#1 of 58 #1 Japanese-language movie of 2021
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2021)
2021 · Action, Adventure
$485.5M worldwide · 42% of the chart's total
$49.9M US & Canada · 10% $435.7M elsewhere · 90%
Japanese box office · 2021
Japanese Box Office 2021: Highest-Grossing Japanese Movies
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2021) is the highest-grossing Japanese-language movie released in 2021, with $485.5M worldwide, ahead of Detective Conan: The Scarlet Bullet (2021) at $95.4M and Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) at $93.9M. 58 Japanese-language films released in 2021 report a worldwide gross, $1.2B in all, 6% of it from the US & Canada. One film crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 39% on 2020, whose releases took $833.1M. By genre, Action leads with $878.1M across 18 Japanese releases.
- 2021 releases with a gross
- 58
- combined worldwide
- $1.2B
- film crossed $100M
- 1
- vs 2020
- +39%
#1 of 58 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Japanese Hits of 2021?
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2021) leads with $485.5M, 42% of the total. The top 5 together took $761.5M, 66% of what all 58 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1 $485.5M Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2021)$49.9M US & Canada · 10% $435.7M elsewhere · 90%
-
Number 2 -
Number 3 $93.9M Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021)$810.7K US & Canada · <1% $93.1M elsewhere · 99% -
Number 4 $46.9M My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission (2021)$12.3M US & Canada · 26% $34.7M elsewhere · 74% -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Japanese Release of 2021, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 58. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2021.
- 1 Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2021) Apr 23, 2021 · Action, Adventure $485.5M worldwideApr 23, 2021 US and Canada: $49.9M Rest of the world: $435.7M Worldwide: $485.5M
- 2 Apr 16, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $95.4M
- 3 Aug 13, 2021 US and Canada: $810.7K Rest of the world: $93.1M Worldwide: $93.9M
- 4 Oct 29, 2021 US and Canada: $12.3M Rest of the world: $34.7M Worldwide: $46.9M
- 5 Jul 9, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $39.7M
- 6
Jan 29, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $35M - 7
Sep 17, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $32.3M - 8
Dec 30, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $23.1M - 9
Dec 30, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $22.7M - 10
Crayon Shin-chan: Shrouded in Mystery! The Flowers of Tenkazu Academy (2021) Apr 23, 2021 · Animation $21.2M worldwideApr 23, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $21.2M - 11
Oct 8, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $21.1M - 12
Jun 11, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $18.7M - 13
Jan 8, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $17.2M - 14
Dec 10, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $16.5M - 15
Aug 20, 2021 US and Canada: $3.9M Rest of the world: $12.5M Worldwide: $16.4M - 16
Nov 24, 2021 US and Canada: $2.4M Rest of the world: $13M Worldwide: $15.4M - 17
Oct 29, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $14.4M - 18
Sword Art Online: Progressive - Aria of a Starless Night (2021) Dec 3, 2021 · Action, Adventure $14M worldwideDec 3, 2021 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: $13M Worldwide: $14M - 19
Nov 17, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $11.3M - 20
Nov 3, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $11.3M - 21
Mar 19, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.4M - 22
Feb 11, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.3M - 23
Oct 15, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.5M - 24
Jul 9, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8.4M - 25
Oct 1, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.6M - 26
The Laws of the Universe: The Age of Elohim (2021) Oct 22, 2021 · Animation, Fantasy $5.9M worldwideOct 22, 2021 US and Canada: $15.8K Rest of the world: $5.9M Worldwide: $5.9M - 27
Mar 12, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.7M - 28
Feb 5, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.6M - 29
Mar 26, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.3M - 30
Mar 26, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.3M - 31
Kamen Rider Saber + Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger: Super Hero Chronicles (2021) Jul 22, 2021 · Adventure, Action $4.2M worldwideJul 22, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.2M - 32
Dec 17, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3M - 33
Oct 15, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.9M - 34
Apr 16, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.6M - 35
Aug 10, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.6M - 36
Oct 22, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.5M - 37
Sep 3, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.4M - 38
Oct 15, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.5M - 39
Apr 23, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1M - 40
Jul 2, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1M - 41
Mar 5, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1M - 42
Apr 29, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1M - 43
Feb 3, 2021 US and Canada: $173.7K Rest of the world: $669K Worldwide: $842.7K - 44
Dec 3, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $831.6K - 45
Nov 12, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $565.6K - 46
Sep 26, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $563.6K - 47
Nov 2, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $415.8K - 48
Nov 26, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $389.8K - 49
Aug 20, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $283.6K - 50
Jun 4, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $164.5K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2021?
