GKIDS, the Academy Award-winning curator, producer, and distributor, today announced its partnership with Regal to exclusively distribute HYPNOSISMIC -Division Rap Battle- Interactive Movie, an immersive cinematic experience where the outcome lies in the hands of audience members.
HYPNOSISMIC -Division Rap Battle- is a multimedia project developed by King Records, under its EVIL LINE RECORDS label, that began with a series of introductory CD releases in 2017. The first Battle Season was held in 2018, where fans voted for the winner of rap battles between the groups. It has since grown to span manga, live stage productions, mobile gaming, and anime. HYPNOSISMIC -Division Rap Battle- Interactive Movie is the franchise’s first feature film and debuted in Japan in February 2025, becoming the country’s first-ever interactive movie. Powered by CtrlMovie’s in-theatre polling technology, moviegoers determine how each battle unfolds. Each film screening is uniquely shaped by its audience, resulting in a roughly 106-minute experience from a total of 328 minutes of ultimate rap battle content. Despite its limited screen count, the film broke Japanese box office records, selling over one million tickets and earning over $16.3 million (JP¥2.6 billion).
Tickets are now on sale for HYPNOSISMIC -Division Rap Battle- Interactive Movie and will play exclusively in Regal theaters across 15 major markets nationwide. For the most up-to-date list of theatres and showtimes, please visit REGmovies.com.
- Director: Takanori Tsujimoto
- Runtime: 106 minutes
- Rating: Not Rated
- Language: Japanese with English subtitles
Synopsis:
HYPNOSISMIC -Division Rap Battle- Interactive Movie is an immersive cinematic experience where the outcome lies in your hands. Vote with or against your fellow movie-goers to determine how each battle unfolds in Japan’s first interactive anime film, where each film screening is uniquely shaped by its audience.
Disputes are now settled through rap battles instead of violence using a special microphone known as the Hypnosis Mic. Lyrics delivered through the mic directly affect the human spirit, thereby eliminating the need for armed conflict. Six groups (Buster Bros!!!, MAD TRIGGER CREW, Fling Posse, Matenro, DOTSUITARE-HOMPO, and Bad Ass Temple) from regions throughout Japan now compete to prove their strength in the Final Division Rap Battle, hosted by KOTONOHATOH. In a world where words have replaced weapons, the ultimate rap battle that will decide the future of the nation is about to begin.
Source: Press Release
