Live-action film '5 Centimeters per Second' surpasses original anime score... 60,000 viewers in just 6 days after release

The live-action film 〈5 Centimeters per Second〉, based on the legendary anime of the same name directed by Makoto Shinkai, has created a box office sensation that surpasses the original's fame, exceeding 60,000 cumulative viewers just 6 days after its release. Following its debut, it claimed the top spot at the box office for concurrent releases and art films, setting a solo dominance while breaking records for Japanese romance films.

Box office trend surpassing the original... breaking records of romance masterpieces

〈5 Centimeters per Second〉 is a work that captures the lyrical love and longing of Takaki and Akari, who are growing up at their own pace while holding onto childhood memories. Currently, the film's box office speed is outpacing the early trends of 〈Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight〉 and 〈The Remaining 10 Years of Life〉, which were greatly loved domestically. In particular, the fact that it is achieving results that exceed the records of the original anime has led to a prevailing evaluation that it has been recognized for its independent completeness beyond a simple live-action adaptation.

“Deeper resonance than the original” overwhelming praise and word of mouth from viewers

The reactions from actual viewers are spreading rapidly through social media and online communities. Fans of the original have praised it, saying, “I felt a deeper resonance than the original,” and “a film that brings back past emotions while giving strength to move forward into the future.”

In particular, the visual beauty and direction unique to the live-action film have received notable acclaim. From analyses stating, “The background artwork and light expression, along with the colors of the snow scene, move with the characters' emotional lines,” to audiences shedding tears over the delicate emotional expressions of the adult protagonists, the film is igniting a word-of-mouth frenzy as an 'experiential romance film' thanks to the harmony of graphics, emotions, and the actors' performances.

With its unique emotionality coloring the theaters in cherry blossom hues, 〈5 Centimeters per Second〉 is recording unwavering reservation rates in its second week of release, signaling a long-term box office syndrome.