Of the top 10, My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission (2021) earned the biggest share at home (26% in the US & Canada), while Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) made 99% of its gross abroad. Across all 58 films, $70.5M (6%) came from the US & Canada. 7 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2021) $485.5M $49.9M US & Canada · 10% $435.7M elsewhere · 90%
- 2 Detective Conan: The Scarlet Bullet (2021) $95.4M No US & Canada figure reported
- 3 Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) $93.9M $810.7K US & Canada · <1% $93.1M elsewhere · 99%
- 4 My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission (2021) $46.9M $12.3M US & Canada · 26% $34.7M elsewhere · 74%
- 5 Tokyo Revengers (2021) $39.7M No US & Canada figure reported
- 6 We Made a Beautiful Bouquet (2021) $35M No US & Canada figure reported
- 7 Masquerade Night (2021) $32.3M No US & Canada figure reported
- 8 99.9 Criminal Lawyer: The Movie (2021) $23.1M No US & Canada figure reported
- 9 Poupelle of Chimney Town (2021) $22.7M No US & Canada figure reported
- 10 Crayon Shin-chan: Shrouded in Mystery! The Flowers of Tenkazu Academy (2021) $21.2M No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many 2021 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
1 of 58 films crossed $100M and took $485.5M between them, 42% of the total. 36 films, 62% of the list, earned under $10M.
42% 51%
- $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 1 film, 2% of the list $485.5M · 42% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 21 films, 36% of the list $587.3M · 51% of the gross
- Under $10M 36 films, 62% of the list $82M · 7% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2021 Earned the Most?
April releases took the most, $606.9M from 7 films, led by Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2021). February was the quietest month ($16.8M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan We Made a Beautiful Bouquet (2021) $52.3M We Made a Beautiful Bouquet (2021)
- February Feb Detective Conan: The Scarlet Alibi (2021) $16.8M Detective Conan: The Scarlet Alibi (2021)
- March Mar Caution, Hazardous Wife: The Movie (2021) $26.7M Caution, Hazardous Wife: The Movie (2021)
- April Apr Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2021) $606.9M Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2021)
- May May No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- June Jun Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway (2021) $19M Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway (2021)
- July Jul Tokyo Revengers (2021) $53.5M Tokyo Revengers (2021)
- August Aug Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) $113.2M Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021)
- September Sep Masquerade Night (2021) $35.2M Masquerade Night (2021)
- October Oct My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission (2021) $111.5M My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission (2021)
- November Nov Drive My Car (2021) $39.4M Drive My Car (2021)
- December Dec 99.9 Criminal Lawyer: The Movie (2021) $80.3M 99.9 Criminal Lawyer: The Movie (2021)
Last 10 years
How Does 2021 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2021 earned the most: $1.2B from 58 films, led by Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2021).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 69 films | 69 | $1B | – | 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 |
| 2017 102 films · +60% | 102 | $1.1B | +60% | Your Name. (2017) $405.3M |
| 2018 79 films · −37% | 79 | $667.3M | −37% | Code Blue: The Movie (2018) $78.8M |
| 2019 91 films · +26% | 91 | $842.4M | +26% | Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2019) $115.8M |
| 2020 64 films · −1% | 64 | $833.1M | −1% | Weathering with You (2020) $192.4M |
| 2021 58 films · +39% | 58 | $1.2B | +39% | Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2021) $485.5M |
By genre
Which Japanese Genres Earned the Most in 2021?
Action took $878.1M across 18 films, 76% of the total, ahead of Animation ($854.2M) and Fantasy ($594.8M). A film counts once for each of its genres.
2021 Japanese Box Office by Genre
-
Action $878.1M18 films · #1 Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2021) -
Animation $854.2M25 films · #1 Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2021) -
Fantasy $594.8M11 films · #1 Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2021) -
Adventure $561.2M6 films · #1 Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2021) -
Drama $313.6M29 films · #1 Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) -
Sci-Fi $194M12 films · #1 Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) -
Crime $190.4M4 films · #1 Detective Conan: The Scarlet Bullet (2021) -
Mystery $185.8M9 films · #1 Detective Conan: The Scarlet Bullet (2021) -
Thriller $138.5M6 films · #1 Detective Conan: The Scarlet Bullet (2021) -
Romance $86.9M11 films · #1 We Made a Beautiful Bouquet (2021)
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
- 2026 so far $117.5M #1 Exit 8 (2026)
- 2025 $1.3B #1 Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Infinity Castle (2025)
- 2024 $609.9M #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 $567.9M #1 Tales from Earthsea (2006)
- 2005 $431.5M #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 · $651K
- 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 $135.8K #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 2021: 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 58 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing Japanese-language movie in 2021?
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2021) leads with $485.5M worldwide, $49.9M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Detective Conan: The Scarlet Bullet (2021) at $95.4M and Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) at $93.9M.
How much did Japanese-language movies released in 2021 earn?
58 Japanese-language films released in 2021 report a worldwide gross, $1.2B in all, or $19.9M per film on average. 2020 releases took $833.1M.
How many Japanese-language movies released in 2021 made $1 billion?
None. 1 film crossed $100 million, led by Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2021) with $485.5M.
How is the 2021 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 2021. 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 2021 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.