Film Exhibition at Theaters

The Number of Films Released and Film Titles
Changes in Number of Films Released
Between 1955 and 2004, the number of films released at theaters was up and down but was roughly 550 to 700 films per year. In
2005, the number jumped up and kept increasing (with a slightdecrease in some years). In 2013, for the first time, the number

Changes in Number of Released Films (2010-2019)of films released was over 1,000, with a combination of morethan 500 each of Japanese and foreign films. Since then, thenumber has been always over 1,000 every year. In 2019, 689
Japanese films and 589 foreign films, a total of 1,278 films,
were released, increasing by 562 films from 716 films in 2010.
In 2019, the ratio between Japanese and foreign films was
53.9% vs. 46.1%, and Japanese films increased by 2% from theyear before.
As the number of films released has been increasing, thetheatrical running period of each film has been shortened.
Each theater has more films to run, and its programming andtimetable have been changing frequently. Many monthly andbi-weekly information magazines that included movie houseprogramming schedules disappeared and currently, it iscustomary for a viewer to check film schedules online. Not
only multi-screen theaters but also mini-theaters andconventional theaters have been employing online ticket sales.
The average attendance per film was between 180,000 to
240,000 until 2011. With the number of films released each year
increasing, the average attendance per film has been between
140,000 and 160,000 since 2012. In 2019, attendance numbers
largely increased, and the average attendance per film was152,512; much more than 141,955 of the year before.

Changes in Film Attendance per Film (2010 to 2019)

From Japanese Film Industry Statistics (Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan)

1Film Exhibition at Theaters

Changes in Box Office Incomes
In 2019, the total box office income in Japan was: 142,192, 000,000 yen for Japanese films (increasing by 20,163,000,000 yen from theyear before), 118,988,000,000 yen for foreign films (increasing by 18,506,000,000 yen from the year before), and in total, 261,180,000,000yen, increasing by 38,669,000,000 yen, a dramatic 17.4% over the year before. The four top grossing films each made a record of morethan 10,000,000,000 yen box office income: WEATHERING WITH YOU (14,060,000,000 yen), FROZEN 2 (12,790,000,000 yen), ALADDIN(12,160,000,000 yen), and TOY STORY 4 (10,090,000,000 yen).
In 2018, 31 Japanese films and 23 foreign films each had more than 1 billion yen box office income. In 2019, 40 Japanese films, largely
more than that in the year before, and 25 foreign films, more than that in the year before, each made more than 1 billion yen box
office income. In 2018, there were surprise hits like ONE CUT OF THE DEAD, EVERY DAY A GOOD DAY and BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY. In
2019, many new releases from existing Japanese and foreign film franchises attracted large audiences, as with the popular
Japanese anime series DETECTIVE CONAN, DORAEMON, and ONE PIECE; and popular foreign film series FROZEN, TOY STORY,AVENGERS, and SPIDER-MAN. In addition, films released in middle-sized distribution schemes also attracted wide audiences,leading to a good attendance in total.

Changes in Box Office Income (2010-2019)

From Japanese Film Industry Statistics (Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan)

The Scales of Film Releases
Japan Community Cinema Center creates film statistics based on online information. In 2019, 650 Japanese films and 641 foreign
films, a total of 1291 films were released. These figures are slightly different from those by the Motion Picture Producers Associationof Japan. We will see what films were released based on our data.
In 2019, 43 Japanese films and 32 foreign films were released in more than 300 theaters nationwide. These numbers were not muchdifferent from those in 2018. The films of this category were “big” and “much talked about” films, and they were all released at multiscreen theaters. Japanese titles include popular anime series such as DORAEMON, DETECTIVE CONAN, CRAYON SHIN-CHAN, andONE PIECE, and other films such as WEATHERING WITH YOU, TORA-SAN, WISH YOU WERE HERE, FLY ME TO SAITAMA, AIRCRAFTCARRIER IBUKI, HIT ME ANYONE ONE MORE TIME, etc., and foreign titles include FROZEN 2, CAPTAIN MARVEL, STAR WARS: THE2

