As expected, the sports Jdrama, ROOKIES: Sotsugyo movie tops Japan's 2009 box office with Y8.42 billion or about US$90.5 Million earnings throughout its showing on theaters. On the opening weekend itself, it already earned Y1.2 million. This movie was even compared to other manga to live-action adaptation movies like Gokusen, and Hana Yori Dango.

ROOKIES is about a high school Literature teacher named Koichi Kawato who helped the Nikogaku baseball club/team in aiming their dreams: to play on a world renowned Koshien High School Baseball Tournament. However, the road to Koshien is far from easy as many obstacles await them.

The movie happens after the events on the Jdrama series. So be sure to watch the series first before watching the movie. You can download them at Skewed Studios Fansubs. The subbed movie will be released very soon so wait for it.

Here are the other movies that tops Japan's Box Office:

1. ROOKIES: Sotsugyo (Y8.42 billion)
2. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (Y8 billion)
3. Okuribito [Departures] (Y6.44 billion)
4. Red Cliff Part II (Y5.55 billion)
5. Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life (Y4.58 billion
6. Michael Jackson's This Is It (Y4.42 billion)
7. 20th Century Boys 3: Redemption (Y4.34 billion)
8. Wall-E (Y4 billion)
9. Evagelion 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance (Y4 billion)
10. Amalufi: Megami no hōshū (Y3.58 billion)