The First Slam Dunk is returning to Japanese theaters next year. The popular anime film will be screened nationwide under the title The First Slam Dunk 2027 in cinema, with the special theatrical run set to begin on March 20, 2027, and continue through April 1. The announcement was made through the film’s official website, which also released a new visual for the return.
The upcoming screening will take place across Japan for a limited period of 13 days. The official announcement confirms that the film will be shown at theaters nationwide, although the exact list of participating theaters has not yet been revealed. The makers have said that more details about the locations will be announced at a later date.
The announcement comes with the line, “Spring. The season of new beginnings. That summer is coming back,” marking the film’s return during the spring season. The official website has also confirmed the March 20 to April 1 dates for the special screening.
Based on Takehiko Inoue’s popular basketball manga Slam Dunk, the film follows Ryota Miyagi, the point guard of Shohoku High School’s basketball team. The story focuses on the team’s match against Sannoh Kogyo High School during the Inter-High National Championship, while also exploring Ryota’s personal life and his relationship with his older brother.
The film brings together the main Shohoku players, including Ryota, Hanamichi Sakuragi, Kaede Rukawa, Takenori Akagi and Hisashi Mitsui, as they face one of the strongest teams in the country. Rather than simply retelling the original manga from the beginning, the film puts Ryota at the centre of the story while building toward the important match between Shohoku and Sannoh.
The First Slam Dunk was written and directed by Takehiko Inoue, who also created the original manga. The film marked his feature directorial debut and allowed him to bring his own vision of the story to the big screen.
The film was produced by Toei Animation and originally opened in Japan on December 3, 2022. It was released in regular and IMAX theaters before expanding to Dolby Cinema screens a week later.
The movie went on to become a major success in Japan. By the end of its original Japanese theatrical run on August 31, 2023, it had earned ¥15.73 billion from 10.88 million admissions, making it one of the highest-grossing anime films in Japanese box office history at the time.
The film also returned to Japanese theaters in 2024 for another special screening, showing that its popularity continued well after its original theatrical run. During that revival, its Japanese total rose to ¥16.2 billion and more than 11.19 million admissions.
The First Slam Dunk was not only successful in Japan. The film also performed strongly in other Asian markets, including China and South Korea, and later received theatrical releases in North America and other international markets. Crunchyroll previously reported that the film had earned more than $271 million worldwide, helped by its strong runs in China and South Korea.
Its original Japanese run also made it a major success for Toei Animation. The film eventually finished its first run as the seventh highest-grossing anime film ever released in Japan, before later revival screenings pushed its total even higher.
The new theatrical run gives Japanese audiences another chance to watch the film on the big screen, nearly five years after its original release. The official announcement currently confirms only the nationwide screening period, from March 20 through April 1, 2027, while details about individual theaters and any additional screening plans are still to come.
The First Slam Dunk 2027 in cinema will begin its Japanese theatrical run on March 20, 2027, bringing Takehiko Inoue’s basketball story back to the big screen for another limited run.
