Crunchyroll Secures Key International Theatrical Rights to ‘Jujutsu Kaisen: Hidden Inventory / Premature Death – The Movie’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment are gearing up to release a new theatrical installment from one of anime’s most commercially successful franchises. Announced at the Annecy Animation Festival today, the companies have acquired select international rights to “Jujutsu Kaisen: Hidden Inventory / Premature Death – The Movie,” a compilation film set to hit international theaters this summer.

The film, recently released in Japan with a 200,000 yen ($1.3 million) first three days, revisits the fan-favorite “Hidden Inventory / Premature Death” arc, exploring the younger years of Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto during their time as students and sorcerers. This re-edited version includes newly remixed sound and is being positioned as a cinematic refresher following the end of the anime’s second season in 2023.

Crunchyroll and Sony will distribute the film in select territories across Europe, Latin America and Australia, with both subtitled and dubbed versions planned.

“Jujutsu Kaisen” has grown into one of the most influential anime titles in recent years. The series debuted in 2020 and quickly became a breakout hit for studio MAPPA and publisher Shueisha. The franchise’s previous feature film, “Jujutsu Kaisen 0,” grossed over $188 million worldwide and stands among the highest-grossing anime films of all time, although that was an original feature, while this is a compilation more in line with.

The upcoming film acts as a narrative prequel to the franchise’s main storyline, rewinding the timeline to 2006. Audiences will witness the events that fractured the bond between Gojo, often considered the most powerful sorcerer in the series, and Geto, who would later become a formidable antagonist. The mission to protect and eventually eliminate the Star Plasma Vessel, Riko Amanai, marks the beginning of their ideological divide.

Crunchyroll continues to carve out its place in anime cinema. Backed by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex Inc., the streamer-distributor has been a key player in bringing anime to global audiences. Its theatrical team has supported 10 of the top 20 highest-grossing anime films in U.S. box office history, including titles like “Demon Slayer: Mugen Train,” “Suzume” and “One Piece Film: Red.”

“Jujutsu Kaisen: Hidden Inventory / Premature Death – The Movie” is the first release from the franchise since the conclusion of Season 2 and is expected to serve as both a reintroduction for longtime fans and an entry point for newcomers.