Zach Cregger’s live-action reboot of the Capcom horror franchise opened in second place in Japan over its debut weekend. The new Cregger Resident Evil release earned 626,567,150 yen on 356,000 tickets across its first three days in Japanese theaters, according to tracking data from Kōgyō Tsūshin. How did an American video game adaptation fare against Japanese anime hits during an extended holiday weekend? It secured strong holiday attendance over four days, reaching 813 million yen as 470,000 filmgoers attended screenings by Monday [1].
Cregger Resident Evil Claims Second Place in Japan
Capcom’s survival horror property returned to Japanese cinemas on October 9, capturing second place on national charts during its opening weekend. It generated 626,567,150 yen (about $3.97 million) from Friday to Sunday on 356,000 tickets. Monday’s national holiday lifted the four-day gross to 813 million yen (about $5.15 million) on 470,000 admissions [1].
Director Zach Cregger, who made his name in the horror space with Barbarian and Weapons, cast Austin Abrams as the story’s protagonist, Bryan. The acting ensemble features Paul Walter Hauser, Kali Reis, and Zach Cherry, bringing veteran talent into the video game adaptation. Hauser previously took on major parts in Richard Jewell, Black Bird, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. While earlier adaptations sparked conversation around record Resident Evil movie ratings, this project takes a different creative path by focusing on tight survival encounters rather than action-heavy sequences [1].
That early reception in Japan shows steady theatrical demand for live-action game properties when paired with experienced genre filmmakers. Although foreign adaptations sometimes struggle to gain traction against established local properties in Tokyo and Osaka, local distributors said the four-day holiday window provided valuable breathing room for the release. It didn’t outpace Japan’s reigning box office leader, but it’s clear that it comfortably cleared competing live-action releases to anchor the upper half of the box office table [1].
Chiikawa Surges Back to First Place
The weekend’s biggest box office story belonged to Nagano’s Chiikawa feature, subtitled “The Secret of Mermaid Island” (Eiga Chiikawa: Ningyo no Shima no Himitsu), which rose from fourth to first place in its twelfth weekend. The anime drew 375,000 moviegoers between Friday and Sunday, taking in 562,647,900 yen (about $3.56 million). Cumulative totals reached 17,807,643,600 yen (about $112 million) on 12.29 million tickets [1].
That cumulative total elevates the Chiikawa feature to twelfth place on Japan’s all-time box office list, an unusual position for a project adapted from web comic installments originally shared on social media. The film initially launched on July 24 with a massive opening day of 990 million yen (about $6.05 million), going on to sell 1,508,500 tickets and earn 2,240,333,500 yen (about $13.70 million) during its opening three-day frame. Based on the “Siren Arc” or “Island Arc” published on X between March and November 2023, the production features a screenplay written by original creator Nagano, with Kei Oikawa directing at Cygames Pictures, while production management was handled by QTORY inc. and theatrical distribution was overseen by TOHO, making the animated adventure the highest-grossing film released in Japan this year [1].
The film’s staying power reflects promotional support from TOHO and screening formats organized during late summer. Screenings in 4DX began September 5, followed by cheering sessions September 11 and synchronized penlight events September 23. On October 7, the official site unveiled a second visual and scheduled revival distributions for three attendee gift rounds before year-end [2].
Girls und Panzer Finale Film Opens at Fifth
The theatrical landscape also welcomed the fifth movie in the six-part Girls und Panzer das Finale project, which opened on October 9 and debuted at number five. The anime feature collected 267,301,400 yen (about $1.69 million) over its opening three days, showing solid engagement from loyal franchise followers. It’s the first time in the franchise’s history that an installment has received screenings in Dolby Cinema, playing in Dolby Atmos, 4DX, and MX4D with standard projection halls [1].
Narratively, the fifth film picks up following Ōarai Girls High School’s hard-fought victory in the semi-final round of the Winter Continuous Track tournament. The team now advances to the final match, where they must confront St. Gloriana Girls’ College under the leadership of veteran commander Darjeeling. The showdown adds personal stakes through the presence of Alice, who transferred to St. Gloriana specifically so she could face Miho again in formal tank competition [1].
