Perfect Blue box office: Japan, US, and worldwide
Satoshi Kon's debut feature was a theatrical slow burner. The box office story is really one of re-discovery through re-releases.
Published: 2026-08-19. Updated: 2026-08-19.
Short answer: Perfect Blue was released in Japan in 1998, directed by Satoshi Kon and produced by Madhouse. Box Office Mojo records a lifetime worldwide theatrical gross of $2,743,097, with North America contributing $2,292,123 and international markets $450,974. The North American total is dominated by a 2025 re-release that added $1,733,525, while GKIDS acquired theatrical distribution rights for earlier re-releases in 2018.
Japan theatrical performance
Perfect Blue opened in Japan on February 28, 1998. Milwaukee Film lists the film as a 1998 Japanese release with a runtime of 82 minutes. Box Office Mojo does not break out a separate Japan total in its territory table, suggesting the Japanese gross was reported within the international total.
The film was not a major commercial hit on initial release. Its reputation grew through festival screenings, critical acclaim, and later comparisons to live-action thrillers, eventually making it one of the most discussed anime films of the 1990s.
Worldwide and territory totals
Box Office Mojo reports a lifetime worldwide gross of $2,743,097 for Perfect Blue. North America accounts for $2,292,123, or about 84 percent of the total. International markets contributed $450,974, with South Korea at $335,036 and the United Kingdom at $115,938.
The worldwide total is heavily weighted toward re-releases. The original 1999 North American release under Palm Pictures grossed only $112,536. A 2017-2018 re-release added $446,062, and a 2025 re-release contributed $1,733,525 domestically plus $325,906 internationally.
Perfect Blue theatrical gross by release window. Source: Box Office Mojo as of 2026.| Release window | North America | International | Worldwide |
|---|
| Original 1999 release | $112,536 | $120,536 | $233,072 |
| 2017-2018 re-release | $446,062 | $4,532 | $450,594 |
| 2025 re-release | $1,733,525 | $325,906 | $2,059,431 |
| Lifetime total | $2,292,123 | $450,974 | $2,743,097 |
North American distribution history
Palm Pictures released Perfect Blue in North America on August 20, 1999. The film found a niche audience but grossed only $112,536 in its initial run. In 2018, GKIDS acquired theatrical distribution rights and partnered with Fathom Events to show a new digital transfer in approximately 500 US theaters over two nights.
The largest North American gross came in 2025, when a re-release, branded as part of the Satoshi Kon Fest, added $1,733,525. This pattern, a cult film building theatrical revenue through event-style re-releases, is common for classic anime in the US.
Gross type definition: Box office figures are theatrical gross revenue reported by distributors and tracking services, not studio net revenue or profit. Overseas totals are in US dollars at prevailing exchange rates.
Context in Satoshi Kon's filmography
Perfect Blue was Satoshi Kon's directorial debut. It was followed by Millennium Actress (2001), Tokyo Godfathers (2003), and Paprika (2006). All four films had modest theatrical performances relative to their influence, but Perfect Blue became the most commercially successful of the group in North America thanks to re-releases.
The film's legacy also extends to live-action cinema. Directors including Darren Aronofsky have cited it as an influence, and Aronofsky purchased remake rights. The box office numbers, however, capture only a fraction of its commercial and cultural footprint.
What the public numbers leave out
Public sources do not report Perfect Blue's home video, streaming, or remake-option revenue. Madhouse and the film's Japanese distributors have not disclosed per-title lifetime financials. The worldwide theatrical total is small but does not reflect the film's long-tail value.
For analysts, the most relevant public figures are the Box Office Mojo release-window breakdown and the GKIDS acquisition announcement. The film is best understood as a catalog title whose theatrical revenue was generated decades after release.
Frequently asked questions
How much did Perfect Blue make at the box office?
Box Office Mojo records a lifetime worldwide theatrical gross of $2,743,097, with North America at $2,292,123 and international markets at $450,974.
When was Perfect Blue released in Japan?
Perfect Blue was released in Japan on February 28, 1998.
Who distributed Perfect Blue in North America?
Palm Pictures released the film in 1999. GKIDS later acquired theatrical distribution rights and re-released it through Fathom Events in 2018 and again in 2025.
Was Perfect Blue a hit?
It was not a hit on initial release. Most of its theatrical revenue came from North American re-releases years later, and its larger impact is cultural and on home video.
Sources and methodology
- Perfect Blue (1997), Box Office Mojo. Lifetime worldwide, North America, and territory theatrical grosses, plus release-group breakdown through 2026.
- GKIDS Acquires Theatrical Rights to Satoshi Kon's 'PERFECT BLUE', PR Newswire. GKIDS press release confirming acquisition of North American theatrical distribution rights and Fathom Events partnership, August 2018.
- Perfect Blue, Milwaukee Film. Lists Perfect Blue as a 1998 Japanese release directed by Satoshi Kon, produced by Madhouse.