Japan Hates The Dark Knight?!

Posted on Thursday, August 28th, 2008 by Devindra Hardawar

Film Junk is reporting some fairly surprising news–The Dark Knight is not doing so well in Japan. And by not so well, I mean that it’s only pulled in $8.7 million after being in theaters for three weeks. Of course, part of the problem is that it’s competing against Hayao Miyazaki’s latest opus, Ponyo on a Cliff, which raked in $14.8 million during its opening weekend, and an astonishing $93.2 million in its first four weeks of release.

But I don’t think Miyazaki is entirely to blame. Looking at the top films in the Japanese box office for the past few weeks, it’s clear that Japan seems to have no love for The Dark Knight. In its second week of release, it was bested by The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor and, brace yourselves, What Happens in Vegas. Yes, an Ashton Kutcher/Cameron Diaz suckfest defeated The Dark Knight. This week, it lost out to Sex and the City, the Mummy 3 again (?!), and Star Wars the Clone Wars.

Film Junk points to critic Chika Minagawa, who offers the following thoughts on why Japanese audiences aren’t fawning over the film:

The story is very pessimistic. It has a dark and gloomy texture that Japanese movie fans do not find appealing in a ‘comic hero’ film… Japanese movie fans expect such films to be fun and action packed, for the hero to be attractive, for the villain to be loud and outrageous, and for the movie itself to be easy to understand and light.

I’m not sure how exactly The Dark Knight fails to meet that criteria, except for perhaps being too dark. Then again, it’s not as if dark superheroes are all that new to Japan–anime is widely recognized for its ability to bring mature themes to animation.

It could be that The Dark Knight is simply too Western for Japanese audiences, something we’ve actually seen in a few anime properties. For example, the first episode of Cowboy Bebop wasn’t very well received in Japan, despite being regarded as a classic today, and an episode which director Shinichiro Watanabe loves because it perfectly encapsulates the themes of the series. Bebop is a series that owes much to Western cinema and culture, and that was clearly something that initially turned off Japanese audiences. Similarly, The Dark Knight evokes great American crime films like Heat and The French Connection–something which Japan may not find too palatable.

Discuss: Why do you think The Dark Knight is not doing so well in Japan?

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Box Office, Comic Book/Superhero, Sequels, Warner Brothers, , , ,

  • I'll say it's because Japanese audiences are far more educated and discerning than those in America.

    (Not really, I just want to see you guys overreact.)
  • James C.
    Yay!! We love Ashton!!
  • Captain Awesome
    Because Batman doesn't have really big, brightly-colored, spikey hair, or resemble a 15 year old tween? Maybe because his batsuit doesn't look like it's made of metal lions? And Batman doesn't wield a sword thats 15 times bigger than his own body while 80's hairmetal plays in the background?

    I don't know, just a hunch. Then again, this is the same country that regarded Robocop 3 as a "great film".
  • Have to keep in mind that Japan exists in a completely different realm of existence.
  • Mitch Mouse
    Obviously, an invasion is in order.
  • the japanese don't get that batman is supposed to be george bush. that's why it failed.

    the new miyuzaki is excellent. the japanese love anything he does. i watched an un-subtitled copy of ponyo and it rocked. even though i couldn't tell what the character were saying, i concluded their dialogue was most likely profound and charming. everyone peep it.
  • Sora Sol
    "the japanese don't get that batman is supposed to be george bush. that's why it failed."

    Wait... what?
  • Nice!
  • I think the moviegoing audience in Japan skews much younger than here in the states. And young people are stupid.
  • Captain Awesome
  • GregoryV
    I know in China, they don't understand American comedy so I wouldn't be surprised if they don't get dark American comic heros.
  • Nick Rage
    Japan has always been selective with their movies. When it comes to popular culture, I would say that America and Europe are pretty close. When it comes to Asian, then it gets tricky. I think maybe Korea is 'getting' it, and perhaps China. But Japan has always been a league of it's own.
  • Hd_
    This is very strange. I attended a midnight screening of Dark Knight in Tokyo, and the whole room erupted in spontaneous applause. Something relatively unheard of in Japan (People never/hardly ever laugh out load in the cinemas here). I haven't seen much of a marketing attempt though...
  • Mr.Carl.Lee
    It's simply not the campy Batman that their used to... Yeah, they make those beautiful Kotobuyika statues but have you seen their depictions of Batman?

