2 — still the dominant anime title on the chart.
PreCure Conan movie hits ¥840 million in nine days
Movie: Detective PreCure! The Mysterious Garden and Two Secrets, released September 18, surpassed 684,358 admissions and ¥848.4 million by September 26, with a thank-you stage-greeting event held and a top ranking on Filmarks' first-day satisfaction list. The mid-tier franchise entry is showing strong legs for a nine-day run.

Studio Ghibli Fest 2026 wraps in October as Spirited Away turns 25
Studio Ghibli Fest 2026 ends in October, closing with Oscar-winner Spirited Away (celebrating its 25th anniversary), with Spirited Away: Live on Stage screening nationwide via Fathom Entertainment on October 1 and 8. The catalog re-release program continues to be a rare reliable gross engine for older anime titles in U.S. theaters.

Local view
Japanese trade and fan media are focused on Chiikawa's march up the all-time table: Anime! Anime! highlighted it as 2026's top-grossing release, Oricon noted it out-grossed the Conan franchise record, KAI-YOU emphasized it passing both Conan and Toy Story 5, and fan blogs are debating where it will land in the all-time anime top 10 (currently anchored by Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle at ¥251.7 billion and Spirited Away territory above ¥20 billion).

Context & numbers
- Chiikawa: 66 days, 11.55 million admissions, ¥16.85 billion — 14th all-time in Japan, #1 of 2026.
- Weekend #1 film gross: ¥360 million (Bayside Shakedown N.E.W.), showing how far ahead Chiikawa's cumulative total is even as it slipped to #2 on the weekend chart.
- PreCure film: ¥848.4 million / 684,358 admissions through September 26.
- Reference for anime records: domestic anime all-time top ranks include Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle (¥251.7 banka-yen tier) and Princess Mononoke (¥21.46 billion) — Chiikawa at ¥16.85 billion is closing on that tier.
On the radar
- Chiikawa TV anime streams an English dub free on YouTube starting October 1 — a marketing push that could sustain the film's tail and build the property overseas.
- A limited-edition 15-film Studio Ghibli steelbook collection releases September 29, 2026.
- Spirited Away: Live on Stage U.S. screenings October 1 and 8 — watch for weekend grosses of Ghibli catalog titles in the U.S.
- L.A.'s Animation Is Film festival (October 16–19) will screen Cherry and Virgin, ghost – end of night, and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust — a possible awards-season launchpad for anime features.
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