Live-action adaptations of popular anime and manga properties have become increasingly successful in recent years, with titles such as One Piece, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Yu Yu Hakusho proving that these franchises can attract large audiences beyond animation. However, the trend is not limited to streaming series, as theatrical adaptations are also finding major success, especially in Japan.
The latest example is Kingdom: The Clash of Souls, the fifth live-action movie based on Yasuhisa Hara’s historical manga series Kingdom. The film has become one of the biggest live-action anime adaptations of 2026 so far, dominating Japan’s box office following its July 17 release.
Kingdom: The Clash of Souls Surpasses $32 Million at Japanese Box Office
Kingdom: The Clash of Souls opened at number one in Japan and has continued its strong performance, earning more than 5.16 billion yen (approximately $32.29 million) at the domestic box office. The achievement makes it the highest-grossing live-action anime adaptation released in 2026 to date.
The movie’s success continues the impressive theatrical run of the Kingdom franchise, which has consistently performed well since the first live-action film arrived. While the latest entry has already surpassed many adaptations, it still faces competition from previous movies in the same series.
The current record holder remains Kingdom: Return of the Great General, released in 2024, which earned around 8.03 billion yen (over $50 million) during its theatrical run. If The Clash of Souls maintains its momentum, it could potentially challenge earlier installments and become one of the franchise’s most successful films.
Unlike many anime adaptations that struggle when transitioning into live action, Kingdom has benefited from its historical setting and large-scale storytelling. The series follows the events of China’s Warring States period while blending real historical elements with dramatic battles, political conflicts, and fictional characters.
The manga, which began publication in 2006, has developed a massive following in Japan and has already inspired multiple anime seasons. The combination of historical drama and anime-style action has helped the franchise maintain popularity across different formats.
The success of Kingdom: The Clash of Souls also highlights the growing strength of live-action manga and anime adaptations in Japan. While Hollywood projects based on anime have often received mixed reactions, Japanese productions have increasingly found ways to preserve the visual style and storytelling elements that fans appreciate.
With more material available from the long-running manga series and another anime season already confirmed, the Kingdom franchise still has plenty of opportunities for expansion. The latest box office results suggest that live-action anime adaptations remain a major force in Japan’s entertainment industry.
