The Untold Story Behind the Legendary First Slam Dunk That Shook Theaters!
The First Slam Dunk received critical acclaim and enjoyed a successful run in theaters However, despite its initial popularity, the film has recently been unexpectedly removed from cinemas Find out the intriguing reasons behind this sudden decision
Highlights
Anime has recently become a profitable industry in America, with more films being shown in theaters across the US.
The recent anime film, The First Slam Dunk, garnered critical praise but faced financial challenges at the box office. Factors such as competition with other films, limited marketing efforts, and the franchise's lack of popularity in America contributed to its lack of financial success. Nonetheless, it outperformed expectations and was deemed a success by the distributor.
Anime has become a lucrative industry in the United States, following its longstanding success in Japan. While it previously struggled to gain traction in the American market, anime has seen a significant increase in popularity over the past five years, captivating the attention of Hollywood. In the past, anime films would often struggle to secure a limited number of theater showings. However, fans can now rejoice as their favorite anime productions are being showcased on thousands of screens throughout the country. This offers anime enthusiasts a remarkable opportunity to experience the magic of their beloved films on the grand scale of the big screen.
Despite this tremendous growth, the anime industry still faces challenges in establishing itself as a profitable theatrical enterprise. Distributors continue to experiment in order to identify mainstream hits versus niche titles. Recently, the highly acclaimed movie, The First Slam Dunk, enjoyed a wide release and critical acclaim. However, to the bewilderment of fans, it has now been largely withdrawn from theaters, leaving them puzzled as to the reasoning behind this decision.
What is Slam Dunk?
Slam Dunk, a manga series by Takehiko Inoue, tells the story of a basketball team from Shohoku High School in Japan. Hanamichi Sakuragi, the main character, is initially a delinquent but becomes interested in basketball after a girl he likes expresses her love for the sport. As the story progresses, Sakuragi discovers his passion for the game and others recognize his potential as a talented player.
Serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine from 1990 to 1996, the manga was later compiled into 31 tankōbon volumes. It gained immense popularity and significantly contributed to the rise of basketball's popularity in Japan. Toei Animation produced an anime adaptation of "Slam Dunk," which aired from 1993 to 1996. While closely following the manga's storyline, the anime included some additional content and concluded before the manga's ending. The series comprised 101 episodes and four movies.
Years after the manga's conclusion, a new movie titled "The First Slam Dunk" was announced. This movie, directed by the manga's creator Takehiko Inoue, explores the backstory of Ryota Miyagi, a less prominent character in the franchise.
Who Released The First Slam Dunk in US Theaters?
Despite its lack of popularity in America, the movie was acquired for distribution by GKIDS, an American film distributor based in New York specializing in international, animated, and independent films. Known for their involvement in distributing renowned works, such as those from Studio Ghibli and Tom Moore, GKIDS surprised many by selecting Slam Dunk over Sentai or Crunchyroll, considering its limited success in the American market.
Recognizing the film's potential, GKIDS committed to releasing it widely and even invested in commissioning a new dub. The First Slam Dunk received critical acclaim upon its theatrical release, with critics, some of whom were unfamiliar with the anime, praising it as an exceptional basketball movie and possibly one of the best ever made. One would assume that such positive reception would lead to a lengthy and prosperous run in theaters. However, the film quickly disappeared from screens after just two weeks.
Why Did Theaters Pull The Last Slam Dunk?
In reality, the film's financial performance was unfavorable. One factor that may have contributed to this was its release, which coincided with the highly successful film 'Barbenheimer.' Additionally, inadequate marketing efforts and the film's limited popularity in America may have also played a role. As a result, The First Slam Dunk earned approximately $604k across 3,400 screens.
To put this into perspective, the movie generated an average of $177.64 per screen, indicating that only about 11-12 individuals attended each showing. Even if all ticket holders purchased concessions, such as popcorn and soda, the revenue generated was far from sufficient to justify most theaters continuing to screen the film. Consequently, the majority of theaters dropped the movie after the first week, resulting in The First Slam Dunk's total earnings slightly surpassing $1 million at present.
Despite appearing to be a major setback, this can actually be seen as a significant triumph for GKIDS. Despite facing numerous challenges, they managed to generate a million dollars from a property that historically did not perform well financially in America. The limited theatrical run of The First Slam Dunk, with only a few larger complexes still showing the film at present, was purely a business decision and not a reflection of any personal or inherent issues with the film itself. Fans can stream the Slam Dunk anime series on Crunchyroll.
