China anime film imports box office: top Japanese releases
Japanese animation now competes with Hollywood blockbusters for imported-film market share in China, though approvals and release windows remain unpredictable.
Published: 2026-08-19. Updated: 2026-08-19.
Short answer: Japanese anime imports are among the highest-grossing foreign films in China. Suzume grossed $112.5 million, The First Slam Dunk reached $90.7 million, and Your Name totaled $83.7 million, according to Box Office Mojo. The Boy and the Heron reached $93.8 million in China by its second weekend, per The Hollywood Reporter.
Top Japanese anime imports in China
Box Office Mojo lists Suzume as the top-performing Japanese anime import in China with $112,467,000. The First Slam Dunk follows with $90,661,000, and Your Name sits at $83,678,210.
These figures place the three films well ahead of most Hollywood imports in recent years. Variety reported that The Super Mario Bros. Movie earned only $19.4 million in China, while The First Slam Dunk took $55.2 million in its first four days.
Top Japanese anime film imports in China, sources: Box Office Mojo, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, People's Daily.| Film | China gross | Release year |
|---|
| Suzume | $112,467,000 | 2023 |
| The First Slam Dunk | $90,661,000 | 2023 |
| Your Name | $83,678,210 | 2016/2024 re-release |
| The Boy and the Heron | $93.8 million | 2024 |
| Stand By Me Doraemon | $86,920,000 | 2015 |
| Howl's Moving Castle | 100+ million yuan | 2024 re-release |
Opening weekends and records
The First Slam Dunk opened in China on April 20, 2023. RADII reported that it generated 380 million yuan, roughly $55 million, in its first week. China Daily reported that by its third Sunday the film had reached 381 million yuan.
Suzume opened to $50 million in March 2023, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Variety reported $49.6 million for the Friday-to-Sunday frame. Both outlets noted it was the biggest start for a non-Chinese film that year.
Market dynamics
Japanese anime has filled the gap left by declining Hollywood performance in China. The Hollywood Reporter noted that Hollywood superhero and franchise films underperformed in 2023 and 2024, while anime titles such as Suzume and The First Slam Dunk drew strong audiences.
Nostalgia and youth IP are key drivers. RADII reported that The First Slam Dunk's audience was largely Chinese millennials who grew up with the 1990s Slam Dunk anime and manga.
Approvals and distribution
Import quotas and release timing remain outside public view. Films such as Suzume and The First Slam Dunk received China releases close to their Japanese debuts, while other titles face long delays or no release at all.
Distributors matter. Variety reported that Road Pictures has built a strategy around Japanese animation imports in China, handling Suzume and The First Slam Dunk.
Data limits
Public trackers convert yuan grosses to dollars at different exchange rates and dates. Box Office Mojo's totals for Suzume and The First Slam Dunk differ slightly from press reports citing Maoyan or Artisan Gateway.
This guide uses Box Office Mojo as the primary source for totals and trade publications for opening-weekend context and market analysis.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest-grossing Japanese anime film in China?
Box Office Mojo lists Suzume as the highest-grossing with $112,467,000 in China.
How did The First Slam Dunk perform in China?
It grossed $90,661,000 in China according to Box Office Mojo, with roughly $55 million in its first four days.
Why are Japanese anime imports successful in China?
Nostalgia for 1990s and 2000s anime, strong youth IP, and weaker Hollywood competition have helped titles like Suzume and The First Slam Dunk become major hits.
Sources and methodology
- Suzume, Box Office Mojo. China gross of $112,467,000 and worldwide total of $221,301,407, fetched August 2026.
- The First Slam Dunk, Box Office Mojo. China gross of $90,661,000 and Japan gross of $112,610,717, fetched August 2026.
- Japanese Anime Film 'The First Slam Dunk' Scores Big at China's Box Office, RADII. Reports 380 million yuan, roughly $55 million, in the first week of release in China.
- China Box Office: Anime Sensation 'First Slam Dunk' Scores Big With $56M Opening, The Hollywood Reporter. Reports a $55.2 million four-day opening and Suzume's roughly $110 million China total.