The latest installment in the Detective Conan anime film franchise, Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback, has premiered at number one in the Japanese box office, surpassing the previous leader, Doraemon: Nobita’s Art World Tales. This marks a significant achievement for the series, setting new records and highlighting the enduring popularity of the teen detective.
Record-Breaking Debut
Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback opened in Japanese theaters on April 18, 2025, and quickly dominated the box office. The film earned 3,438,626,700 yen (approximately US$24.15 million) and sold 2,314,690 tickets within its first three days. This is the best opening weekend for any film in the Detective Conan franchise, surpassing the previous record held by Detective Conan: The Million-Dollar Pentagram, which earned 3.352 billion yen during its opening weekend in April 2024.
The film’s success extends beyond the franchise itself, marking the best first-week performance of any film released in Japan so far this year. One-Eyed Flashback also received high praise from audiences, ranking number one on Filmarks’ first-day satisfaction ranking with an average rating of 4.10/5.0, surpassing The Million-dollar Pentagram‘s score of 4.04.
Wide Release and Special Screenings
Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback premiered in a record-breaking 522 theaters across Japan, including 55 IMAX, 12 MX4D, 62 4DX, and 9 Dolby Cinema theaters. To celebrate the film’s success, “cheer screenings” will begin on May 16 in eight theaters across six prefectures, including Nagano, the film’s setting. These screenings will feature synchronized penlight effects that change colors with the film’s dialogue, music, and sound effects.
Storyline and Key Characters
Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback is the 28th film in the Case Closed series, based on the manga by Gosho Aoyama. The film is directed by Katsuya Shigehara, with a script written by Takeharu Sakurai. The story unfolds in the snowy mountains of Nagano Prefecture and revolves around a mysterious incident involving Inspector Kansuke Yamato of the Nagano Prefectural Police and Kogoro Mouri.
The Plot Thickens
Ten months prior to the film’s present-day events, Inspector Yamato is caught in an avalanche while pursuing a suspect, Mikuriya Sadakuni. Yamato sustains an injury to his left eye and loses his memory of the incident. In the present, Yamato and Detective Yui Uehara investigate a break-in at the Nobeyama radio observatory.
Meanwhile, Kogoro receives a call from his former colleague, Koji Sametani, who wants to discuss the avalanche incident. Before they can meet, Sametani is fatally shot. Driven by grief, Kogoro joins Detectives Sato and Takagi in Nagano to search for clues. This leads them to team up with Inspector Yamato, Detective Uehara, Inspector Taka’aki Morofushi, and Detective Atsunobu Hayashi from Yamanashi Prefectural Police.
Spotlight on Kogoro Mouri
This film puts Kogoro Mouri, also known as Richard Moore in some English adaptations, in the spotlight. After the death of his colleague, Mouri becomes determined to solve the case. This incident allows Mouri a chance to forgive himself for past mistakes.
Doraemon Drops to Number Two
After holding the number one spot for six consecutive weekends, Doraemon: Nobita’s Art World Tales has dropped to number two. The 44th film in the Doraemon franchise, which opened on March 7, has grossed 4.19 billion yen (about US$29.60 million) and sold 3.49 million tickets.
About Doraemon: Nobita’s Art World Tales
Doraemon: Nobita’s Art World Tales follows Doraemon, Nobita, and their friends as they enter a painting and find themselves in a medieval European world. The film commemorates the 45th anniversary of Doraemon movies. Aimyon performed the film’s theme song, “Sketch,” as well as the film’s insert song, “Kimi no Yume o Kikinagara, Boku wa Waraeru Idea o!”
Other Notable Films
Several other films have made their mark in the Japanese box office this year. Me & Roboco debuted at number four, earning 62,680,204 yen (about US$442,500) in its opening weekend. The Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- movie, described as “Japan’s first interactive film,” dropped to number eight in its ninth weekend, with a cumulative total of 1,352,612,400 yen (about US$9.54 million).
Detective Conan’s Enduring Appeal
The Detective Conan series, created by manga author Gosho Aoyama, has captivated audiences for decades. In addition to the 28 films, the series spans 107 manga volumes and 30 seasons of animated TV. The series focuses on Shinichi Kudo, a high school detective who is transformed into a child after being poisoned. Assuming the alias Conan Edogawa, he continues to solve crimes while searching for a cure.
Aoyama Gosho Celebrates 30 years
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Detective Conan, Aoyama Gosho has launched a “30 Year Project” with a special logo.
Looking Ahead
With its record-breaking opening and positive reception, Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback is poised to be another major success in the franchise. The film is expected to surpass the ¥10 billion ($70 million) mark.
