23rd April 2023 – (Beijing) “The First Slam Dunk,” a Japanese animated sports film, has topped the Chinese daily box office chart, according to data from the China Movie Data Information Network. The film is an adaptation of the popular “Slam Dunk” basketball manga series from the 1990s and is written and directed by its original creator, Takehiko Inoue.
Released on Thursday, “The First Slam Dunk” earned 127.72 million yuan (about US$18.6 million) on Saturday, bringing its total box office revenue to 339 million yuan. The film was followed by “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” an animated film based on Nintendo’s Mario video game franchise, which earned 8.71 million yuan on Saturday. The domestic action comedy “Ride On” came in third with a daily earning of around 8.64 million yuan.
The success of “The First Slam Dunk” reflects the popularity of the original manga series in China and the enduring popularity of sports-themed anime in the country. The film’s release also coincides with the Tokyo Olympics, which has generated interest in sports-related content.