#1 of 64 #1 Japanese-language movie of 2016
2016 · Action, Horror
$82.1M worldwide · 12% of the chart's total
$6M US & Canada · 7% $76.1M elsewhere · 93%
Japanese box office · 2016
Japanese Box Office 2016: Highest-Grossing Japanese Movies
Shin Godzilla (2016) is the highest-grossing Japanese-language movie released in 2016, with $82.1M worldwide, ahead of Shin Godzilla (Godzilla Resurgence) (2016) at $78.1M and Doraemon: Nobita and the Birth of Japan (2016) at $50.9M. 64 Japanese-language films released in 2016 report a worldwide gross, $662.6M in all, 1% of it from the US & Canada. That is up 4% on 2015, whose releases took $634.7M. By genre, Sci-Fi leads with $341.6M across 13 Japanese releases.
- 2016 releases with a gross
- 64
- combined worldwide
- $662.6M
- Shin Godzilla (2016), the #1
- $82.1M
- vs 2015
- +4%
#1 of 64 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Japanese Hits of 2016?
Shin Godzilla (2016) leads with $82.1M, 12% of the total. The top 5 together took $278.7M, 42% of what all 64 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
-
Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Japanese Release of 2016, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 64. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2016.
- 1 Jul 25, 2016 US and Canada: $6M Rest of the world: $76.1M Worldwide: $82.1M
- 2 Oct 11, 2016 US and Canada: $1.9M Rest of the world: $76.1M Worldwide: $78.1M
- 3 Mar 5, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $50.9M
- 4 Jan 23, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $36.2M
- 5 Mar 25, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $31.4M
- 6
Crayon Shin-chan: Fast Asleep! Dreaming World Big Assault! (2016) Apr 16, 2016 · Fantasy, Adventure $21.6M worldwideApr 16, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $21.6M - 7
Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel (2016) Jul 16, 2016 · Fantasy, Family $19.7M worldwideJul 16, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $19.7M - 8
Oct 29, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $19.1M - 9
Jul 8, 2016 US and Canada: $467.6K Rest of the world: $15.5M Worldwide: $15.9M - 10
Dec 11, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $15.8M - 11
Jun 1, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $15.6M - 12
Jul 16, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.6M - 13
Dec 17, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.5M - 14
Aug 6, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $13.8M - 15
Mar 19, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $12.1M - 16
Oct 8, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $11.8M - 17
Sep 10, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $11.5M - 18
Dec 23, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.7M - 19
May 28, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.6M - 20
May 14, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.3M - 21
Aug 20, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10M - 22
Apr 16, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10M - 23
Oct 8, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.9M - 24
Mar 12, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.9M - 25
Jun 18, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.3M - 26
Sep 10, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8.8M - 27
Apr 29, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8.7M - 28
Oct 15, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8.6M - 29
Kamen Rider Ghost: The 100 Eyecons and Ghost’s Fateful Moment (2016) Aug 6, 2016 · Action, Fantasy $7.9M worldwideAug 6, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.9M - 30
Dec 12, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.9M - 31
Kamen Rider Heisei Generations: Dr. Pac-Man vs. Ex-Aid & Ghost with Legend Riders (2016) Dec 10, 2016 · Action, Sci-Fi $6.4M worldwideDec 10, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.4M - 32
Jan 8, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.3M - 33
Nov 5, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.9M - 34
Apr 29, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.5M - 35
Oct 21, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.1M - 36
Oct 22, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.8M - 37
Mar 18, 2016 US and Canada: $124.8K Rest of the world: $4.6M Worldwide: $4.7M - 38
Sep 22, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4M - 39
Aug 25, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4M - 40
Aug 6, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.8M - 41
Oct 8, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.6M - 42
Aug 19, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.5M - 43
Shuriken Sentai Ninninger vs. ToQger the Movie: Ninjas in Wonderland (2016) Jan 23, 2016 · Action, Adventure $3.4M worldwideJan 23, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.4M - 44
Jun 25, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3M - 45
Apr 1, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.8M - 46
Oct 7, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.8M - 47
Nov 5, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.4M - 48
May 7, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2M - 49
Jan 9, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $931.7K - 50
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin III - Dawn of Rebellion (2016) May 21, 2016 · Sci-Fi, Action $477.7K worldwideMay 21, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $477.7K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2016?
Of the top 10, Shin Godzilla (2016) earned the biggest share at home (7% in the US & Canada), while Shin Godzilla (Godzilla Resurgence) (2016) made 98% of its gross abroad. Across all 64 films, $8.7M (1%) came from the US & Canada. 7 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Shin Godzilla (2016) $82.1M $6M US & Canada · 7% $76.1M elsewhere · 93%
- 2 Shin Godzilla (Godzilla Resurgence) (2016) $78.1M $1.9M US & Canada · 2% $76.1M elsewhere · 98%
- 3 Doraemon: Nobita and the Birth of Japan (2016) $50.9M No US & Canada figure reported
- 4 Nobunaga Concerto: The Movie (2016) $36.2M No US & Canada figure reported
- 5 Assassination Classroom: Graduation (2016) $31.4M No US & Canada figure reported
- 6 Crayon Shin-chan: Fast Asleep! Dreaming World Big Assault! (2016) $21.6M No US & Canada figure reported
- 7 Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel (2016) $19.7M No US & Canada figure reported
- 8 Death Note: Light Up the NEW World (2016) $19.1M No US & Canada figure reported
- 9 Our Little Sister (2016) $15.9M $467.6K US & Canada · 3% $15.5M elsewhere · 97%
- 10 Fueled: The Man They Called “Pirate” (2016) $15.8M No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many 2016 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 64 films reached $100M. 43 films, 67% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $662.6M total.
