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Japanese box office · 2002

Japanese Box Office 2002: Highest-Grossing Japanese Movies

The Cat Returns (2002) is the highest-grossing Japanese-language movie released in 2002, with $54.7M worldwide, ahead of Detective Conan: The Phantom of Baker Street (2002) at $24.4M and Doraemon: Nobita and the Robot Kingdom (2002) at $16.8M. 23 Japanese-language films released in 2002 report a worldwide gross, $162.9M in all, <1% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 49% on 2001, whose releases took $109.4M. By genre, Adventure leads with $110.5M across 6 Japanese releases.

2002 releases with a gross
23
combined worldwide
$162.9M
The Cat Returns (2002), the #1
$54.7M
vs 2001
+49%
The Cat Returns (2002) movie poster #1 of 23
#1 Japanese-language movie of 2002

The Cat Returns (2002)

2002 · Adventure, Fantasy

$54.7M worldwide · 34% of the chart's total

$563.7K US & Canada · 1% $54.1M elsewhere · 99%
Top 5

What Were the Biggest Japanese Hits of 2002?

The Cat Returns (2002) leads with $54.7M, 34% of the total. The top 5 together took $120.1M, 74% of what all 23 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.

  1. The Cat Returns (2002) movie poster Number 1
    $54.7M The Cat Returns (2002)
    $563.7K US & Canada · 1% $54.1M elsewhere · 99%
  2. Detective Conan: The Phantom of Baker Street (2002) movie poster Number 2
    $24.4M Detective Conan: The Phantom of Baker Street (2002)
    No US & Canada figure reported
  3. Doraemon: Nobita and the Robot Kingdom (2002) movie poster Number 3
    $16.8M Doraemon: Nobita and the Robot Kingdom (2002)
    No US & Canada figure reported
  4. Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla (2002) movie poster Number 4
    $14.1M Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla (2002)
    No US & Canada figure reported
  5. Kamen Rider Ryuki Special: 13 Riders (2002) movie poster Number 5
    $10.1M Kamen Rider Ryuki Special: 13 Riders (2002)
    No US & Canada figure reported

US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world

The chart

Every Japanese Release of 2002, Ranked by Worldwide Gross

Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2002.

