Madoka Magica: Walpurgisnacht Rising tops ¥2.1 billion, outgrossing Rebellion in Japan
Four weeks into its Japanese run, Shaft's direct sequel to 2013's Rebellion has passed ¥2.1 billion and 1.26 million admissions, with 4DX and MX4D screenings starting October 3.
Four weeks was all it took. Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie -Walpurgisnacht: Rising- has earned more than ¥2.1 billion at Japanese cinemas, its official X account said on September 24, just 27 days after release. That haul already beats everything 2013's Rebellion made domestically over its whole run.
Ticket sales tell a similar story: upward of 1.26 million admissions so far, up from the one-million milestone the account marked on September 14. All of these tallies are for Japan only.
Rebellion is the natural yardstick because the new movie is a straight sequel to it, not a reboot. It resumes from where that film's ending left Homura and her friends, and that film in turn built on the 2011 television series. Anyone coming in cold should see the TV run, or the two compilation movies that retell it, and then Rebellion.
The same key names are behind this chapter: studio Shaft, director Akiyuki Shinbo, screenwriter Gen Urobuchi, and Ume Aoki, whose original character art defines the franchise's look. The release reached Japanese screens on August 28.
From Saturday, October 3, participating venues around Japan will add 4DX and MX4D showings, premium formats with motion seats and environmental effects; the edit itself is unchanged. There is still no word on streaming, or on home-video releases overseas.
