Following the first version that ran for two weeks from September 20 to October 3, the second version of the Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM movie’s special edition started its two-week theatrical screening in Japan on November 1, and ranked sixth in the weekend box office charts, according to Kogyo Tsushinsha. It has been 41 weeks since the release of the film’s original edition.As the feature film sequel in the Mobile Suit Gundam Seed franchise, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM opened in Japan on January 26, 2024, making 4.82 billion yen (31.75 million USD) on 2.88 million admissions from its original theatrical run by May 24. At that point, it became the top-grossing film in the 45-year-old Gundam anime franchise, surpassing Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space — the third Mobile Suit Gundam TV series compilation film which earned 2.3 billion yen (15.15 million USD) in 1982.A special edition of the film, updated with more than 500 scenes from the original, was announced in August. The special edition features two versions and a different epilogue scene added in each. The film earned over five billion yen (32.93 million USD) in total on September 26, six days after the release of the first version. After the weekend of October 11-13, the film’s cumulative total gross reached 5.1 billion yen (33.6 million USD) on 3.05 million ticket sales. The film’s DVD and Blu-ray are set to release in Japan on December 25, 2024.As reported on November 1, a new project titled Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM ZERO is now in production. The project will serve as sequel to the franchise’s second TV series in 2004-2005, Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny, and a prequel to the Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM film.
After making its fourth-place debut last weekend, ACMA:GAME: Saigo no Kagi, a feature film sequel to the live-action TV drama adaptation of Meeb (story) and Kouji Megumi’s (art) ACMA:GAME manga series, was not present in the box office top 10. Give It All (known as Ganbatte Ikimasshoi in Japan), the 3DCG adaptation of Yoshiko Shikimura’s award-winning 1996 novel that opened at eighth last weekend, also did not make it to the Top 10 in its second weekend. Given The Movie: Umi e, the final installment of the given anime series, has stayed in first place for seven consecutive weekends in Kogyo Tsushinsha’s mini-theater ranking since debuting in 30 theaters in Japan on September 20. The film’s official cumulative total gross has surpassed 300 million yen (1.98 million USD), which is the highest in the given anime series, according to Animate Times.
Weekend box office Top 10 in Japan (November 1-3, 2024)
(ticket sales basis with notes in parentheses marking previous week’s placement)
| Rank | Title | Weekends sicne Release |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (new) | Venom: The Last Dance | 1 |
| 2 (1) | Hakkenden | 2 |
| 3 (new) | Stolen Identity The Final Chapter: Final Hacking Game | 1 |
| 4 (new) | 11 Rebels | 1 |
| 5 (2) | Muroi Shinji: Yaburezarumono | 4 |
| 6 (-) | Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM: Special Edition Version 2 | 41 |
| 7 (3) | Joker: Folie a Deux | 4 |
| 8 (6) | Samurai Timeslipper | 12 |
| 9 (new) | Aimitagai | 1 |
| 10 (5) | Last Mile | 11 |
Sources: Eiga.com, Kogyo Tsushinsha, Kogyo Tsushinsha mini-theater ranking, Animate Times© SOTSU・SUNRISE
