The unprecedented earthquake of 'Conan'

Having swept the Japanese box office and then creating a sensation in Vietnamese theaters with just two days of special screenings, "The Afterimage of a One-Eyed Man" is proving an unprecedented appeal for an animated film.

Nagano Prefecture, Yatsugatake mountain range, Mount Mitakara.

While Inspector Yamato Kansuke of the Nagano Prefectural Police Department was pursuing Mikuriya Sadakuni, a suspect in an eight-year-old gun shop robbery, he was suddenly distracted by a figure appearing in his field of vision. Taking advantage of this, Mikuriya shot Yamato, blinding him in one eye, at the same time an avalanche engulfed the inspector. Fortunately, Yamato was rescued from the tragedy.

Ten months later, an employee at the Nobeyama National Observatory research facility is attacked. Upon hearing the news, Yamato Kansuke and his teammate Uehara Yui immediately go to the scene. While the duo are taking statements, the facility's giant parabolic antenna activates, causing Yamato's left eye to suddenly experience intense pain.

Unexpectedly, it turned out to be a harbinger of a mysterious murder that was about to happen...

Reasons for fever

The Shadow of the One-Eyed Detective Conan is the 28th film in the Detective Conan franchise. Having proven its unshakeable position at the Japanese box office for nearly three decades, this new installment continues that glorious success. Without the fan-favorite supporting characters of previous films, and without gimmicks or sensational elements, Katsuya Shigehara's creation has broken records that have earned the admiration of the entire Japanese film industry.

In its opening week, *The Shadow of a One-Eyed Man* raked in 3.4 billion yen – an unprecedented figure in the series' history, even surpassing the 27th installment, which featured big names like Kaito Kid and Hattori Heiji. To date, the film has grossed over 14.4 billion yen, becoming the highest-grossing film at the Japanese box office in 2025, and is only 100 million yen short of the highest-grossing film in the entire series.

The film "Aftermath of the One-Eyed Detective" also marks the third consecutive year that the Conan movie has grossed 10 billion yen at the box office – a feat that even blockbuster domestic hits like Shin Ultraman or Jujutsu Kaisen struggle to maintain consistently.

The Conan phenomenon didn't stop in Japan. Upon its arrival in Vietnamese theaters, the film quickly attracted a record number of advance ticket bookings. As of the afternoon of July 20th, less than two days after its special screening, the film's total revenue, according to Box Office Vietnam, had already exceeded 40 billion VND.

The appearance of the young detective sparked a sensation in Vietnamese theaters, marking a vibrant return to the box office after several sluggish summer weeks.

The afterimage of the one-eyed man surpassed 40 billion VND in views on the afternoon of July 20th.

The impressive achievements of * The Shadow of a One-Eyed Man * are due in no small part to the enduring appeal of the brand. Conan is not just a simple detective series; for nearly three decades, it has gradually become a symbol of popular culture, setting a record as the third best-selling manga franchise of all time.

However, the success of *The Shadow of a One-Eyed Man* doesn't rely solely on its established reputation. While previous installments often maximized fan-service from popular supporting characters, this work returns to the core detective element, which is the soul of the entire Conan series .

Another factor contributing to the craze surrounding "The Afterimage of the One-Eyed Man" was the unprecedented media and marketing effect. Collaborating with Universal Studio Japan to launch a survival game based on the film, appearing extensively on JR East trains, and dozens of smaller promotional campaigns across the country, Conan's image this year practically covered Japan. Even the main location – Nobeyama Observatory – saw a tenfold increase in visitors compared to normal days, even helping it escape a years-long financial crisis.

When Mori stopped dozing off

The afterimage of the one-eyed detective is particularly noteworthy because it's also one of the rare occasions where the bearded detective Mori isn't dozing off, but is actually playing a key role in solving the case. Conan doesn't shine alone either, but is integrated into the investigation journey of an entire team - especially the Nagano Prefecture police force with Yamato Kansuke at its center.

The story opens with the frigid atmosphere of Nagano, where Yamato Kansuke, blinded in one eye, is buried under the snow. The accident, seemingly just a vague memory, unexpectedly becomes a link to a mysterious conspiracy that led to the deaths of many innocent victims, including Sametani, a former close friend of Mr. Mori.

The trio of Nagano Prefecture police officers return in season 28.

Ten months later, those fragments of memory begin to resurface in Inspector Yamato's mind. From a physical wound, the film leads the audience on a journey of investigation and haunting flashbacks. The 28th installment takes a more in-depth approach to the investigation. Each small clue and incident either misleads or gradually leads the viewer to the truth. This forces both the characters and the viewers to be alert and discerning. The crime-solving process is also well-structured and restrained, avoiding overly dramatic or ridiculous plot twists like some previous installments.

Yamato Kansuke, the central character, is explored far beyond the image of a cold, detached detective we've previously seen. His loss of one eye is not only symbolic but also serves as a pivotal point in the character's psychological development throughout the film.

Meanwhile, Mori Kogoro unexpectedly became a bright spot. Known for his image as an old man offering pointless arguments and acting as a "tool" to help Conan solve cases, Mori was truly given a chance this time. The mustachioed detective in * The Shadow of a One-Eyed Man* appears emotionally rich, particularly proactive, and determined to unravel the case because of the wrongful death of his close friend.

Of course, director Katsuya Shigehara's brainchild isn't a perfect work. Returning to a purely investigative style, the pace of the film sometimes slows down, especially when there are too many characters, sometimes overwhelming the audience with the constant plot twists. Some supporting characters, such as Yamato's two colleagues, remain rather bland, mainly serving as background for the story's progression.

While the explosive action sequences in the final minutes of the film provide a visually satisfying experience for fans of the franchise, many details still show signs of being overdone and exaggerated. Nevertheless, it's hard to deny that *The Shadow of a One-Eyed Man* is a rather captivating and engaging story with unexpected twists, easily holding the audience's attention.

This is also one of the Conan films that has received unanimous praise from both fans and critics, with a score of 7/10 on IMDb and 3.5/5 on Eiga.v.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/con-dia-chan-chua-tung-co-cua-conan-post292104.html