As Hollywood ramps up live-action adaptations of anime like Naruto and Mobile Suit Gundam, Japan has long been the master of this genre. Popular franchises such as Tokyo Revengers, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Cells at Work!, and Golden Kamuy have all been successfully brought to the big screen.
Recently, another title has reinforced its strong position: Kingdom.
Kingdom 5 instantly tops Japan’s box office
The latest film, Kingdom: Decisive Battle of the Soul, made an impressive debut by topping Japan’s box office during its opening weekend.
According to released figures, from July 17 to 19, the movie sold 993,000 tickets, earning approximately 9.67 million USD, or about 254 billion VND.
Notably, the Marine Day holiday on Monday boosted earnings further. Over the extended holiday period, the film grossed around 12.59 million USD (about 331 billion VND), surpassing 1.3 million tickets sold just days after release.
This promising start continues the Kingdom series’ success on the big screen and proves the brand’s enduring appeal.
One of Japan’s most successful live-action franchises
First released in 2019, Kingdom quickly became one of Japan’s top-grossing live-action franchises.
To date, the series has five installments, each achieving strong box office results and positive audience feedback domestically. The success of Kingdom: Decisive Battle of the Soul marks a new milestone, reinforcing the series as one of the most successful manga adaptations in Japan.
What is Kingdom about?
Created by Yasuhisa Hara, the Kingdom manga began serialization in 2006 and is still ongoing.
The story follows Li Xin, an orphaned boy who dreams of becoming the greatest general during China’s Warring States period. Based on real historical events, Kingdom blends political intrigue, warfare, and intense battles in a manga style, making it one of Japan’s most renowned military-themed works.
Thanks to its dramatic historical storytelling, Kingdom is often compared to titles like Vinland Saga and Golden Kamuy.
Alongside the manga, the Kingdom anime has also enjoyed major success with multiple seasons aired. Although season 7 has not been officially announced, experts believe it’s only a matter of time given the franchise’s sustained popularity.
Season 6 likely to be greenlit soon
Kingdom: Decisive Battle of the Soul’s opening weekend revenue of over 331 billion VND highlights the franchise’s strong domestic presence. With over 1.3 million viewers in just a few days, the chances of a sixth live-action film are very high.
While Hollywood continues searching for the right formula for anime adaptations, Kingdom proves that staying true to the source material and investing carefully can make live-action films a goldmine for Japanese cinema. If its box office momentum continues, Kingdom: Decisive Battle of the Soul could become one of Japan’s top-grossing live-action films of 2025.