In a remarkable resurgence, Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death (True)² & Rebirth has re-entered the Japanese box office top 10, nearly three decades after its original theatrical debut. The 1997 anime film secured the 10th spot in the weekend box office rankings from October 10-12, 2025, a testament to the enduring popularity of the Evangelion franchise.
The unexpected return to the charts is part of the “Monthly Eva EVANGELION 30th MOVIE Fest. 2025-2026,” a special screening event commemorating the 30th anniversary of the seminal Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series.
A Triumphant Return to Theaters
The “DEATH（TRUE）²＆REBIRTH” version of the film commenced its limited run on October 10, 2025, across 90 theaters in Japan. Over its first four-day weekend, the film amassed an impressive 118.25 million yen (approximately $800,000 USD) and drew over 70,000 viewers. This success marks its first appearance in the top 10 box office rankings since its initial release in March 1997.
Understanding Evangelion: Death & Rebirth
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth originally premiered on March 15, 1997, opening in second place at the Japanese box office. It went on to achieve a total gross of ¥1.87 billion during its initial run.
The film itself is divided into two distinct parts:
- Evangelion: Death: This segment serves as a comprehensive recap, summarizing the first 24 episodes of the Neon Genesis Evangelion television series. It rearranges events to focus on character arcs and themes, incorporating some new footage that was later integrated into extended TV episodes.
- Evangelion: Rebirth: This portion features approximately 24-30 minutes of entirely new animation. Crucially, it acts as a preview, forming the first third of what would become the subsequent, highly anticipated film, The End of Evangelion.
The version currently being screened, Death (True)², is a further re-edited cut of the “Death” segment, which has become the most widely distributed iteration of the recap movie for subsequent releases, including on platforms like Netflix.
The “Monthly Eva” 30th Anniversary Celebration
The revival screening is part of a larger initiative, the “Monthly Eva EVANGELION 30th MOVIE Fest. 2025-2026,” designed to celebrate three decades since the television series first aired in October 1995. This festival will see all six Evangelion theatrical films screened across Japan on a monthly basis, each for a limited one-week period, from October 2025 through February 2026.
The schedule for the “Monthly Eva” screenings is as follows:
- October 10-16, 2025: Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth – “DEATH（TRUE）²＆REBIRTH” version
- October 24-30, 2025: The End of Evangelion
- November 14-20, 2025: Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone
- December 12-18, 2025: Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance
- January 9-15, 2026: Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, alongside bonus shorts “EVANGELION：3.0 (-120min.)” and “EVANGELION：3.0 (-46h)” making their theatrical debut outside of event screenings.
- February 13-19, 2026: Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
This nostalgic cinematic journey offers both long-time fans and new viewers a unique opportunity to experience the groundbreaking and often enigmatic Evangelion saga on the big screen once more. The strong box office performance of Death (True)² & Rebirth underscores the franchise’s lasting cultural impact and its ability to captivate audiences across generations.
