Two new Japanese films, the live-action adaptation of Gazing at the Star Next Door and the anime feature Odekake Kozame, made their box office debuts this past weekend, securing the #9 and #10 spots respectively. Their openings add fresh titles to a competitive market currently dominated by established franchises.
Gazing at the Star Next Door Captures #9 Spot
The live-action film adaptation of Ammitsu’s popular romance shōjo manga series, Gazing at the Star Next Door (隣のステラ, Tonari no Sutera), opened at #9 in its inaugural weekend. Directed by Hana Matsumoto, known for her work on the Oshi no Ko live-action drama series, the film premiered in Japanese theaters on August 22, 2025.
The movie stars Riko Fukumoto as the main heroine Chiaki Amano and Yusei Yagi, a member of the dance and vocal group FANTASTICS from EXILE TRIBE, as her childhood friend and rising actor Subaru Hiiragi. FANTASTICS also performs the film’s theme song, “Itsumo Tonari de” (Always By My Side). The story centers on Chiaki, a “pretty normal teenage girl,” and her enduring feelings for Subaru as he navigates the pressures of burgeoning fame.
Gazing at the Star Next Door was released in 307 theaters across Japan. It received an average rating of 3.60/5.0 based on 303 reviews in Filmarks’ first-day satisfaction ranking, placing it sixth among newly released films. The original manga, serialized in Kodansha’s Bessatsu Friend magazine since January 2022, has been licensed for English publication by Kodansha USA.
Odekake Kozame Anime Film Swims into #10
The highly anticipated anime film Eiga Odekake Kozame Tokai no Otomodachi (Film Little Shark’s Outings: The City’s Friend), based on Penguin Box’s charming Odekake Kozame manga, debuted at #10. The movie, which also premiered on August 22, 2025, follows the nostalgic everyday adventures of the titular baby shark, Kozame-chan.
Directed by Chihiro Kumano at ENGI, with Hiroaki Nagashima writing the script, the film is a continuation of an original net animation (ONA) series that streamed on YouTube from August 2023 to May 2024. Kana Hanazawa reprises her role as Kozame-chan. The film centers on Kozame-chan’s trip to the bustling city after being inspired by a glittering poster, leading her on a big adventure.
Eiga Odekake Kozame Tokai no Otomodachi opened in 221 theaters. It garnered positive audience feedback, ranking third in Filmarks’ satisfaction ratings with an average score of 3.87/5.0 from 177 reviews.
Broader Box Office Landscape Dominated by Demon Slayer
The openings of Gazing at the Star Next Door and Odekake Kozame occurred in a Japanese box office environment still heavily influenced by the juggernaut Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle – Akaza Sairai. The first film in the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle trilogy maintained its #1 ranking for the sixth consecutive weekend.
From Friday to Sunday, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle – Akaza Sairai sold an impressive 764,000 tickets and earned 1.154 billion yen (approximately US$7.84 million). In its 38 days since release, the film has sold a total of 19,825,555 tickets, grossing 28,087,694,600 yen (about US$190.8 million). These figures propelled the Demon Slayer film past James Cameron’s Titanic to become the #3 highest-earning film of all time in Japan. In contrast, the previous film, Demon Slayer – Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train, surpassed Titanic in 45 days.
Other notable films in the top ranks included Eiga Crayon Shin-chan Chō Karei! Shakunetsu no Kasukabe Dancers (“Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Super Hot! The Spicy Kasukabe Dancers”), which held its #5 position for its fifth weekend. The strong performance of these diverse films highlights the vibrant and varied Japanese cinema market.