Film Exhibition at Theaters

RISE OF SKYWALKER, REMEMBER ME, ALADDIN, TOY STORY 4, etc.
Both Japanese and foreign films that were released at 150 to 299 theaters nationwide were mostly at multi-screen theaters. In 2019,IN THIS CORNER OF THE WORLD EXTENDED VERSION directed by Sunao Katabuchi was released both at multi-screen theaters andmini-theaters at the same time in Tokyo, and later, at many mini-theaters and conventional theaters in other areas. As for foreign
films, GREEN BOOK and A SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE: FARMAGEDDON were also released at mini-theaters.
75 foreign films were released at 50 to 149 theaters nationwide, much different from the number in 2018. 42 foreign films werereleased at 70 to 149 theaters nationwide, largely increased from 32 foreign films in 2018. 121 Japanese films were released at 50 to149 theaters nationwide, jumping up from 81 of 2018. The films belong to the category of releases at 50 to 149 theaters are released
at multi-screen theaters in some areas, while at mini- and conventional theaters in other areas. These films are released atdifferent times in each different area, not at the same time nationwide, despite recent tendency of releasing a film at the same timenationwide due to theater digitalization. In Tokyo, art films released first at multi-screen theaters and larger mini-theaters are
increasingly released at mini-theaters after their first runs.
The foreign films belonging to this category are larger “independent” and “art” films such as YESTERDAY (2019, directed by DanielBoyle), BLACKKKLANSMAN (2018, directed by Spike Lee), THE FAVOURITE (2018, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos), MARY QUEEN OFSCOTS (2018, directed by Josie Rourke), AT ETERNITY’S GATE (2018, directed by Julian Schnabel), BOY ERASED (2018, directed by JoelEdgerton), VICTORIA AND ABDUL (2018, directed by Stephen Frears), and THE WIFE (2018, directed by Bjorn Runge).
The Japanese films belonging to this category are much talked about films such as THE JOURNALIST (2019, directed by Michito Fuii),JUST ONLY LOVE (2019, directed by Rikiya Imaizumi), THE HIKITA’S ARE EXPECTING! (2019, directed by Toru Hosokawa), ONLY THE
CAT KNOWS (2019, directed by Shotaro Kabayashi), RESTAURANT FROM THE SKY (2018, directed by Yoshihiro Fukagawa), ANOTHERWORLD (2019, directed by Junji Sakamoto), SEA OF REVIVAL (2019, directed by Kazuya Shiraishi), and FROM MIYAMOTO TO YOU (2019,directed by Shinya Mariko).
Some films only released at 50-69 mini-theaters attracted large audiences such as SORRY WE MISSED YOU (2019, directed by KenLoach), SHUSENJO: THE MAIN BATTLEGROUND OF THE COMFORT WOMEN ISSUE (2019, directed by Miki Dezaki), and THE SILENTREVOLUTION (2018, directed by Lars Kraume).
The increasing tendency of films released at 50 to 149 theaters is probably behind the good film business of 2019. Mini- andconventional theaters that programed these films were seemingly able to attract large audiences.
194 Japanese films were released at less than 9 theaters, occupying 34% of the total Japanese films released, as were 118 foreign
films, occupying 23% of the total foreign films released. More than half of all Japanese and foreign films were released at less than
29 theaters, mostly mini-theaters.
This does not mean that multi-screen theaters are the only theaters showing ‘big films’. Conventional and mini- theaters in areas
with no multi-screen theaters have both recent big films as well as art films normally set for mini-theaters. The clear boundary
between major big films for multi-screen theaters and art and independent films for mini-theaters is currently non-existent.

