The acclaimed animated film The First Slam Dunk, which topped the Japanese box office in 2023, is set to stream on Netflix in 75 countries starting August 25. In Japan, the film began streaming exclusively on Netflix on June 10.
This move is part of Netflix’s ongoing strategy to expand its extensive anime catalog, bringing The First Slam Dunk to a global audience. The film will join other highly praised titles such as Suzume and a collection of Studio Ghibli films, further enriching the platform’s offerings and providing anime enthusiasts around the world with access to top-tier Japanese content.
Slam Dunk, the beloved manga created by Takehiko Inoue, chronicles the journey of a high school basketball team. Serialized from 1990 to 1996, the manga has become one of the best-selling series in history, with over 170 million copies sold worldwide. The series has also inspired various adaptations, including a popular anime that aired from 1993 to 1996.
The First Slam Dunk is a film adaptation written and directed by Inoue, focusing on a pivotal game from the manga that has never been animated before. The film has been a major success, winning numerous awards, including the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year, and has received an overwhelmingly positive response, particularly across Asia.