76% 24%
- $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 21 films, 33% of the list $506.3M · 76% of the gross
- Under $10M 43 films, 67% of the list $156.3M · 24% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2016 Earned the Most?
October releases took the most, $144.2M from 15 films, led by Shin Godzilla (Godzilla Resurgence) (2016). February was the quietest month ($369.1K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Nobunaga Concerto: The Movie (2016) $47.4M Nobunaga Concerto: The Movie (2016)
- February Feb Code Geass: Akito the Exiled 5: To Beloved Ones (2016) $369.1K Code Geass: Akito the Exiled 5: To Beloved Ones (2016)
- March Mar Doraemon: Nobita and the Birth of Japan (2016) $109.3M Doraemon: Nobita and the Birth of Japan (2016)
- April Apr Crayon Shin-chan: Fast Asleep! Dreaming World Big Assault! (2016) $48.5M Crayon Shin-chan: Fast Asleep! Dreaming World Big Assault! (2016)
- May May Wolf Girl and Black Prince (2016) $22.6M Wolf Girl and Black Prince (2016)
- June Jun 64: Part 2 (2016) $27.8M 64: Part 2 (2016)
- July Jul Shin Godzilla (2016) $132.4M Shin Godzilla (2016)
- August Aug Rudolf the Black Cat (2016) $43.1M Rudolf the Black Cat (2016)
- September Sep Your Lie in April (2016) $24.3M Your Lie in April (2016)
- October Oct Shin Godzilla (Godzilla Resurgence) (2016) $144.2M Shin Godzilla (Godzilla Resurgence) (2016)
- November Nov Drowning Love (2016) $8.4M Drowning Love (2016)
- December Dec Fueled: The Man They Called “Pirate” (2016) $54.3M Fueled: The Man They Called “Pirate” (2016)
Last 10 years
How Does 2016 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2012 earned the most: $1B from 69 films, led by Brave Hearts: Umizaru (2012). 2016 took $662.6M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 72 films | 72 | $447.9M | – | Always: Sunset on Third Street 2 (2007) $42.3M |
| 2008 46 films · +18% | 46 | $529.3M | +18% | Suspect X (2008) $54.8M |
| 2009 59 films · +71% | 59 | $903.9M | +71% | Ponyo (2009) $206.3M |
| 2010 69 films · +6% | 69 | $955.6M | +6% | Umizaru 3: The Last Message (2010) $98.7M |
| 2011 64 films · −12% | 64 | $844M | −12% | Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2011) $60.6M |
| 2012 69 films · +19% | 69 | $1B | +19% | Brave Hearts: Umizaru (2012) $91.9M |
| 2013 67 films · −28% | 67 | $724M | −28% | The Wind Rises (2013) $137.1M |
| 2014 72 films · +4% | 72 | $749.8M | +4% | Stand by Me Doraemon (2014) $186.1M |
| 2015 72 films · −15% | 72 | $634.7M | −15% | Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' (2015) $61.8M |
| 2016 64 films · +4% | 64 | $662.6M | +4% | Shin Godzilla (2016) $82.1M |
By genre
Which Japanese Genres Earned the Most in 2016?
Sci-Fi took $341.6M across 13 films, 52% of the total, ahead of Action ($309.2M) and Drama ($271M). A film counts once for each of its genres.
