Doraemon Film Holds Japan Box Office Crown for Sixth Straight Weekend

Doraemon: Nobita and the New Castle of the Undersea Devil remained the number one film at the Japan box office for its sixth consecutive weekend as of the first week of April 2026. The latest entry in the long-running Doraemon franchise has proven to be an unusually durable theatrical performer, maintaining its dominant position through the entire transition from winter to spring.

A Dominant and Unusual Run

The film opened in late February 2026 and has not relinquished the top spot since, holding off competition from live-action releases, Hollywood imports, and other anime films week after week. Six consecutive weekends at number one is a strong showing by any standard in the Japanese theatrical market, where the top spot typically changes hands every two to three weeks.

The previous Doraemon films have generally held the number one position for two to three weekends before yielding to new releases. The extended dominance of The New Castle of the Undersea Devil suggests it has connected with audiences beyond the franchise's usual family demographic, drawing in older viewers and repeat customers at a rate the series has not seen in recent installments.

The Challenge Ahead

The film's reign faces its biggest test yet with the April 10 opening of Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway, which arrives in a franchise-record 526 theaters across Japan. The annual Detective Conan film traditionally dominates the Japan box office through Golden Week, the cluster of national holidays in late April and early May that drives peak theatrical attendance. The head-to-head between two of anime's most reliable and enduring theatrical franchises will shape the April box office charts.

What This Means for the Franchise

Doraemon remains one of the most commercially consistent anime properties in Japan, with annual theatrical releases that reliably draw millions of viewers. The New Castle of the Undersea Devil's six-week performance suggests the franchise may be entering a new phase of box office strength, potentially driven by nostalgia among adult viewers who grew up with the series and are now bringing their own children to theaters.

For Indian audiences, Doraemon holds a special significance as one of the most recognizable anime properties in the country. The franchise has been a television staple for years through Hindi and regional language dubs on channels like Hungama TV and Disney Channel India. While the theatrical releases have not historically received wide Indian distribution, the franchise's deep cultural footprint in India makes its continued box office dominance in Japan noteworthy for the anime community.