If you've been waiting for more Madoka since Rebellion dropped back in 2013, here's some big news out of Japan: the newest entry in the franchise, "Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie -Walpurgisnacht: Rising-" (劇場版 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ〈ワルプルギスの廻天〉), just hit theaters on August 28, 2026 — and it's already a certified smash hit. It hasn't been announced for U.S. theaters yet, but the numbers coming out of Japan suggest this is a big deal worth knowing about.
The Numbers
In just four days (Friday, August 28 through Monday, August 31), the film pulled in:
・583,638 admissions
・¥1,018,375,620 in box office revenue (that's roughly $6.9 million USD at current exchange rates)
That's enough to top Japan's weekend box office rankings for both attendance and revenue on opening weekend — and the momentum kept going into the following Monday, a normally slow box office day.
For context on how big this is: the previous film, Rebellion (2013), eventually earned over ¥2 billion total over its full run — and this new movie is currently outpacing that film's early trajectory. Given that Rebellion is considered one of the more commercially successful anime films of its era in Japan, that's a serious flex for a franchise that's been dormant for over a decade.
Why the Long Wait Matters
For fans who don't follow the Japanese release cycle closely: the original Madoka Magica anime series aired back in 2011, and Rebellion — the last theatrical release — came out in 2013. That means fans have waited 13 years for this continuation, and the anime community there has been buzzing accordingly.
Midnight Screenings and Fan Events
Japanese theatrical releases often come with special fan events, and this one went all-out:
・Opening night (Aug 28): Select theaters ran midnight "first screenings" so die-hard fans could see it the moment it dropped.
・Saturday (Aug 29): A stage greeting event with cast and crew was livestreamed to theaters nationwide — essentially a red-carpet Q&A simulcast, a format that's common for major anime releases in Japan but doesn't have a great direct equivalent in U.S. theatrical culture.
・Sunday (Aug 30): A follow-up "thank you" stage greeting was held to celebrate the strong opening.
Basically, opening weekend turned into a nationwide celebration for the fandom, not just a movie release.
What This Means Going Forward
There's no confirmed word yet on a U.S. release, but a franchise entry performing this well after a 13-year gap is exactly the kind of thing that tends to attract attention from Western distributors. Studio Aniplex has a track record of eventually bringing high-performing theatrical releases (like Demon Slayer films) to North American screens. Worth keeping an eye on for official announcements!
New Web CM Featuring Never-Before-Seen Cuts
"Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie -Walpurgisnacht: Rising-" Now Playing in Japan!
Watch the footage here
"Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie -Walpurgisnacht: Rising-" Movie Info
Release Date: August 28, 2026
Synopsis
In the city of Mitakihara, Madoka Kaname was once just an ordinary, somewhat shy middle school student. Her life was forever changed when she discovered the existence of "Magical Girls"—warriors who fight against Witches—and was swept into their cycle of tragedy.
Witnessing the despair of her friends, Madoka made a final, desperate wish to Kyubey: "I want to erase all witches before they are even born." Through this wish, she transcended her humanity to become the "Law of Cycles," a divine concept that rewrote the universe into a world where Witches could no longer exist.
Homura Akemi, the only one who remembered Madoka’s sacrifice, vowed to keep fighting the "Wraiths" that filled the void left by the Witches. She fought on, dreaming of the day the Law of Cycles would finally claim her.
But while living out a seemingly peaceful life as a Magical Girl alongside her friends, Homura began to notice a growing sense of wrongness in her surroundings. Eventually, she realized a terrifying truth: Madoka Kaname, who should no longer exist as a human, was right there with her. This world was a fabrication—a false reality created by Homura herself as she began her descent into becoming a Witch, all for the sake of seeing Madoka again.
The Magical Girls united to crush Kyubey’s plan to exploit this phenomenon. However, victory meant accepting that Madoka would remain a distant, divine entity. To prevent losing her again, Homura committed the ultimate taboo at the final moment. She usurped a piece of the Law of Cycles, becoming a "Devil" that rivaled God, and rewrote the world into her own image.
Recently, a new rumor has begun to spread among the girls of Mitakihara. They say the "Lizard-san Phone" will grant your deepest wish—but only if you agree to fight the Curses of this world.
Meanwhile, a series of anomalies occur: a "girl without a Soul Gem" is seen hunting Wraiths. Homura watches this unfolding landscape with cold indifference, reigning over her domain as the supreme Devil. She has everything she ever wanted... or so she thought.
That twisted peace is about to be shattered by the sudden appearance of forces from beyond.
The origin point of all Witches—Nazuka Sokotsune.
The terrifying collective of Witches that once pushed Homura to her limits—Walpurgisnacht.
And two Magical Girls who seek the Law of Cycles.
Their declaration is simple and absolute: "We will never forgive Homura Akemi."
In a world that has lost its divine order, the gears of fate for the Magical Girls begin to turn once more.
Cast
Madoka Kaname: Aoi Yuki
Homura Akemi: Chiwa Saito
Mami Tomoe: Kaori Mizuhashi
Sayaka Miki: Eri Kitamura
Kyoko Sakura: Ai Nonaka
Nagisa Momoe: Kana Asumi
Kyubey: Emiri Kato
Zi Ding Xiang: Shion Wakayama
Selma Therese: Tomoyo Kurosawa
©Magica Quartet／Aniplex・WR
★Official Website (JP): https://www.madoka-magica.com/
★Official X (Twitter): @madoka_magica_
© Animate Times
*Some parts of this text have been translated using machine translation
