In a surprising turn for Japan’s film industry, the highest-grossing cinema release of 2025 so far is not a feature film but a re-edited compilation of episodes from an upcoming TV series. Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning- has made an impressive impact, earning over ¥2.5 billion ($16.5 million) after just five weeks in theaters, with 1.55 million admissions, according to Cinema Ranking Tsushin.

The 81-minute compilation, which premiered on January 17, serves as a precursor to a full TV series that is set to air on Nippon Television in April. Directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki, -Beginning- follows the story of a high-school student living on a space colony who becomes involved in an illegal mobile suit dueling sport known as Clan Battle after meeting a war refugee. The film has resonated strongly with audiences, securing the top spot at the box office in its opening weekend with nearly ¥600 million ($4 million) and continuing to...