The latest installment in the Detective Conan anime film franchise, Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback, has premiered in Japan and is already making waves. The film has set a new three-day opening record for the franchise, demonstrating the enduring popularity of the series. Let’s delve into the details of this exciting release and what it means for the future of Detective Conan.
A Record-Breaking Start
Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback debuted in Japanese theaters on April 18, 2025, and immediately made a splash. In its first three days, the film grossed over ¥3.43 billion (approximately US$24.15 million) and sold 2,314,690 tickets, according to Cinema Today. This impressive performance marks a new opening-weekend record for the Detective Conan franchise.
Here’s a breakdown of the film’s earnings over the first three days:
- Day 1 (Friday, April 18): ¥1.05 billion (about US$7.43 million) and 697,355 tickets sold
- Day 2 (Saturday, April 19): ¥1.24 billion (about US$8.75 million) and 835,908 tickets sold
- Day 3 (Sunday, April 20): ¥1.13 billion (about US$7.96 million) and 781,427 tickets sold
Toho, the film’s distributor, expressed confidence in its performance, anticipating that it will surpass the previous highest-grossing film in the franchise.
Outperforming its Predecessor
The previous film, Detective Conan: The Million-dollar Pentagram, released in 2024, had a strong opening as well, earning ¥960 million (about US$6.26 million at the time) on its opening day. One-Eyed Flashback outperformed its predecessor by reaching 109% of its opening day numbers. The Million-dollar Pentagram eventually became the highest-grossing film in the franchise, earning a total of ¥15.8 billion.
This year’s One-Eyed Flashback has not only surpassed the opening day earnings but also the opening three-day earnings of The Million-Dollar Pentagram, which made ¥3,352,494,500 (about US$21.7 million) during its first three days.
A Consistent Track Record
The Detective Conan franchise has consistently broken records in recent years. Detective Conan: Black Iron Submarine, released in 2023, earned ¥13.88 billion, only to be surpassed the following year by The Million-dollar Pentagram. All eyes are now on One-Eyed Flashback to see if it can continue this upward trend and set a new all-time high for the long-running series.
Story and Setting
Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback is set in the snowy mountains of Nagano Prefecture. The story involves Kogoro Mori, known as “The Sleeping Detective,” and Yamato Kansuke, “The One-Eyed Detective.” The film delves into a past incident where Yamato Kansuke is injured in the snowy mountains while pursuing a suspect. A rifle bullet grazes his left eye, leading to an avalanche. Ten months later, Yamato, now one-eyed, investigates an attack at the Nobeyama National Astronomical Observatory, where his injured eye begins to ache.
Conan and Kogoro become involved when a former colleague of Kogoro’s from the Metropolitan Police Department, “Wani,” investigates the avalanche and finds Kogoro’s name in the case file. As they head to meet Wani, a gunshot rings out, setting the stage for a thrilling mystery.
Production Details
Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback is directed by Katsuya Shigehara, who previously worked as a unit director on Detective Conan: Black Iron Submarine. The screenplay is written by Takeharu Sakurai, who has written various films in the series. Yugo Kanno returns to compose the music for the movie. The film is the 28th installment in the Case Closed film series, based on the manga series by Gosho Aoyama.
The movie features the theme song “Twilight!!!” performed by King Gnu.
Kogoro Mori’s Key Role
One-Eyed Flashback shines a spotlight on Kogoro Mori, giving him a more significant role than in previous films. While Kogoro is often portrayed as a comic relief character, this film presents a more sympathetic and heroic side of him. He is determined to be part of the investigation, showcasing his loyalty and dedication to justice.
Release and Availability
Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback opened in 522 theaters across Japan, the largest number in the history of the franchise. The film is being screened in IMAX, MX4D, 4DX, and Dolby Cinema, in addition to regular screenings. While the film’s popularity in Japan is undeniable, its international presence, particularly in North America, has been limited. Previous Detective Conan films have seen limited releases or have been available through streaming services.
Cast
The film features a star-studded cast, including:
- Minami Takayama as Conan Edogawa
- Wakana Yamazaki as Ran Mori
- Rikiya Koyama as Kogoro Mori
- Megumi Hayashibara as Ai Haibara
- Yūji Takada
- Show Hayami
- Ami Koshimizu
- Yukimasa Kishino
- Takeshi Kusao as Toru Amuro / Rei Furuya
- Nobuo Tobita
- Hiroaki Hirata as Wani
- Mizuki Yamashita
- Takayuki Yamada
Reception
Early reviews of Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback suggest that it is a solid addition to the film series. Fans have expressed excitement about the focus on Kogoro Mori and the engaging mystery set in the snowy mountains of Nagano Prefecture.
Future Prospects
With its record-breaking opening, Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback is poised to become another major success in the franchise. The enduring popularity of Detective Conan, combined with the film’s compelling story and impressive production values, suggests that it could potentially surpass The Million-dollar Pentagram to become the highest-grossing film in the series.
The Detective Conan franchise continues to thrive, captivating audiences with its intricate mysteries, beloved characters, and thrilling action. One-Eyed Flashback is a testament to the series’ enduring appeal and its ability to consistently deliver high-quality entertainment.
As the film continues its run in Japanese theaters, fans and industry observers alike will be watching closely to see if it can break even more records and solidify its place as one of the most successful anime films of all time.