  1. 1 The Cat Returns (2002) movie poster
    The Cat Returns (2002) Jul 19, 2002 · Adventure, Fantasy $54.7M worldwide
    Jul 19, 2002 US and Canada: $563.7K Rest of the world: $54.1M Worldwide: $54.7M
  2. 2 Detective Conan: The Phantom of Baker Street (2002) movie poster
    Detective Conan: The Phantom of Baker Street (2002) Apr 20, 2002 · Animation, Sci-Fi $24.4M worldwide
    Apr 20, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $24.4M
  3. 3 Doraemon: Nobita and the Robot Kingdom (2002) movie poster
    Doraemon: Nobita and the Robot Kingdom (2002) Mar 9, 2002 · Adventure, Animation $16.8M worldwide
    Mar 9, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $16.8M
  4. 4 Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla (2002) movie poster
    Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla (2002) Nov 2, 2002 · Action, Thriller $14.1M worldwide
    Nov 2, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.1M
  5. 5 Kamen Rider Ryuki Special: 13 Riders (2002) movie poster
    Kamen Rider Ryuki Special: 13 Riders (2002) Sep 19, 2002 · Fantasy, Sci-Fi $10.1M worldwide
    Sep 19, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.1M
  6. 6 Leave It to the Nurses (2002) movie poster
    Leave It to the Nurses (2002) May 11, 2002 · Comedy $9.6M worldwide
    May 11, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.6M
  7. 7 Trick: The Movie (2002) movie poster
    Trick: The Movie (2002) Nov 7, 2002 · Comedy, Mystery $9.2M worldwide
    Nov 7, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.2M
  8. 8 Inuyasha the Movie 2: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass (2002) movie poster
    Inuyasha the Movie 2: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass (2002) Dec 22, 2002 · Fantasy, Adventure $7.5M worldwide
    Dec 22, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.5M
  9. 9 Seoul (2002) movie poster
    Seoul (2002) Feb 9, 2002 · Adventure, Action $3.6M worldwide
    Feb 9, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.6M
  10. 10 Beyblade the Movie: Fierce Battle (2002) movie poster
    Beyblade the Movie: Fierce Battle (2002) Aug 17, 2002 · Animation, Adventure $3.6M worldwide
    Aug 17, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.6M
  11. 11 Madness in Bloom (2002) movie poster
    Madness in Bloom (2002) Oct 19, 2002 · Drama $3.3M worldwide
    Oct 19, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.3M
  12. 12 When the Last Sword Is Drawn (2002) movie poster
    When the Last Sword Is Drawn (2002) Nov 4, 2002 · Action, Drama $2.5M worldwide
    Nov 4, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.5M
  13. 13 Out (2002) movie poster
    Out (2002) Oct 19, 2002 · Drama $1.1M worldwide
    Oct 19, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1M
  14. 14 Blue (2002) movie poster
    Blue (2002) Sep 9, 2002 · Romance, Drama $997.7K worldwide
    Sep 9, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $997.7K
  15. 15 The Blue Blanket (2002) movie poster
    The Blue Blanket (2002) Oct 5, 2002 · Drama $791.2K worldwide
    Oct 5, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $791.2K
  16. 16 Warm Water Under a Red Bridge (2002) movie poster
    Warm Water Under a Red Bridge (2002) May 3, 2002 · Drama, Comedy $453.8K worldwide
    May 3, 2002 US and Canada: $71.1K Rest of the world: $382.7K Worldwide: $453.8K
  17. 17 All About Lily Chou-Chou (2002) movie poster
    All About Lily Chou-Chou (2002) Jul 12, 2002 · Drama, Thriller $171.8K worldwide
    Jul 12, 2002 US and Canada: $26.5K Rest of the world: $145.3K Worldwide: $171.8K
  18. 18 Alive (2002) movie poster
    Alive (2002) Sep 12, 2002 · Action, Sci-Fi $86.9K worldwide
    Sep 12, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $86.9K
  19. 19 KT (2002) movie poster
    KT (2002) Feb 16, 2002 · Action, Drama $31.2K worldwide
    Feb 16, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $31.2K
  20. 20 Women in the Mirror (2002) movie poster
    Women in the Mirror (2002) May 23, 2002 · Drama $24.8K worldwide
    May 23, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $24.8K
  21. 21 Laundry (2002) movie poster
    Laundry (2002) Feb 28, 2002 · Romance, Drama $10K worldwide
    Feb 28, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10K
  22. 22 Letter from a Yellow Cherry Blossom (2002) movie poster
    Letter from a Yellow Cherry Blossom (2002) Apr 6, 2002 · Documentary $846 worldwide
    Apr 6, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $846
  23. 23 A Snake of June (2002) movie poster
    A Snake of June (2002) Sep 2, 2002 · Drama, Thriller $85 worldwide
    Sep 2, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $85
Gross bands

How Many 2002 Releases Crossed $100 Million?

None of the 23 films reached $100M. 18 films, 78% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $162.9M total.

  • $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
  • $500M to $1B 0 films, 0% of the list No films
  • $100M to $500M 0 films, 0% of the list No films
  • $10M to $100M 5 films, 22% of the list $120.1M · 74% of the gross
  • Under $10M 18 films, 78% of the list $42.9M · 26% of the gross
By release month

Which Month of 2002 Earned the Most?

July releases took the most, $54.8M from 2 films, led by The Cat Returns (2002). August was the quietest month ($3.6M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.

  1. January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  2. February Feb Seoul (2002) $3.7M Seoul (2002)
  3. March Mar Doraemon: Nobita and the Robot Kingdom (2002) $16.8M Doraemon: Nobita and the Robot Kingdom (2002)
  4. April Apr Detective Conan: The Phantom of Baker Street (2002) $24.4M Detective Conan: The Phantom of Baker Street (2002)
  5. May May Leave It to the Nurses (2002) $10M Leave It to the Nurses (2002)
  6. June Jun No reported grosses – No reported grosses
  7. July Jul The Cat Returns (2002) $54.8M The Cat Returns (2002)
  8. August Aug Beyblade the Movie: Fierce Battle (2002) $3.6M Beyblade the Movie: Fierce Battle (2002)
  9. September Sep Kamen Rider Ryuki Special: 13 Riders (2002) $11.2M Kamen Rider Ryuki Special: 13 Riders (2002)
  10. October Oct Madness in Bloom (2002) $5.2M Madness in Bloom (2002)
  11. November Nov Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla (2002) $25.8M Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla (2002)
  12. December Dec Inuyasha the Movie 2: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass (2002) $7.5M Inuyasha the Movie 2: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass (2002)
Last 10 years

How Does 2002 Compare With Previous Years?

