Look Back box office: Japan, China and the US release
A short film adapted from a one-shot manga became a Japanese sleeper hit, then earned more in China and Korea.
Published: 2026-10-13. Updated: 2026-10-13.
Short answer: Look Back opened in Japan on June 28, 2024 and had passed 2 billion yen (about $13.1 million, per Screen Daily) by late October 2024. The Numbers lists $25,224,031 worldwide, including $13,227,856 in Japan (reported February 5, 2025) and $7,444,920 in China. Box Office Mojo shows a much lower worldwide total, so the sources disagree.
What did Look Back earn in Japan?
Screen Daily reported that the film had taken more than 2 billion yen, which it put at $13.1 million, at the Japan box office since opening on June 28, 2024. It gave no exact as-of date beyond late October 2024.
The Numbers lists $13,227,856 for Japan with a report date of February 5, 2025, which is consistent with that figure.
What about overseas?
The Numbers lists a worldwide total of $25,224,031 and an international total of $23,221,761, reported September 29, 2026. Its territory table includes China at $7,444,920 (opened October 26, 2024), South Korea at $2,188,466, Australia at $203,003 and the United Kingdom at $63,005.
GKIDS released the film in the United States as a special engagement on October 4, 2024. Screen Daily reported $1.88 million in the US as of October 23, 2024.
Selected territories for Look Back as listed by The Numbers. USD, theatrical only; the table does not add up to the worldwide total because other territories are omitted.| Territory | Gross (USD) | Report date |
|---|
| Japan | $13,227,856 | Feb 5, 2025 |
| China | $7,444,920 | Feb 8, 2025 |
| South Korea | $2,188,466 | Sep 29, 2026 |
| Australia | $203,003 | Sep 29, 2026 |
Why do sources differ?
Box Office Mojo's page for the film shows a worldwide total of $6,043,816 and a Japan figure of $938,860, with Japan's opening listed higher than its total. That looks like an incomplete snapshot, and we do not use it for the hero figure.
Trade reports and The Numbers cover Japan, China and Korea more fully.
Where public evidence stops: We did not find a final yen total, an official rights-holder worldwide figure, or a 2025 or 2026 yen update. The Numbers' worldwide figure combines reports dated from 2024 to 2026, and ticket-sales totals say nothing about production committee income.
What do these figures not show?
These are ticket-sales figures for theatrical runs only. They do not show what the studio, distributors or the production committee earned, and they exclude streaming.
Frequently asked questions
How much did Look Back make worldwide?
The Numbers lists $25,224,031 worldwide. Box Office Mojo lists a much lower figure, so treat the total as approximate.
How much did Look Back make in Japan?
Screen Daily reported more than 2 billion yen (about $13.1 million) by late October 2024. The Numbers lists $13,227,856, reported February 5, 2025.
How did Look Back do in China?
The Numbers lists $7,444,920 in China, with a release date of October 26, 2024.
How did the US release do?
Screen Daily reported $1.88 million in the US as of October 23, 2024, after a special engagement by GKIDS that began October 4.
Sources and methodology
- Japan sleeper hit Look Back readies Prime Video UK, Ireland releases, Screen Daily. More than 2 billion yen (about $13.1 million) in Japan; $1.88 million in the US as of October 23, 2024.
- Look Back (2024), The Numbers. Worldwide $25,224,031, Japan $13,227,856, territory table, seen October 2026.
- Look Back (2024), Box Office Mojo. Worldwide $6,043,816 and Japan $938,860, shown to explain the discrepancy.