Cinema Cafe conducted a reader survey titled “Which films are you looking forward to that are being released in October?” from September 16 to September 25, focusing on films set to be released in October. This time, we present the results in a ranking format from 1st to 10th place!
1st Place: ‘Shinji Muroi: The Unbeaten’ (Release Date: October 11)
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The most anticipated film among readers for next month is the latest installment in the “Odoru” project, ‘Shinji Muroi: The Unbeaten.’ This film features Toshiro Yanagiba as the protagonist, Shinji Muroi, along with Riko Fukumoto as the daughter of the worst murderer, Manami Hinata (played by Kyoko Koizumi), as well as Kohei Matsushita, Toshio Kakei, and Miki Maya.
In the survey, many fans expressed their excitement, saying, “It’s been a while since the last ‘Odoru Daisousasen’,” “Kohei Matsushita is participating, and I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of chemistry he creates with Muroi,” and “It’s the latest installment of a series I’ve waited 12 years for.”
Furthermore, this film will be released as a two-part series, with ‘Shinji Muroi: The Survivor’ set to be released in November.
2nd Place: ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ (Release Date: October 11)
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In second place is the sequel to ‘Joker,’ featuring Joaquin Phoenix, titled ‘Joker: Folie à Deux.’ This installment introduces the character “Lee,” played by Lady Gaga.
Set two years after the previous film, the Joker, celebrated as a revolutionary and voice of the people, is set to unveil a new show.
Readers commented, “Since the first film ‘Joker’ was good, I’m sure this one will be interesting,” and “I really wanted to see the sequel,” indicating the enthusiasm of fans who watched the first film.
3rd Place: ‘The Eight Dog Chronicles’ (Release Date: October 25)
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In third place is ‘The Eight Dog Chronicles,’ starring Hiroshi Yakusho. The film is based on the novel ‘The Eight Dog Chronicles’ by Buntaro Yamada, featuring performances by Seiyo Uchino, Yuto Isohara, Hana Kuroki, Keisuke Watanabe, Rikoto Itagaki, and Yumi Kawai.
The story depicts the fate of eight swordsmen drawn together by eight jewels, seeking to break the curse of the Satomi clan, created with dynamic VFX in a fictional world. Through the strange friendship between the writer Bakin Takizawa and the ukiyo-e artist Hokusai Katsushika, it delves into the essence of creativity, intertwining fiction and reality.
In the survey, many readers expressed their expectations, stating, “I’m looking forward to the release with such a luxurious cast and the information revealed before the premiere,” “I like the story, and I’m curious about the actors,” and “It seems both the fictional and real parts of ‘The Eight Dog Chronicles’ are being developed thoroughly, so I have high hopes.”
4th to 10th places are as follows:
4th Place: ‘Maru’ (Release Date: October 18)
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Starring Tsuyoshi Domoto and directed by Naoko Ogigami, ‘Maru’ tells a fantastical story of Sawada, who works as an assistant to an unsuccessful contemporary artist, as his everyday life begins to be infiltrated by a sense of “circle.”
5th Place: ‘Civil War: The Last Day of America’ (Release Date: October 4)
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What if America were divided and a civil war broke out? A dystopian action film, ‘Civil War: The Last Day of America,’ comes with the largest production budget in A24’s history.
6th Place: ‘The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of Gegege’ (Release Date: October 4)
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The live-action version of ‘The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of Gegege,’ released to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Shigeru Mizuki, presents a “R15+” version with 327 cuts re-shot and sound re-dubbed, featuring no new additional scenes, but improved quality of video and sound.
7th Place: ‘Young Strangers’ (Release Date: October 11)
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‘Young Strangers’ is a co-production film involving France, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Japan. The story, starring Yuto Isohara, fiercely portrays one young man facing his “last stronghold” within.
8th Place: ‘Fureru.’ (Release Date: October 4)
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Directed by Ryusuke Nagai, the latest original animated feature film, ‘Fureru.’, features character designs by Masayoshi Tanaka, and shares the story of three young men living with a mysterious creature, “Fureru,” starring Ren Nagase (King & Prince), Ryuta Bandō, and Kenta Maeda (EXILE Theater).
9th Place: ‘Adabana’ (Release Date: October 18)
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The French-Japanese co-production film ‘Adabana’ features actors Arata Iura, Kiko Mizuhara, and Toko Miura. In a not-so-distant modern world, where the state promotes life extension treatment using a certain new technology, one wonders: if someone who looks exactly like you could take your place when you fall ill, how would you feel about that?
10th Place: ‘HAPPYEND’ (Release Date: October 4)
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‘HAPPYEND’ is a coming-of-age film depicting the shifting dynamics and conflicts of friendship between two childhood friends as they face themselves before graduating high school. This marks the screen debut of the main characters, Hayato Kurihara and Yuki Hidaka.
Cinema Cafe Reader Survey / Top 10 Films Anticipated for October
1st Place: ‘Shinji Muroi: The Unbeaten’
2nd Place: ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’
3rd Place: ‘The Eight Dog Chronicles’
4th Place: ‘Maru’
5th Place: ‘Civil War: The Last Day of America’
6th Place: ‘The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of Gegege’
7th Place: ‘Young Strangers’
8th Place: ‘Fureru.’
9th Place: ‘Adabana’
10th Place: ‘HAPPYEND’