Of these 10 years, 1999 earned the most: $164.1M from 4 films, led by Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back! (1999). 2002 took $162.9M.

Year Films Worldwide Change Biggest film
1993 7 films 7 $1.4M – Dragon Ball Z: Broly - The Legendary Super Saiyan (1993) $659K
1994 3 films · −88% 3 $169.4K −88% Sailor Moon S the Movie: Hearts in Ice (1994) $167.8K
1995 2 films · +815% 2 $1.5M +815% Pom Poko (1995) $1.3M
1996 3 films · +268% 3 $5.7M +268% Whisper of the Heart (1996) $4.6M
1997 5 films · +617% 5 $40.9M +617% Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (1997) $22.6M
1998 7 films · −96% 7 $1.7M −96% Cube (1998) $565.7K
1999 4 films · +9366% 4 $164.1M +9366% Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back! (1999) $163.6M
2000 13 films · −90% 13 $16.3M −90% Godzilla 2000 (2000) $12.9M
2001 10 films · +573% 10 $109.4M +573% Pokémon 3: The Movie (2001) $68.4M
2002 23 films · +49% 23 $162.9M +49% The Cat Returns (2002) $54.7M
By genre

Which Japanese Genres Earned the Most in 2002?

Adventure took $110.5M across 6 films, 68% of the total, ahead of Animation ($106.9M) and Fantasy ($89.1M). A film counts once for each of its genres.

2002 Japanese Box Office by Genre

  1. Adventure $110.5M
    6 films · #1 The Cat Returns (2002)
  2. Animation $106.9M
    5 films · #1 The Cat Returns (2002)
  3. Fantasy $89.1M
    4 films · #1 The Cat Returns (2002)
  4. Family $71.4M
    2 films · #1 The Cat Returns (2002)
  5. Sci-Fi $65.5M
    5 films · #1 Detective Conan: The Phantom of Baker Street (2002)
  6. Drama $64M
    12 films · #1 The Cat Returns (2002)
  7. Action $38M
    7 films · #1 Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla (2002)
  8. Crime $33.8M
    3 films · #1 Detective Conan: The Phantom of Baker Street (2002)
  9. Mystery $33.6M
    2 films · #1 Detective Conan: The Phantom of Baker Street (2002)
  10. Comedy $19.2M
    3 films · #1 Leave It to the Nurses (2002)
Archive

Japanese Box Office Year by Year

Every year from 1936 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2023 leads with $1.6B, led by The Boy and the Heron (2023).

2020s 7 years · $6.4B
2010s 10 years · $8.1B
2000s 10 years · $3.8B
1990s 10 years · $242.4M
1980s 8 years · $115.3M
1970s 8 years · $763.7K
1960s 10 years · $651K
1950s 9 years · $1.1M
1940s 3 years · $863.9K
1930s 2 years · $23.9K
FAQ

Japanese Box Office 2002: Questions & Answers

The chart's numbers in short: the #1 film, the total, the billion-dollar hits and the US & Canada share, answered from the same 23 films as the chart.

What is the highest-grossing Japanese-language movie in 2002?

The Cat Returns (2002) leads with $54.7M worldwide, $563.7K of it in the US & Canada. Next come Detective Conan: The Phantom of Baker Street (2002) at $24.4M and Doraemon: Nobita and the Robot Kingdom (2002) at $16.8M.

How much did Japanese-language movies released in 2002 earn?

23 Japanese-language films released in 2002 report a worldwide gross, $162.9M in all, or $7.1M per film on average. 2001 releases took $109.4M.

How many Japanese-language movies released in 2002 made $1 billion?

None. The biggest, The Cat Returns (2002), earned $54.7M.

How much of the 2002 Japanese box office came from the US and Canada?

$661.3K of the $162.9M total, or <1%, was earned in the US & Canada (the domestic market); the rest came from other countries. 20 films of the 23 report no domestic figure.

How is the 2002 Japanese box office chart ranked and where do the numbers come from?

Films are ranked by lifetime worldwide gross in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation, and grouped by their release date in 2002. The figures are the reported box office grosses in our database. A gross that looks misattributed, such as one figure shared by two unrelated films or a blockbuster total on an obscure title, is left out rather than shown as a fact, and so are films whose stored language is most likely wrong.

How often is the 2002 Japanese box office chart updated?

Grosses change while films are in theaters and whenever a new figure is reported; this chart reads the latest numbers in our database, so an older film can still move after a re-release.