2016 Japanese Box Office by Genre
-
Sci-Fi $341.6M13 films · #1 Shin Godzilla (2016) -
Action $309.2M20 films · #1 Shin Godzilla (2016) -
Drama $271M37 films · #1 Shin Godzilla (Godzilla Resurgence) (2016) -
Adventure $219M12 films · #1 Shin Godzilla (Godzilla Resurgence) (2016) -
Horror $199.1M7 films · #1 Shin Godzilla (2016) -
Comedy $184.4M18 films · #1 Nobunaga Concerto: The Movie (2016) -
Animation $128.6M13 films · #1 Doraemon: Nobita and the Birth of Japan (2016) -
Fantasy $126.8M10 films · #1 Doraemon: Nobita and the Birth of Japan (2016) -
Family $115.3M6 films · #1 Doraemon: Nobita and the Birth of Japan (2016) -
Romance $63.6M8 films · #1 My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday (2016)
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 · $6.3B
- 2026 so far $79.3M #1 Exit 8 (2026)
- 2025 $1.3B #1 Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Infinity Castle (2025)
- 2024 $608.3M #1 HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle (2024)
- 2023 $1.6B #1 The Boy and the Heron (2023)
- 2022 $807.3M #1 One Piece Film: Red (2022)
- 2021 $1.2B #1 Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2021)
- 2020 $833.1M #1 Weathering with You (2020)
2010s 10 years · $8.1B
- 2019 $842.4M #1 Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2019)
- 2018 $667.3M #1 Code Blue: The Movie (2018)
- 2017 $1.1B #1 Your Name. (2017)
- 2016 $662.6M #1 Shin Godzilla (2016)
- 2015 $634.7M #1 Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' (2015)
- 2014 $749.8M #1 Stand by Me Doraemon (2014)
- 2013 $724M #1 The Wind Rises (2013)
- 2012 $1B #1 Brave Hearts: Umizaru (2012)
- 2011 $844M #1 Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2011)
- 2010 $955.6M #1 Umizaru 3: The Last Message (2010)
2000s 10 years · $3.8B
- 2009 $903.9M #1 Ponyo (2009)
- 2008 $529.3M #1 Suspect X (2008)
- 2007 $447.9M #1 Always: Sunset on Third Street 2 (2007)
- 2006 $565.9M #1 Tales from Earthsea (2006)
- 2005 $433.5M #1 Yamato (2005)
- 2004 $278.1M #1 Be with You (2004)
- 2003 $366.5M #1 Bayside Shakedown 2 (2003)
- 2002 $162.9M #1 The Cat Returns (2002)
- 2001 $109.4M #1 Pokémon 3: The Movie (2001)
- 2000 $16.3M #1 Godzilla 2000 (2000)
1990s 10 years · $242.4M
- 1999 $164.1M #1 Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back! (1999)
- 1998 $1.7M #1 Cube (1998)
- 1997 $40.9M #1 Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (1997)
- 1996 $5.7M #1 Whisper of the Heart (1996)
- 1995 $1.5M #1 Pom Poko (1995)
- 1994 $169.4K #1 Sailor Moon S the Movie: Hearts in Ice (1994)
- 1993 $1.4M #1 Dragon Ball Z: Broly - The Legendary Super Saiyan (1993)
- 1992 $10.2M #1 Once Upon a Crime... (1992)
- 1991 $1.2M #1 Only Yesterday (1991)
- 1990 $15.4M #1 The Witches (1990)
1980s 8 years · $115.3M
- 1989 $16.9M #1 Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
- 1988 $58.3M #1 My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
- 1987 $3.7M #1 Dead Heat (1987)
- 1985 $17.6M #1 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1985)
- 1983 $87 #1 Golgo 13: The Professional (1983)
- 1982 $14.1M #1 Diner (1982)
- 1981 $777.5K #1 Lonely Heart (1981)
- 1980 $4M #1 Kagemusha (1980)
1970s 8 years · $763.7K
- 1979 $439.5K #1 Space Battleship Yamato: The New Voyage (1979)
- 1977 $223.9K #1 House (1977)
- 1976 $569 #1 In the Realm of the Senses (1976)
- 1975 $426 #1 Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975)
- 1974 $97.1K #1 Flower & Snake (1974)
- 1973 $637 #1 Belladonna of Sadness (1973)
- 1972 $585 #1 Ecstasy of the Angels (1972)
- 1970 $981 #1 Dodes’ka-den (1970)
1960s 10 years · $649K
- 1969 $231.3K #1 The Girl I Abandoned (1969)
- 1968 $1.2K #1 Nanami: The Inferno of First Love (1968)
- 1967 $15.5K #1 A Man Vanishes (1967)
- 1966 $35.9K #1 The Face of Another (1966)
- 1965 $628 #1 Resume of Love Affairs (1965)
- 1964 $1.2K #1 Onibaba (1964)
- 1963 $64.5K #1 High and Low (1963)
- 1962 $96.6K #1 Sanjuro (1962)
- 1961 $68.4K #1 Yojimbo (1961)
- 1960 $133.7K #1 When a Woman Ascends the Stairs (1960)
1950s 9 years · $1.1M
- 1958 $75.7K #1 The Hidden Fortress (1958)
- 1957 $65.6K #1 Throne of Blood (1957)
- 1956 $46.7K #1 The Burmese Harp (1956)
- 1955 $62.4K #1 I Live in Fear (1955)
- 1954 $599K #1 Godzilla (1954)
- 1953 $126.2K #1 Tokyo Story (1953)
- 1952 $6.9K #1 The Life of Oharu (1952)
- 1951 $139.8K #1 Rashomon (1951)
- 1950 $332 #1 The Munekata Sisters (1950)
1940s 3 years · $863.9K
FAQ
Japanese Box Office 2016: 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 64 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing Japanese-language movie in 2016?
Shin Godzilla (2016) leads with $82.1M worldwide, $6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Shin Godzilla (Godzilla Resurgence) (2016) at $78.1M and Doraemon: Nobita and the Birth of Japan (2016) at $50.9M.
How much did Japanese-language movies released in 2016 earn?
64 Japanese-language films released in 2016 report a worldwide gross, $662.6M in all, or $10.4M per film on average. 2015 releases took $634.7M.
How many Japanese-language movies released in 2016 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Shin Godzilla (2016), earned $82.1M.
How is the 2016 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 2016. 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 2016 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.