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Arts & Culture
19 April 2025

Detective Conan Movie Breaks Records With 1.05 Billion Yen Opening

The latest installment of the beloved anime series impresses fans and box office with strong first-day earnings.

The stage greeting for the 28th film in the "Detective Conan" series, "Detective Conan: The Million-Dollar Pentagram," took place on April 19, 2025, at TOHO Cinemas Hibiya in Tokyo, following its release the previous day. The film, featuring beloved characters and thrilling mysteries, has already made waves at the box office, grossing 1.05 billion yen and attracting 690,000 viewers on opening day alone.

In attendance at the event were key voice actors, including Minami Takayama, who voices the titular character Conan Edogawa, Wakana Yamazaki as Ran Mori, Rikiya Koyama as Kogoro Mori, Hiroshi Takada, Aimi Koshimizu, and guest voice actors Kotaro Yamada and Miyuki Yamashita. The excitement in the air was palpable as they shared their thoughts on the film's impressive start.

The film's plot revolves around Kogoro Mori and the Nagano Prefectural Police's Kazuha Oogami, set against the backdrop of the snow-covered mountains of Nagano. The story intertwines past and present incidents, showcasing Kogoro's first significant role in a theatrical release in 20 years. Takayama expressed her gratitude, remarking, "It's amazing! The uncle effect is incredible!" in reference to Kogoro's popularity.

The opening day figures have generated excitement among the cast and fans alike, with Takayama noting, "Thanks to everyone's warm feelings, it's 30 degrees outside. I want to keep that heat going!" The film's strong performance has set a new benchmark, achieving a 109% increase compared to the previous film, "Detective Conan: The Million-Dollar Pentagram," which grossed 15.88 billion yen last year.

As the stage greeting progressed, the audience erupted in applause upon learning of the film's success. One enthusiastic fan even shared that they had already seen the movie eight times, prompting Takayama to say, "It reaffirms how interesting it is that you can watch it multiple times!"

Guest voice actor Kotaro Yamada humorously commented on the film's box office success, stating, "It's something that can't be done with live-action. I mean, who watches a movie eight times in just two days?" His surprise at the film's popularity resonated with the other cast members, who shared their admiration for the series.

Meanwhile, Yamashita, who plays Madoka Enai, expressed her excitement during a preview screening, noting that every seat was filled, creating a thrilling atmosphere. She recounted, "I was seated between Yamada and the original creator, Gosho Aoyama. It was an intense experience, and I was sweating with excitement!"

The film's narrative features a gripping murder mystery linked to an avalanche incident in Nagano. Kazuha Oogami, while pursuing a suspect, finds himself in a perilous situation that leads to a dramatic chain of events. Ten months after surviving a near-fatal incident, he is drawn back into the investigation when a researcher at the observatory is attacked.

As the story unfolds, Conan and Kogoro, who are also investigating the avalanche, hear gunshots while on their way to meet a colleague from the Metropolitan Police Department. The film intricately weaves together the seemingly disparate lives of Kogoro and Kazuha, revealing the "sleeping memories" that connect them.

During the event, Koyama reflected on his character's return, saying, "It's been 20 years since Kogoro has been in the spotlight like this. I thought there might not be another chance. I might keep going until 2045!" His enthusiasm was met with laughter and applause from the audience.

Yamazaki, who portrays Ran, shared her admiration for Kogoro, stating, "Dad was so cool! I wish my mom could see him like this." The camaraderie among the cast was evident as they playfully bantered, with Takayama teasing Koyama about his "smug" demeanor.

As the event wrapped up, Takayama expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the fans, saying, "I am so happy to celebrate this opening day with all of you. I want to keep climbing many mountains together!" This sentiment resonated deeply with the audience, who applauded enthusiastically.

The film's success is a testament to the enduring popularity of the "Detective Conan" franchise, which has captivated audiences for years with its intriguing plots and beloved characters. As fans eagerly await future installments, the excitement surrounding this latest film promises to keep the spirit of Conan alive for generations to come.