Crunchyroll has prepared a special surprise for fans of the eccentric idol-zombie series. The platform announced that it will hold an exclusive screening of the film Zombie Land Saga: Yumeginga Paradise with English dubbing, an event taking place in the United States and Canada on January 19, 2026. This one-time screening is part of the “Crunchyroll Anime Nights” program and represents a rare opportunity for audiences to watch the cinematic continuation of the franchise with localized audio, although the songs will remain in the original Japanese with subtitles.
The relevance of this announcement is significant, as the film, which premiered in Japan in October 2025 and even reached eighth place at the box office on its first weekend, finally gets a window for Western audiences in a special way. With an initial revenue of approximately 97.3 million yen (about 638 thousand dollars at the time), the production expands the stage of the idol-zombies from Saga to the big screen, promising the same absurd humor and thrilling moments that made the series famous. However, it is important to note that there will be no screenings with subtitles for the Japanese audio on this specific date, focusing entirely on the dubbed experience.
The Return of the Idol-Zombies and the Film’s Behind-the-Scenes
Directed by Takafumi Ishida and Takeru Satō at MAPPA studio, the film features the return of the main cast and introduces a new character, Naomasa Amabuki, voiced by Daisuke Ono. Furthermore, the creative team remains faithful to the origins, with Shigeru Murakoshi on screenplay and Yasuharu Takanashi composing the soundtrack. This continuity ensures that the unique spirit of the franchise — which blends comedy, horror, and musical drama in unexpected ways — is preserved in the transition to the big screen.
The Zombie Land Saga franchise, which began as a TV series in 2018, won fans around the world with its peculiar premise: Sakura Minamoto and other girls from different historical periods are revived as zombies to form an idol group and save Saga Prefecture. Since then, the series gained a second season in 2021, stage plays, and derivative manga, establishing itself as a cultural phenomenon. Thus, the screening of this film in 2026, even if for just one day, is a highly anticipated event for the anime community, keeping alive the flame of one of the most creative and fun productions of recent years.
