‘Hypnosis Mic’ Makes Japanese Box-Office History With $16.5 Million Haul on Limited Release

The film Hypnosis Mic – Division Rap Battle has become a record-breaker in Japan, grossing over ¥2.5 billion (~US $16.5 million) despite playing on fewer than 60 screens, marking the first time a Japanese film has crossed ¥2 billion under such a narrow release footprint. The movie is based on the broader multimedia franchise Hypnosis Mic, which blends rap-battle storytelling with audience participation — viewers vote via smartphone during screenings to decide which team wins. Its success — driven by strong fan support and repeat viewings — is being hailed as a validation of interactive cinema as a lucrative new frontier in Japanese film.