    They're more into escapism, and I don't blame them... look at their cities.
  • orange cinema
    "japan hates the dark knight' is a really irresponsible and gossipy headline. i'm not cool enough to know the proper blogging way to type that i'm rolling my eyes, so i'll just say here: i'm rolling my eyes at it's absurdity.
  • T-1337
    Guys, I've visited Japan myself this summer, and I can tell you there was miminal Dark Knight Advertisement. Even in Cinemas, there would be no "Upcoming Movies" showcasing The Dark Knight.
    Simply, there was little advertisement, and many people didn't know Heath Ledger died or exsisted. If the film recieved as much coverage there as much as the States, I'm sure it would be just as popular.
  • Waka Waka
    Mr.Carl.Lee..It's true - Tokyo is a city that looks like its from the future.
  • lee
    Hmmm... could the fact it was released around the world a month or so before it was released in Japan have something to do with it? Downloads?
  • Could it be that it is about an american superhero...and the japanese hate americans...plus not everyonein the world has to have a boner for this movie. Was it good? yea. Was it the #1 movie of ALL TIME (iMDB)? NO, no it was not...not even close. sorry everyone. it was very good. Probably the best comic adaptation movie ever, but far from the greatest film ever made. You could argue that it is not even the best film that Christopher Nolan ever made...and by argue I mean you would be right.
  • Waka Waka
    It's like how Japanese gamers generally don't like first person shooters when it comes to video games... That's...just how it is. And I'm sure the appreciation for the Dark Knight is there in Japan. If not, it will through blu-ray or by Oscar time.
  • Ronnie
    lol, Who really cares if they like it or not. The Japanesse love many great films but also love some pretty terrible films as well. So they didn't like Heat or French Connection either more than likely...two other incredible films I might add. As long as we continue to get movies like TDK and Heat and French Connection let them have their light comic book movies like Fantastic 4 and Iron man (I loved Ironman btw everybody, so please don't think I'm saying it's bad, just more of a popcorn flick and doesn't have much weight to it as TDK does)

    I also agree that it does hurt it be released a month later and also if there was minimal advertising for the film that would hurt it badly as well.
  • Oi Vey
    Dark Knight will transcend over to Japanese culture eventually.
  • YoungZe
    Sad. But well, what can i say? Just look at their movies with real persons. It's horrible. Just 2 movies: Devilman and Casshern. That's how japanese superhero movies look like.
  • StarBlazer101
    Maybe they didn't like how the only Asian character in the movie was depicted.....
  • Dallas Man
    dude am i totally f-ing missing something? i just watched the ponyo trailer on youtube and i am totally speechless. that is what tops the box office charts in japan?

    i have no intention on ever visiting japan. i will never in a million years understand japanese pop culture. i didnt know i could be so opposite of another culture. utterly speechless. its a joke
  • Jon
    I'm very curious to know how Speed Racer, which bombed in the U.S., has done in Japan? Maybe a life-threatening epileptic film is what Japan really wants? It is so hard to imagine this film has done so poorly as the epic film that it is. I'm sure it will end up a cult film in Japan eventually like Japanese films are cultish in the U.S. perhaps. I would be curious to know if Slashfilm made a note to check back in 2 years and see if there is any improvement with the Japanese.
  • Oi Vey
    Who doesn't want to go to Japan, for God's sakes. If I had the money, I would go for sure.
  • YoungZe
    Dallas Man you're not alone.
  • Brian
    Good! At least the Japanese are realizing how Nolan has ruined Batman with his 2 films. People are so dumb.
  • KitPatrol
    I loved Batman Begins but Dark Knight just didn't do anything for me. I went in there expecting to love it, wanting to love it, but unfortunately I was only bored. I was sad that I didn't like it, but the simple fact is, there are people who simply aren't going to. Perhaps just the culture of Japan, the way the people are, their upbringing, how their brains are wired - the movie just isn't something that appeals to them.
  • Brody
    Well the solution is simple, Atomic bomb.
  • The movie did amazing here in Hong Kong (no not part of Japan, part of China) on its opening weekend but talking with people here, most were disappointed by the short Hong Kong scenes that were so ballyhooed in all the posters and promotional material, the less-than-a-cameo of Edison Chen, our beloved bad-boy who earlier this year got himself a world of Paris Hilton-sex photo type controversy (he was the guy who welcomed Morgan Freeman to HK) and I think because most people think of Batman as a kids hero and couldnt really take kids to see it because Heath looks pretty F*ed up in some of those images (they even changed the toy version of his face) that it made the box office stagnate after the teen and older crowd caught it in the first weekend. Its still in 1 or 2 theatres here but to say it was not as well received in HK as in the US is an understatement here in HK.
  • Hana
    This actually surprises me, since Batman has always been a fairly popular American comic book hero in Japan - despite what a lot of the ill-informed comments on this thread say, Batman's actually pretty big there, from all I've heard. There's a lot of injokes, references and straight out homages to Batman in various Japanese media. Big O is a great example - it's set up nearly exactly like Batman with Giant Robots. Kia Asayama also adds a lot of Batman refs to his work and even drew the manga version a few years back.