The Scales of Films Released at Theaters in 20193

Film Exhibition at Theaters

Types of Films Released
650 Japanese films were released including 474 new theatrical films and animations, 71 documentaries, 32 ODS (Other Digital Stuff)
on theatrical performances and live music concerts, and 15 special projects introducing shorts, young directors and others with 73films.
71 documentaries, more than that of the year before, were theatrically released but only 20 were released at more than 20 theaters.
More than a half of these were released at less than 10 theaters, mostly mini-theaters.
Close to 100 animated films were released from various popular series, shown at more than 300 theaters and mostly at multiscreen theaters. Some films were shown in a small scale, at 15 to 19 theaters.
We tracked down 15 projects of Japanese film screenings (excluding classic films shown at repertory theaters), and most of themare ones showing films by young directors. They are shown at 1 to 3 mini-theaters.
32 ODS were released including the series of Cinema Kabuki, Geki x Cine, Tetsuya Kumakawa K Ballet Company, etc., shown only atmulti-screen theaters. At the Aeon Cinema chain, the “Great Train March” series was run.
514 foreign films were released including 346 theatrical films and animations, 55 documentaries, 47 ODS, 35 revival screenings ofclassic film’s digital restoration versions, and 7 special series with 31 films. In addition, 128 films were shown only at 1 to 3 theaters
as special screenings. The total number including the latter is 642 films.
As always, many classic film’s digital restoration versions were released as revival screenings. They include the classic
masterpieces such as THE TALES OF HOFFMANN (1952, directed by Michael Powell), THE LEOPARD (1963, directed by Luchino
Visconti) and LAST YEAR AT MARIENBAD (1961, directed by Alain Resnais); the 1970s hits such as MELODY (1971, directed by Waris
Hussein), LAST TANGO IN PARIS (1972, directed by Bernardo Bertolucci), SUSPERIA (1977, directed by Dario Argento), DAWN OF THE
DEAD (1978, directed by George A. Romero) and QUADROPHENIA (1979, directed by Franc Roddam); and the revivals of the films
shown at mini-theaters in the 1980s and 1990s such as films by Philippe Garrel (I CAN NO LONGER HEAR THE GUITAR [1991], etc.) andChen Yu-Hsun (NETTAIGYO [1995], and LOVE GO GO [1997]), MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE (1985 by Stephen Frears) and SATANTANGO(1994 by Tarr Bela). These films attracted many fans when they were mostly released at 5 to 30 mini-theaters.
Furthermore, small retrospectives were presented at 5 to 20 mini-theaters (including repertory theaters, independent exhibitions,and cinematheques) of the directors such as Yasmin Ahmad, Chris Marker, Agnes Varda, Rene Clair, Hal Hartley, and Lee Changdong.
Foreign ODS were shown mostly at multi-screen theaters including a series of MET LIVE VIEWING, BRITISH ROYAL OPERA HOUSE,NATIONAL THEATER LIVE, KARAJAN CINEMA CLASSICS, etc.

Types of Films Released in 2019

Films That Made More than 1 Billion Yen Box Office Income/Films That Made Less Than 1 Billion Box Office IncomeIn 2019, 65 films made more than 1 billion yen box office income (54 films in 2018), occupying 5.1% of the 1,278 films released in Japan.
The total box office income from these 65 films was: Japanese films made 104.78 billion yen, foreign films made 96.10 billion yen, and4

Film Exhibition at Theaters

in total, 200.90 billion yen, 76.9% of the total box office income of Japan. This is a 7% increase from that in 2018.
65 (5.1%) of the films released in Japan in 2019 made 76.9% of the total box office income of Japan. The other 1,278 films (94.9%)
shared the remaining 23.1% (60.2 billion yen). This situation has not changed largely during the last 10 years, but in 2019, the ratio ofthe films that made more than 1 billion yen is higher than usual.

Films That Made More Than 1 Billion Yen Box Office Income in 2019［Japanese Films］
Box officeno.

MonthTitle(100 million yen)

Distribution Company

1JulyWeathering With You

140.6

Toho

2

Apr.

Detective Conan: The Fist of Blue Sapphire

93.7

Toho

3

Apr.

Kingdom

57.3

Toho&SPE

4Aug.

ONE PIECE STAMPEDE: Movie

55.5

Toei

5Mar.

Doraaemon: Nobita’s Chlonicle of the Moon Exploration

50.2

Toho

6Jan.

Masquerade Hotel

46.4

Toho

7Dec. 2018

Dragon Ball Super Broly Movie

40.0

Toei

8Feb.

Fly Me To Saitama

37.6

Toei

9Sept.

Hit Me Anyone One More Time

36.4

Toho

10JulyPokemon: Mewtwo Striks Back!

29.8

Toho

11May

The Confidence Man JP: The Movie

29.7

Toho

12Aug.

Ossan’s Love: Love or Dead

26.5

Toho

13

Sept.

Kaguyasama: Love is Law

22.4

Toho

14Feb.

Whistleblower

21.6

Toho

15

Apr.

Crayon Shin-chan: Honeymoon Hurricane ~ Lost Hiroshi

20.8

Toho

16JulyGreat War of Archimedes

19.3

Toho

17JuneUta no Prince-sama Maji Love Kingdom

18.2

Shochiku

18JuneThe Fable

17.7

Shochiku

19Jan.

Fate/stay night [Heaven’s Feel]II Jost butterfly

16.6

Aniplex

20Dec. 2018

Kamen Rider Heisei Generations FOREVER

15.6

Toei

21Jan.

Twelve Children Who Want To Die

15.5

WB

22

Feb.

City Hunter: Shinjuku Private Eyes

15.3

Aniplex

23May

Promare15.0

Toho Film Operation Dept.

24

Nov.

Sumikko Gurashi The Movie: The Unexpected Picture Book and Secret Child

14.5

Asmick-Ace

25

Aug.

Dragon Quest: Your Story

14.2Toho

26

Feb.