Premium theatrical formats have become central to the distribution strategy for Girls und Panzer, as immersive sound systems match the physical mechanics of the anime’s tank battles. Theater operators said multi-format rollouts help medium-budget anime productions generate consistent per-screen revenue when there isn’t a wide-scale circuit booking in Japanese theaters [1].
Zach Cregger Resident Evil Reboot Finds Holiday Crowds
The box office trajectory of the Zach Cregger Resident Evil project in Japan presents a notable comparison to its international rollout in Western markets. In the United States, the movie opened on September 18 and that’s where it secured the top spot at the North American box office with an estimated $60 million in ticket receipts. Sony Pictures launched the film in North America several weeks before its Japanese debut, allowing word of mouth to build before copies arrived in Asian theaters [1].
Zach Cregger directed the new film following his success with Barbarian, opting for an atmospheric tone rather than fast-paced action sequences. Austin Abrams leads the cast as Bryan, joined by supporting performances from Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser. By grounding the adaptation in survival tension and mystery, the production team sought to distinguish the Cregger Resident Evil reboot from earlier cinematic adaptations of Capcom’s classic horror franchise [1].
That approach proved effective during Japan’s extended October holiday weekend, where adult moviegoers sought out suspenseful live-action viewing options. Four-day box office totals reached 813 million yen, proving that the property can still attract theatrical audiences in Japan. It won’t easily displace powerhouse anime features, but it found a solid foothold in the market [1].
Madoka Magica Sequel Rounds Out Top Ten
Elsewhere in the rankings, Eiga Meitantei Precure! Fushigi na Niwa to Futari no Himitsu (translated as “The Mysterious Garden and the Secret of 2 People”) dropped from fifth to ninth place in its fourth weekend. The 23rd main anime film entry in the Precure franchise opened on September 18, generating 446 million yen (about $2.82 million) on 358,000 tickets in its first three days. Through September 23, the family film expanded its six-day total to 746 million yen (about $4.71 million) with 606,000 tickets sold [1].
Directed by Hanako Ueda with a screenplay by Yoshimi Narita, the Precure feature features voice work from Akari Kitō as Karin, Nobunaga Shimazaki as Alan, and Kōki Uchiyama as Rain. The production showcases music composed by Erika Fukasawa and Misaki Umase, with character designs and chief animation direction by Emiko Miyamoto. Musical performances include the ending theme “FIRST PRISM” performed by Yūka Masui and Chihaya Yoshitake, as well as the insert song “First Step” sung by Ami Ishii [1].
Closing out the top ten in its seventh weekend was Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie: Walpurgisnacht: Rising, carrying the Japanese subtitle “Walpurgis no Kaiten” (Gekijōban Mahō Shōjo Madoka Magica), as the official sequel to Rebellion. Directed by Yukihiro Miyamoto at SHAFT with a script by Gen Urobuchi, the film added 75,584,180 yen (about $479,200) to bring its cumulative gross to 2,494,107,540 yen (about $15.81 million). Featuring new voice performances from Shion Wakayama as Shichōka and Tomoyo Kurosawa as Selma Therese, the release previously earned 939,647,100 yen on 535,000 tickets during its August 28 IMAX opening, showing how the Cregger Resident Evil release shared cinema space with long-lasting anime franchises that continue drawing dedicated theatergoers week after week [1].
- ONLINE NEWS Pineda, R. A. (2026, October 15). Cregger’s Resident Evil opens at #2 in Japan, 5th Girls und Panzer das Finale film opens at #5. Anime News Network. [Article Link]
- WEBSITE Eiga Chiikawa Production Committee. (2026, October 7). News and theatrical updates. Eiga Chiikawa: Ningyo no Shima no Himitsu Official Site. [Article Link]
Cover image: Kevin Paul / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
