“The Exit 8” Pulls 1.55 Million Viewers in 11 Days-An “Anomaly”-Level Hit, Buzzing at the Toronto International Film Festival

“The Exit 8” Pulls 1.55 Million Viewers in 11 Days—An “Anomaly”-Level Hit, Buzzing at the Toronto International Film Festival
Starring Arashi’s Kazunari Ninomiya, the film hit 1,554,256 admissions and ¥2.18 billion ($14,795,711) in 11 days (incl. advance screenings) and is buzzing in TIFF’s Centerpiece program.

From indie loop-game to big-screen phenomenon.

Since its nationwide release on August 29, “The Exit 8” has drawn 1,554,256 moviegoers and earned ¥2,180,935,100 ($14,802,057) becoming a hit of truly “anomalous” proportions.(including advance screenings)

A viral indie game reborn as cinema

The film is based on an anomaly-spotting game created solo in 2023 by indie developer KOTAKE CREATE that went on to sell over two million copies worldwide. The story is set in a stark underground passage. If you spot an anomaly, you turn back; if nothing is off, you move forward. Keep making the right choices and you approach “Exit 8,” but miss one and you’re sent back to “Exit 0.” It follows a man lost in this labyrinth of infinite loops.

It was selected for the Midnight Screenings section of the 78th Cannes Film Festival this May, where it held its world premiere. On September 8 (local time), it also screened officially in the Centerpiece program of the 50th Toronto International Film Festival.

Held in Toronto, Canada since 1976, TIFF is widely watched around the world as a bellwether for the Oscars. The Centerpiece program showcases feature films of strong storytelling and artistry, highlighting works lauded at other festivals and attention-worthy films by talented directors.

A packed Q&A and a playful “secret!”

Director Genki Kawamura and screenwriter Kentaro Hirase took the stage for the official screening. The post-screening Q&A saw a flurry of sharp questions from the 228 audience members. Asked how the production filmed the endlessly looping corridor, they teased, “Secret!”-bringing the house down. Kawamura reflected on the local response as follows.

“Marking the festival’s 50th edition, the audience Q&A after the screening drew many high-level questions, and I felt it was a wonderful celebration of cinema that gathers true film fans. There were many technical questions-‘How did you adapt the game into a film?’ ‘How did you use cinematic language to teach the rules to viewers?’—which left a strong impression.”

Mystery-minded audiences and the road to Busan

“It’s a trend we’ve begun to see in Japan as well, but I sensed audiences enjoying the film like a puzzle through questions such as ‘How did you shoot that?’ and ‘What did that setup mean?’ The excitement of piecing together the planted clues seems to be making the moviegoing experience uniquely engaging.” The film will also screen in the Midnight Passion section of the 30th Busan International Film Festival, which opens in South Korea on September 17. In addition, Ninomiya will become the first Japanese actor to appear in “Actors House,” an always-sold-out program that has featured leading Korean stars.

Source : ORICON NEWS