Fortuna’s Eye

13.7

Toho

27

Sept.

No Longer Human

13.2

Shochiku/Asmick-Ace

28

Jan.

Love Live! Sunshine! ! The School Idol Movie over the Rainbow

13.0

Shochiku

29

Dec. 2018

Yokai Watch: FOREVER FRIENDS

12.5

Toho

30

Oct.

HiGH&LOW THE WORST

12.5

Shochiku

31

July

Diner

12.4

WB

32

July

Kamen Rider Zi-O Over Quartzer/RyuSolder THE MOVIE Time Slip! Dinosaur Panic!

11.7

Toei

33

May

Aircraft Carrier Ibuki

11.6

Kino Films

34

Dec. 2018

A Banana? At This Time of Night?

11.4

Shochiku

35

Feb.

Snow Flower

11.2

WB36

Aug.

Samurai Shifters

11.1

Shochiku

37Mar.

You Shine in the Moonlight

11.0

Toho

38

Nov.

The 47 Ronin in Dept

11.0

Shochiku

39Feb.

Code Geass: Relouch of Resurrection

10.6

Showgate

40Oct.

Way to Find the Best Life

10.5

WB

Total 1047.8

5Film Exhibition at Theaters

Films That Made More Than 1 Billion Yen Box Office Income in 2019［Foreign Films］
Box officeno.

MonthTitle(100 million yen)

Distribution Company

1Nov.

Frozen 2

127.9

WDS2

JuneAladdin

121.6

WDS3

JulyToy Story 4

100.9

WDS

4Aug.

Lion King

66.7

WDS

5Nov. 2018

Fantastic Beasts and Crimes of Grindelwald

65.7

WB

6Apr.

Avengers: Infinity War

61.3

WDS

7Oct.

Joker

50.6

WB

8Dec. 2018

Sugar Rush Online

38.6

WDS

9June

Spider-man:Into the Spider-Verse

30.6

SPE

9Aug.

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs &Shaw

30.6

Toho-Towa

11May

Pokemon: Detective Pikachu

30.1

Toho

12May

Godzilla: The Planet Eater

28.4

Toho

13Nov.

Terminator: Dark Fate

23.5

WDS

14JulyThe Secret Life of Pet 2

21.6

Toho-Towa

15Mar.

Green Book

21.5

GAGA

16Mar.

Captain Marvel

20.4WDS

17Nov.

It Chapter Two

18.4

WB

18Feb.

Aquaman

16.4

WB

19Dec. 2018

A Star Is Born

15.1

WB

20

Oct.

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

14WDS

21

Dec. 2018

The Grinch

13.2

Toho-Towa

22Feb.

Mary Poppins Returns

11.8

WDS

22

Aug.

Once Upon A Time in Hollywood

11.8

SPE

24

June

Men in Black: International

10.3

SPE

25Mar.

Dumbo

10WDS

Total 961.0

20 Top Box Office Income Films in 2019
Box officeno.

MonthTitle(100 million yen)

Distribution Company

1

JulyWeathering With You

140.6

Toho2

Nov.

Frozen 2

127.9

WDS

3

JuneAladdin

121.6

WDS

4July

Toy Story 4100.9

WDS

5Apr.

Detective Conan: The Fist of Blue Sapphire

93.7

Toho

6Aug.

Lion King

66.7

WDS

7Nov. 2018

Fantastic Beasts and Crimes of Grindelwald

65.7

WB

8Apr.

Avengers: Infinity War

61.3

WDs

9Apr.

Kingdom

57.3

Toho/SPE

10Aug.

ONE PIECE STAMPEDE: MOVIE

55.5

Toei

11Oct.

Joker

50.6

WB

12Mar.

Doraaemon: Nobita’s Chlonicle of the Moon Exploration

50.2

Toho

13Jan.

Masquerade Hotel

46.4

Toho

14Dec. 2018

Dragon Ball Super Broly Movie

40Toei

15Dec. 2018

Sugar Rush Online

38.6

WDS

16Feb.

Fly Me to Saitama

37.6

Toei

17Sept.

Hit Me Anyone One More Time

36.4

Toho

18

June

Spider-man:Into the Spider-Verse

30.6

SPE

18Aug.

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs &Shaw

30.6

Toho-Towa

20

May

Pokemon: Detective Picachu

30.1

Toho

Total 1,282.3
From Japanese Film Industry Statistics (Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan)

6Film Exhibition at Theaters

Film That Made More than 1 Billion Yen Box Office Income/Films That Made Less than 1 Billion Yen Box Office Income

7