The Guide to Japanese Film Industry & Co -Production - UNIJAPAN

Chapter 1
Japan’s Film Industry Major Distributors
title box office
Imported films 1 Red Cliff Part 1 ¥5.05 billion
2 Wanted ¥2.50 billion
3 The Mummy—Tomb of the Dragon Emperor ¥2.20 billion
4 American Gangster ¥1.05 billion
5 August Rush ¥0.75 billion
6 Elizabeth: The Golden Age ¥0.65 billion
7 Charlie Wilson’s War ¥0.46 billion
8 Mr. Bean’s Holiday ¥0.45 billion
Others Atonement
Leatherheads
Death Race
Forgetting Sarah Marshall less than ¥0.30 billion
total ¥14.10 billion
Source: Kinema Junpo Film Institute
¢ Gaga Communications, Inc.
In 2008, Gaga Communications earned ¥7,753.48 million excluding The
Golden Compass jointly distributed with Shochiku and Climber’s High
jointly distributed with Toei, reaching 155% of their ¥5,014.30 million in
2007.
However, its attempt to realize a major synergy effect with Gyao by
joining the USEN Group in December 2004 did not move forward as it
had expected, and Gaga Communications at last in April 2008 announced
its policy to withdraw from the film purchase business and equity
participation in filmmaking. At the same time, USEN Corp. President Uno
Yasuhide established “U’s Film” with his personal funds to take over Gaga
Communications’ film business.
Despite the commotion regarding the company’s future direction,
the fact that it successfully distributed a documentary film, Earth Planet,
with box-office takings of ¥2.4 billion, should be noted for its meticulous
promotion expected only from an independent film distribution. Gaga
Communications also saved its own face by bringing in over ¥1 billion
from John Rambo.
Among Japanese films it distributed, Cyborg, She (Boku no kanojo
wa cyborg) showed a relatively strong performance with revenues of ¥700
million, although 700 Days of Battle: Us vs. the Police (Bokutachi to chuzaisan
no 700 nichi senso) and Snakes and Earrings (Hebi ni piasu) failed to
turn in satisfactory performance.
title box office
Japanese film 1 Cyborg, She ¥0.70 billion
Others 700 Days of Battle: Us vs. the Police
Snakes and Earrings less than ¥0.30 billion
Imported films 1 Earth ¥2.40 billion
2 Sex and the City ¥1.70 billion
3 Rambo ¥1.00 billion
4 Journey to the Center of the Earth ¥0.85 billion
5 Next ¥0.45 billion
Others Mister Lonely
Annie Leibovitz—Life Through a Lens
Ninja Cheerleaders
Goodbye Bafana
Hot Fuzz
Semi-pro
Love in the Time of Cholera less than ¥0.30 billion
total ¥7.80 billion
Source: Kinema Junpo Film Institute
¢ Asmik Ace Entertainment, Inc.
In 2008, Asmik Ace Entertainment raked in ¥6,029.45 million in annual
box-office takings, raising them to 113% of their ¥5,327.29 million for 2007.
Asmik Ace released seven films independently, two films with Kadokawa
Entertainment and another film with Astaire, for a total of 10 films for the
year, down one from 2007. The commissioned distribution of Dreamworks
films, which Gaga Communications started in 2005, ended with Kung Fu
Panda released in the summer.
Going forward, Dreamworks live-action films will be distributed
by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Japan and animation films by
Paramount. The much-anticipated Kung Fu Panda fared well with boxoffice
takings of ¥2 billion, but still failed to reach its target, considering
that in Korea, the film drew over four million movie-goers (the audience
numbers translated into over ¥5 billion at the average admission fee in
Japan).
Silk, a film jointly produced with Italian and Canadian companies,
earned ¥280 million. My Blueberry Nights directed by Wong Kar-Wai
earned ¥550 million through the expanded showing. The Diving Bell and
the Butterfly (Le scaphandre et le papil), released at Cinema Rise, turned in
a steady performance with box-office takings of ¥170 million.
Among Japanese films, Best Wishes for Tomorrow earned ¥600 million,
followed by firm results for The Witch of the West Is Dead with ¥450 million
and Gu Gu, the Cat with ¥260 million.
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