What was the North American opening-day gross of Pokémon: The First Movie?

Pokémon: The First Movie earned $10.1 million in North America on its opening day.

Released in 1999, the film was marketed as Pokémon: The First Movie and featured Mewtwo as its central antagonist. Its North American opening took place on a Wednesday, and the unusually strong attendance led to the nickname “Pokéflu,” referring to children missing school to see the film.

The opening-day figure is different from the movie’s first weekend and total North American gross. It earned about $31 million during its first weekend after the Wednesday launch, then finished its North American theatrical run with approximately $85.7 million. Worldwide, the film grossed more than $172 million.

The movie was a major milestone for the franchise’s international expansion. It arrived after Pokémon had already become a hit television series and video game property in North America. Although later anime films surpassed some of its records, Pokémon: The First Movie remains one of the most commercially important theatrical releases in Pokémon history.