    Maybe that lack of promotion mentioned has something to do with it, but going up against a Miyazaki movie just can't be helpful. Miyazaki movies are beloved in Japan by all ages and can be family films, while Dark Knight is obviously aimed at an older crowd.
  • Korman643
    Ponyo is one of the greatest animated movies ever - it contains one specific scene (without spoiling - it involves Wagner, giant fishes and a tsunami) that may be one of the ten greatest ever animated. And no, the trailer has not a clue on it.

    TDK may be a great movie, but Ponyo is really memorable!
  • Mag
    When ASTRO BOY releases in the states we can talk....
  • Chris
    Jon - I don't think Speed Racer is out here in Japan yet. If I remember correctly it is this weekend. Then again I may be mistaken. In either case, I won't be watching it.

    I went to TDK once with some colleagues and they were luke warm at best. Then I went again with my wife and a few other foreign couples. They all loved it. The contrast was quite striking.

    Most of the Japanese I've talked to have said that it is the character of Batman that just doesn't do it for them. The anti-hero character just doesn't seem to play well. The inner conflict of Bruce Wayne, the outer demons of Batman, the vigilante as a hero seem to be concepts that aren't fully grasped.
  • fab
    Pretty sure Japanese people are just stupid...they essentially are a nation of children...honestly how many gadgets does a nation need to invent before they lose touch with reality? Besdies who cares...some $874 million worth of cinema goers know that the dark night is good and that the Japanese have NO CLUE! keep drifitng Japan...cos you aint gonna grow up!
  • Oi Vey
    @fab

    So Japan's a "nation of children", right? And yet, what are talking about again? Oh yes, Batman...LOL.
  • hmm... I think calling Japanese audience stupid is kinda wrong...

    every movie has its own market... the same reason that a great movie like Princess Mononoke or Spirited Away (even with Pixar push) fail in USA, is the same reason TDK fails in Japan...

    I think also you should go and ask Spielberg and Tom Cruise about this question, since both of them have somehow figured how to crack both BOs
  • Mitch Mouse
    Did anyone else see the top performing movies of the Japanese box office?The Dark Knight was beat by Sex and the City and a Pokemon movie!

    Oh, cultural differences, you make the world such an interesting place.
  • Harold
    I have been in Japan the past few weeks and I noticed that there is little promotional stuff around for the dark knight.
    Only big posters of the mummy 3 and almost nothing of the dark knight. I guess they didn't put any effort in promoting the movie in Japan. Knowing that japanese animation have worked on the gotham knight anime, it hard to believe that people aren't interested in the Dark Knight.
  • optimusprime
    The way we look at comic books is very different the way japan looks at it. Which is dumb. If The Dark Knight was lighter as the review says at the above, then The Dark Knight would off been a complete failure.
  • John
    Anyone know if Batman Begins did poorly there too?
  • George
    I live in Japan and I know why Batman isn't popular. It's because Christian Bale isn't a big name in Japan and neither is Ledger. Why did the Mummy do well, because the others did well. Why did Vegas do well? Rom-comedy starring Cameron Diaz and she is all over commercials here. She is a big name in Japan. Sex and the city the TV show was also a big hit here, so the movie is doing well. Some of my Japanese friends who did see The Dark Knight loved it. It's not a fact that it isn't appealing, it's that star power reallllly matter for western movies to do well in Japan. Bale and Ledger just aren't big names here.
  • I think is cause Batman is not so FUNNY and FLAMBOYANT like Peter Parker, the STUPID "American Coloured Ninja" known as Spider-man.
  • Just Simple
    There's A-hole everywhere...
  • Mike
    @ You are really stupid ain't you? No wonder the rest of the world hates the U.S and it's arrogance
  • Mike
    that was @ Fab
  • agniyo
    Minagawa's idea makes sense to me. The Dark Knight is complicated. There's a lot of plot there, and it's revealed strangely at times. I'll admit that it took me until my third viewing to get the whole thing straight. That's a lot of work! If Japanese audiences go to movies to be entertained, then I could see why that much intricacy might turn them off.

    The other thing is that The Dark Knight is definitely DARK! Maybe we didn't experience that as a negative thing. Maybe we don't realize, in fact, how dark we've become as a culture? Did anyone notice that Hollywood hardly made any "girl" movies this summer? Instead, mainly just violence (action and horror), crass humor and here and there, Pixar and the Pixar-esque.

    Seems to me there's a lot of evidence -- not just in the summer movie palette, but everywhere -- that America had lost its esteem for gentleness and kindness. Now THAT is DARK! Maybe a second look at our #1 movie reveals something about what has happened to us that simply ISN'T happening to the rest of the civilized world?
  • A Better Class of Criminal
    It's all good. Because in the end, we have the bigger penises.
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