LOS ANGELES - "Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero" topped the box office in its debut, beating expectations by collecting an impressive $21 million in North American ticket sales.
"Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero" is the latest example of the passionate audience for anime films in the United States, and Crunchyroll, which is mostly owned by Sony Pictures, has been owning the market in North America. Earlier this year, the company's PG-13"Jujutsu Kaisen 0" notched a remarkable $17.6 million in its debut, while its 2021 release"Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train" generated $21.
"This is another outstanding Crunchyroll anime opening. This has become an impressive niche theatrical business," says David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research. But, he adds,"Crunchyroll movies play fast in the U.S.; their domestic multiples are low." Elsewhere on domestic box office charts, Sony's action-thriller"Bullet Train" slid to third place after two consecutive weekends at No. 1. The movie brought in $8 million from 3,781 locations in its third weekend of release, taking its domestic tally to $68.9 million. That's a decent result for a star-driven, original action film in today's fractured moviegoing landscape.