Ninomiya's 'Exit of the 8th' Box Office Surges Past $110 Million, Driven by Psychological Thrills

Kazunari Ninomiya, a prominent Japanese actor, is single-handedly carrying the film "Exit of the 8th," which has achieved remarkable success in Japan. The movie has surpassed 5.2 billion yen (approximately $110 million USD) at the box office, positioning it as one of the most significant live-action films of 2025.

The film's source material is a globally popular indie game with a simple yet captivating premise: "find the anomaly, find the exit." Players navigate an endlessly looping subway tunnel, scrutinizing details for subtle changes. The game's ability to induce anxiety and fear has garnered over a million downloads, earning it recognition as a highly successful Japanese indie game.

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The movie's scenes and costumes barely change. If you don't sort out the character's psychological trajectory first, it's easy to lose direction.

"Exit of the 8th" translates this oppressive atmosphere to the screen, with Ninomiya spending most of the runtime alone in the subway tunnel. Eschewing elaborate special effects, the film relies on Ninomiya's nuanced performance, his gaze, breathing, and physical movements, to build tension. Viewers experience the character's disorientation and self-doubt, blurring the lines between reality and hallucination, leading many to describe it as a psychological horror.

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The most fascinating part of 'Exit of the 8th' is not the sudden anomalies, but the moments everyone has experienced in life where they 'didn't know where to go.'

Interestingly, Ninomiya was already a devoted player of the "Exit of the 8th" game. Upon learning of the film adaptation, he not only accepted the lead role but also actively participated in script development, even receiving a script collaboration credit. He recognized that with minimal changes to the film's setting and costumes, clarifying the character's psychological journey from the outset was crucial. His deep involvement aimed to inject emotion and soul into a narrative derived from a game with a minimal storyline.

Director Genki Kawamura, known for producing hit anime films like "Your Name.," "Weathering with You," and "Suzume," believes the appeal of "Exit of the 8th" lies not in sudden anomalies but in the universal human experience of uncertainty about one's path. This shared modern anxiety and confusion form the core of the film's resonance with audiences.

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I want to know how people see my work.