After nearly three decades of officially captivating audiences, the “Detective Conan” franchise has maintained its fervent popularity not just in Japan, but globally. Following the release of its 26th film last year, titled “Detective Conan: The Milky Way Star’s 1 Million Dollar,” the franchise has once again etched its name in the golden annals of Japanese cinema with its latest feature film.
The film “Detective Conan: The Milky Way Star’s 1 Million Dollar” officially premiered in Japan on April 12. As of now, it has achieved an impressive box office revenue of 15.3 billion yen (approximately $146 million), making it the highest-grossing film in Japan’s box office and 21st worldwide for 2024. However, it is still striving to surpass this remarkable milestone.
Specifically, on its opening day, “The Milky Way Star’s 1 Million Dollar” attracted nearly 630,000 viewers and garnered close to 1 billion yen in revenue. After just three days of release, the film amassed a total of 3.3 billion yen from 2.2 million tickets sold, marking it as the most successful film of the year, surpassing even the “super blockbuster” of the summer 2023 season, “The Dark Steel Submarine.”
If the remarkable success of the 2023 film “The Dark Steel Submarine” was impressive, then “The Milky Way Star’s 1 Million Dollar” is proving that the “Detective Conan” legacy can achieve even greater heights. The film only took 22 days to enter the “10 billion yen club” of the Japanese box office, and 44 days to surpass the achievement of “The Dark Steel Submarine” – which had taken 191 days to cross the same threshold.
And after 73 days of release, the film has reached 15 billion yen—a significant figure that is hard for any film to surpass in Japan this year. Director Chika Nagaoka has officially become the first female director in Japan to helm a film that exceeds 15 billion yen in box office revenue.
Regarding ticket sales, “The Milky Way Star’s 1 Million Dollar” has further solidified the “Detective Conan” brand, which has continuously broken box office records in Japan. The franchise has reached a staggering total of 100 million tickets sold across its entire series, ranking third after “Doraemon” and “Godzilla.” However, it’s worth noting that “Doraemon” took 33 films over many years to achieve this milestone, while “Godzilla” reached it with 29 films over 62 years. In contrast, “Detective Conan” achieved this figure in just 27 years with 27 films, making it the fastest series to reach 100 million ticket sales in history.
As we approach closer to the latest film’s release, the “Detective Conan” movies have often focused on action-oriented plots, leading to some “die-hard” fans feeling a bit jaded. However, in this 27th film, Director Chika Nagaoka has brought back all the unique elements that originally captivated audiences, ensuring that the franchise stays true to its roots.
While the previous films featured a range of new characters, the 27th installment prominently showcases fan-favorite characters, including the “super thief” Kid, the Western detective Hattori Heiji, and his childhood friend Kazuha Tomoya, making it a thrilling experience for devoted fans of these characters.
The film effectively combines various elements of reasoning, mystery-solving, stealth, and action, keeping the audience engaged while showcasing the chemistry between the two main detectives, who navigate through intricate plots and thrilling encounters. The appearance of the Heiji-Kazuha duo also adds a humorous and romantic touch, which is a hallmark of the “Detective Conan” series.
With these bright milestones at the Japanese box office, “The Milky Way Star’s 1 Million Dollar” is set to continue its legacy as it gears up for its official release in Vietnam this August, promising to deliver thrills and excitement for fans in the region.
