ARTS / FILM
Some Beijing cinemas confirm receiving notice to postpone two Japanese films
By Published: Nov 18, 2025 12:06 AM
Some cinemas in Beijing have received notifications to postpone the release of two Japanese animated films, the Global Times learned on Monday, after the Weibo account of CZ News of Zhejiang Media Group reported the postponement earlier in the day.
The affected titles are Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Super Hot! Scorching Kasukabe Dancers, previously scheduled for release on December 6, and Cells at Work!, which was set to open on November 22 and had already begun pre-sales.
The rescheduled date of release for the two films has not been announced.
As of Monday, pre-sale and preview ticket sales for Cells at Work! had reached 80,000 yuan ($11,268), according to Chinese ticketing platform Maoyan.
By 8:30 pm Monday, ticket booking information for Cells at Work! remained visible on some ticketing platforms.
Staff at several cinemas contacted by the Global Times said they had not received official notice of the postponement, noting that such announcements typically come via email or on-site notifications from film distributors.
However, employees at other theaters chains confirmed the postponement of both films. One employee explained that there is a dedicated server website for downloading upcoming films, but these two titles have been unavailable for download. "Customers who purchased pre-sale tickets will receive automatic refunds via their original payment methods," the employee said.
The postponements have drawn attention to the upcoming schedule for other Japanese films in the Chinese mainland. According to ticketing platforms, two other Japanese movies, 1st Kiss and Happyend, are still scheduled for release on December 5 as of press time.
Separately, some unconfirmed media reports claimed that the ongoing screening of Japanese anime film Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie: Infinity Castle would end its run ahead of schedule. However, staff at all five movie theaters in Beijing surveyed by the Global Times said they had not received such notice, stating the film was being shown as planned.
Distribution documents indicate the Demon Slayer sequel uses a segmented encryption key system for theatrical screenings, divided into six stages. The first key period ran from November 14 to 16, the second from November 17 to 20, and the third is scheduled for November 21 to 23.
Poster of Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Super Hot! Scorching Kasukabe Dancers Photo: Chinese ticketing platform Maoyan
The affected titles are Crayon Shin-chan the Movie: Super Hot! Scorching Kasukabe Dancers, previously scheduled for release on December 6, and Cells at Work!, which was set to open on November 22 and had already begun pre-sales.
The rescheduled date of release for the two films has not been announced.
Poster of Cells at Work! Photo: Chinese ticketing platform Maoyan
As of Monday, pre-sale and preview ticket sales for Cells at Work! had reached 80,000 yuan ($11,268), according to Chinese ticketing platform Maoyan.
By 8:30 pm Monday, ticket booking information for Cells at Work! remained visible on some ticketing platforms.
Staff at several cinemas contacted by the Global Times said they had not received official notice of the postponement, noting that such announcements typically come via email or on-site notifications from film distributors.
However, employees at other theaters chains confirmed the postponement of both films. One employee explained that there is a dedicated server website for downloading upcoming films, but these two titles have been unavailable for download. "Customers who purchased pre-sale tickets will receive automatic refunds via their original payment methods," the employee said.
The postponements have drawn attention to the upcoming schedule for other Japanese films in the Chinese mainland. According to ticketing platforms, two other Japanese movies, 1st Kiss and Happyend, are still scheduled for release on December 5 as of press time.
Separately, some unconfirmed media reports claimed that the ongoing screening of Japanese anime film Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie: Infinity Castle would end its run ahead of schedule. However, staff at all five movie theaters in Beijing surveyed by the Global Times said they had not received such notice, stating the film was being shown as planned.
Distribution documents indicate the Demon Slayer sequel uses a segmented encryption key system for theatrical screenings, divided into six stages. The first key period ran from November 14 to 16, the second from November 17 to 20, and the third is scheduled for November 21 to 23.
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