The live-action film adaptation of the popular manga series “Trillion Game” has premiered at number one in the Japanese box office, surpassing even Marvel’s latest blockbuster, “Captain America: Brave New World.” The film’s successful launch highlights the continued popularity of manga adaptations and their strong appeal to Japanese audiences.
“Trillion Game” Dominates Opening Weekend
The “Trillion Game” film, a sequel to the 2023 TV drama series, opened in 345 theaters across Japan on February 14, 2025. During its opening three-day weekend, the film grossed an impressive 616 million yen (approximately $4.06 million USD) with 438,000 admissions. This performance secured its position at the top of the box office charts, demonstrating a strong start for the adaptation of Riichiro Inagaki and Ryoichi Ikegami‘s manga.
Beating the Captain
Notably, “Trillion Game” outperformed “Captain America: Brave New World,” which debuted in second place with 463 million yen (approximately $3.01 million USD). While the Marvel film still had a respectable opening, it wasn’t enough to dethrone the popular Japanese franchise on its home turf. This outcome underlines the local appeal and dedicated fanbase that “Trillion Game” has cultivated through its manga and television series.
Fan Reception
While the box office numbers signal a successful launch, initial audience reception has been mixed. On Filmarks, a Japanese movie review site, “Trillion Game” ranked fifth in first-day satisfaction with an average rating of 3.79/5.0 based on 823 reviews. In comparison, “Captain America: Brave New World” garnered a slightly higher rating of 3.91/5.0 based on significantly more reviews (9,467). These early reviews suggest that while the film is commercially successful, it may not be a critical darling.
The “Trillion Game” Phenomenon: From Manga to Screen
“Trillion Game” originated as a manga series written by Riichiro Inagaki and illustrated by Ryoichi Ikegami. It was first serialized in Shogakukan’s seinen manga magazine, Big Comic Superior, in December 2020 and remains ongoing. As of February 14, 2025, the series consists of ten tankobon volumes. Viz Media licensed the manga for English publication in February 2024, releasing it on September 17 of the same year.
Storyline and Characters
The “Trillion Game” story revolves around Haru and Manabu, two individuals with contrasting skills and personalities, who team up with the ambitious goal of earning a trillion dollars. The manga follows their entrepreneurial journey, navigating the challenges and complexities of the business world. The anime adaptation is currently ongoing, with Studio Madhouse bringing the story to life.
Live-Action Adaptation
The live-action adaptation includes both a television drama series that aired in 2023 and the newly released film. The movie acts as a sequel to the TV series, continuing the story and exploring new challenges for the protagonists. The success of the film suggests that the live-action adaptation has resonated with audiences, further solidifying the franchise’s popularity.
Other Box Office Highlights
Besides the debut of “Trillion Game” and “Captain America: Brave New World,” other films also made noteworthy performances in the Japanese box office:
- “First Kiss,” which debuted in first place the previous week, dropped to third place. The movie grossed around 242 million yen over the three-day weekend, bringing its cumulative total to over 540,000 viewers and 779 million yen in box office revenue.
- “366 Days” dropped one rank to fourth place, drawing a total of 1.51 million viewers and grossing over 1.9 billion yen.
- “Nintama Rantaro the Movie: Dokutake Ninja Corps Strongest Strategist” moved up one rank to fifth place in its ninth week since release. It has attracted over 1.67 million people in total, with box office revenue approaching 2.5 billion yen.
- “Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuX -Beginning-,” the theatrical pre-release version of “Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuX (Zeku Axe),” ranked seventh, attracting over 1.55 million people in total and exceeding 2.5 billion yen in box office revenue.
The Rise of Anime and Manga Adaptations
The success of “Trillion Game” is part of a larger trend of successful anime and manga adaptations in Japan and worldwide. These adaptations often leverage existing fanbases and intellectual property, providing a built-in audience and reducing marketing risks.
Factors Contributing to Success
Several factors contribute to the success of these adaptations:
- Strong Source Material: Many anime and manga series have well-developed storylines, compelling characters, and unique worlds that translate well to live-action formats.
- Dedicated Fanbases: Anime and manga often have large and dedicated fanbases eager to see their favorite stories and characters brought to life.
- Cultural Relevance: Anime and manga are deeply ingrained in Japanese culture, making adaptations naturally appealing to local audiences.
- Global Appeal: The popularity of anime and manga extends beyond Japan, attracting international audiences to adaptations as well.
Challenges and Considerations
Despite their potential for success, adapting anime and manga to live-action also presents challenges:
- Staying True to the Source Material: Balancing faithfulness to the original story with the need for adaptation to a new medium can be difficult.
- Casting and Character Representation: Casting actors who can accurately portray the characters’ personalities and appearances is crucial.
- Visual Effects and Production Value: Recreating the unique visuals and action sequences of anime and manga requires high-quality visual effects and production value.
- Avoiding “Cringeworthy” Adaptations: Some adaptations have been criticized for being poorly executed or failing to capture the essence of the original material.
Future of Live-Action Adaptations
The success of “Trillion Game” suggests that live-action adaptations of anime and manga will continue to be a significant trend in the entertainment industry. As technology improves and production techniques evolve, these adaptations are likely to become even more sophisticated and appealing to audiences worldwide. Whether “Trillion Game” will make its way to North American cinemas is yet to be seen, but the franchise’s win at the Japanese box office is a promising sign for the future of anime and manga adaptations globally.
