Japanese film releases postponed in China over audience sentiment

China's film importers and distributors have made a prudent decision to delay the release of several Japanese movies, including Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Super Hot, The Spicy Kasukabe Dancers, and Cells at Work, after a comprehensive assessment of the overall market performance of Japanese imports and the sentiment among Chinese audiences, China Media Group (CMG) reported.

Earlier, the animated film Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinite Castle – Part 1: Akaza Returns enjoyed a strong opening in China thanks to its established fanbase. However, provocative remarks made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi were met with an immediate backlash from Chinese audiences.

Dragged down by Takaichi's remarks, the film's box office sharply declined just three days after release, with market enthusiasm cooling rapidly.

Against this backdrop, importers and distributors of the Japanese films originally scheduled for release in the near future have indicated that provocative remarks from the Japanese side will inevitably affect Chinese viewers' perception of these films. In accordance with market principles and respecting audience sentiment, they have decided to postpone the releases.

As of November 16, the total box office in the Chinese mainland has reached 45.543 billion yuan (about $6.4 billion) in 2025, maintaining its position as the world's second-largest film market. Domestic films accounted for 40.298 billion yuan (about $5.7 billion), making up 88.48 percent of the total, CMG reported. This year marks the third time in Chinese film history that domestic box office revenue has surpassed the 40-billion-yuan milestone.