Japan Box Office 2009

Just a quick link to my 2009 box office summary that went up earlier today on Screendaily.com (Note: above URL fixed to link to newer version of my box office story somewhat reworked by London bureau).

The original piece was much longer but filing news to editors is not blogging, obviously. Here are some extra facts, figures and thoughts.

- The Y117.31b that Japanese films amassed in 2009 represents the highest total ever for homegrown releases, though that's based on earnings from 448 releases -- a sharp increase from 2008's 418 titles (less earnings on average per film -- though it's only a small percentage of releases that take the biggest share anyway).

- Don't forget that the total number of Japanese films released includes pinku eiga as they are pubically exhibited in 35mm. Pink films accounted for approximately 52 of the total 448 J-films released. This does not include another 83 older films that were retitled and re-released -- a very common industry practice. The number of new productions is decreasing every year.

- Particularly noticeable in the decrease of foreign releases was a drop in Korean imports from 55 to 23. Distributor SPO, which traditionally acquired a lot of Asian titles, severely scaled back its buying while other companies simply disappeared or pulled out of film production (this overview of mine from October touches on most of it). More companies look to fold this year.

Update: A matter of hours after I wrote this, news came in of Cine Qua Non's filing for bankruptcy protection. I covered it for Screen today here. CQN was one of the companies I hinted at way back in August '09 in my "Japanese Film Biz Feeling the Heat..." entry.

- Sony Pictures had its best year ever in the territory at $216.18m (Y19.55b), easily breaking its own 2007 record of Y16.2b. In addition to top ten releases Michael Jackson's This Is It and 2012, mid-range hits Quantum Of Solace, Angels & Demons, and Terminator Salvation enhanced revenues though the two latter sequels earned far less than their predecessors.

- Nationwide screen count increased 1.1% to 3396, slowing from a typical 3.6% year-on-year construction rate throughout the rest of last decade. Although China's market still grosses only about half of what Japan's does, its massive year-on-year box office expansion (a 44% & 600 screen increase in 2009!) is what HW is watching.

- Video industry revenues (rental and sales) continued to plunge year on year, falling by 9.7% to $3.61b (Y326.1b) on 686 million customers transactions.

The article only contained the overall Top 10 (Top 11 actually since WALL·E and Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance tied). Domestic winners were as follows.

Top Grossing Domestic Films

Title Distrib Gross

1. Rookies (TBS) Toho $94.55m (Y8.55b)
2. Departures (TBS)* Shochiku $71.21m (Y6.44b)
3. Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life Toho $51.64m (Y4.67b)
4. 20th Century Boys: The Last Chapter – Our Flag Toho $48.77m (Y4.41b)
5. Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance Klockworx/Khara $44.23m (Y4b)
6. Amalfi (Fuji TV) Toho $40.36m (Y3.65b)
7. Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser Toho $38.7m (Y3.5b)
8. Gokusen: The Movie (NTV) Toho $38.48m (Y3.48b)
9. April Bride (TBS) Toho $34.83m (Y3.15b)
10. Yatterman (Nikkatsu) Nikkatsu-Shochiku $34.72m (Y3.14b)
11. Crows Zero II (TBS) Toho $33.4m (Y3.02b)

* September 2008 release, earned Y3.44b in 2010

1 USD = 90.4321 JPY