Ponyo, Now Fifth Top-Grossing Anime in U.S.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009
By: Ramin Zahed

By taking in over $11.2 million in ticket sales, Disney’s release of Hayao Miyazaki’s Ponyo has become the fifth top-grossing anime theatrical release in the U.S. Although the feature dropped to No. 13 this past weekend (ending August 31), it managed to bring in over $2 million in its third week of release in 880 theaters. Ponyo has now moved ahead of Spirited Away, which is now at No 6 with $10,055,859, according to Anime News Network. In addition to the U.S. sales, Ponyo has already made $183,955,155 worldwide.

1. Pokemon: The First Movie (1999) $85,744,662
2. Pokemon: The Movie (2000) $43,758,684
3. Pokemon 3: The Movie (2001) $17,052,128
4. Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie (2004) $19,765,868
5. Ponyo * (2009) $11,202,338

* Still in Release

Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli’s other top performers are:
Howl’s Moving Castle (2005) $2,515 068
Spirited Away (2002) $1,855,297
Princess Mononoke (1999) $963,310

Reader Comments

• Rex Hindrichs : Artist : Tengu Entertainment

  Wednesday, September 02, 2009

  Americas list of top selling anime movies is such a travesty...
  
  I cant really blame anyone considering what a colossal fad Pokemon was (and still is somewhat) among kids and how misunderstood the industry has been among the majority of the populous, but this is certainly something that I wish will rectify itself in the future.
  
  I look forward to the day that localized foreign animation shares comparable box office time with the rest of the field (assuming that day ever arrives...).

• Andy Norton : Freelance Graphic Designer : Creative Protege

  Thursday, September 03, 2009

  Seeing that US top 5 is a bit of a shock when you hear the colossal box office success of Miyazaki\\\\\\\'s success in his native Japan.
  
  But, it does show that anime has been going strong for the past decade or so in the US box office, whether or not you like you Ghibli films or your franchise series, like Pokemon- I fell into the first category, of course!