The highly anticipated live-action adaptation of Baban Baban Ban Vampire (ババンババンバンバンパイア) made its theatrical debut in Japan, securing the #5 spot at the box office during its opening weekend. The film, based on Hiromasa Okujima’s popular “bloody love-comedy” manga series, premiered on July 4, 2025.
Box Office Performance and Reception
Over its first three days in theaters, Baban Baban Ban Vampire sold approximately 100,000 tickets and amassed a total of 134,597,080 yen, equivalent to about US$922,800. According to Kogyo Tsushinsha, the film’s opening weekend gross placed it firmly in the top five. The Ryo Yoshizawa-starring feature also garnered a favorable audience response, ranking #4 in Filmarks’ first-day satisfaction survey with an average rating of 3.92/5.0 based on over 1,000 reviews.
The film’s performance marks a notable entry for the live-action adaptation of the manga, which has also seen an anime television series adaptation earlier in 2025.
From Manga to Screen: The Baban Baban Ban Vampire Story
The Baban Baban Ban Vampire franchise originates from Hiromasa Okujima’s manga, which began serialization in Akita Shoten’s Bessatsu Shōnen Champion magazine in October 2021. The narrative centers on Ranmaru Mori, a 450-year-old vampire who has taken up a part-time job at an old public bath. His ultimate goal is to taste the blood of an 18-year-old virgin, leading him to closely monitor Rihito Tatsuno, the 15-year-old son of the bathhouse owners, to ensure his “purity.” The comedic premise unfolds when Rihito falls in love, prompting Ranmaru to devise desperate schemes to prevent Rihito from losing his virginity.
Shinji Hamasaki directed the live-action film, with Yūko Matsuda penning the screenplay. Ryo Yoshizawa stars as the eccentric vampire Ranmaru Mori, while Rihito Itagaki portrays Rihito Tatsuno. Nanoka Hara co-stars as Aoi Shinozuka, Rihito’s love interest.
Production Challenges and Rescheduled Release
The live-action film faced a delay from its original premiere date. Initially slated for release on February 14, 2025, the film’s opening was postponed to July 4, 2025, due to “various circumstances.” Reports indicated that the postponement was related to an incident involving lead actor Ryo Yoshizawa. Despite the delay, the film’s successful opening underscores the anticipation surrounding the adaptation of the popular manga.
Broader Box Office Landscape
Baban Baban Ban Vampire‘s debut occurred in a dynamic Japanese box office environment. Notably, the film Kokuho (meaning “National Treasure”), also starring Ryo Yoshizawa, maintained its top position for a third consecutive weekend, solidifying its status as the highest-grossing Japanese live-action film of 2025 to date with over 4.4 billion yen in cumulative gross. The presence of two films featuring Yoshizawa concurrently in the top 10 highlights his significant presence in the current Japanese film industry. Additionally, the 36th film in the Anpanman franchise, Soreike! Anpanman: Chapon no Hero!, held steady at #8 in its second weekend, while Gekijōban Utano☆Princesama♪ TABOO NIGHT XXXX re-entered the top 10 at #10 in its ninth weekend.
