Editing Returner (section)

{{short description|2002 film by Takashi Yamazaki}}
{{other uses|Returner (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox film
| name                 = Returner
| image                = Returner-japense-poster.jpg
| alt                  = 
| caption              = Theatrical release poster
| native_name          = {{Infobox Japanese| katakana=リターナー|revhep=Ritānā}}
| director             = [[Takashi Yamazaki]]
| producer             = {{plainlist|
* [[Shūji Abe]]
* {{Ill|Chikahiro Ando|ja|安藤親広}}
* {{Ill|Toru Horibe|ja|堀部徹}}
* {{Ill|Akifumi Takuma|ja|宅間秋史}}{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=424}}
}}
| screenplay           = {{plainlist|*Takashi Yamazaki
* {{Ill|Kenya Hirata|ja|平田研也}}
}}
{{Infobox|decat=yes|child=yes|label1=Visual effects by|data1=Takashi Yamazaki<br>[[Atsuki Sato]]<br>[[Kiyoko Shibuya]]<!--<br>[[Katsuro Onoue]]-->}}
| starring             = {{plainlist|
*[[Anne Suzuki]]
*[[Takeshi Kaneshiro]]
* {{Ill|Goro Kishitani|ja|岸谷五朗}}
}}
| music                = {{Ill|Akihiko Matsumoto|ja|松本晃彦}}
| cinematography       = {{plainlist|
* [[Kōzō Shibasaki]]
* {{Ill|Akira Sakō|ja|佐光朗}}
}}
| editing              = {{Ill|Takuya Taguchi|ja|田口拓也}}
| production_companies = [[Robot Communications|Robot]]<ref name="Variety">{{cite magazine |last=Elley |first=Derek |authorlink=Derek Elley |url=https://variety.com/2003/film/reviews/returner-1200542109/ |title=''Returner'' |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170518102758/http://variety.com/2003/film/reviews/returner-1200542109/ |archive-date=May 18, 2017 |date=April 22, 2003 |access-date=March 28, 2017}}</ref>
| distributor          = [[Toho]]<ref name="Variety"/>
| released             = {{Film date|2002|8|19|[[Shibuya]]|2002|8|31|Japan}}
| runtime              = 116 minutes{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=424}}
| country              = Japan
| language             = {{plainlist|
*Japanese
*English
*Mandarin<ref name="Variety" />}}
| budget               = {{USD|4 million|long=no}}<ref name="TK">{{cite web |url=https://www.tohokingdom.com/movies/returner.htm |title=''Returner'' |work=Toho Kingdom |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215125046/https://www.tohokingdom.com/movies/returner.htm |archive-date=December 15, 2023}}</ref>
| gross                = {{USD|11 million|long=no}}<ref name="TK"/>
}}
{{nihongo|'''''Returner'''''|リターナー|Ritānā|lead=yes}} is a 2002 Japanese [[Science fiction film|science fiction]] [[action film]] directed, co-written, and with visual effects by [[Takashi Yamazaki]]. It stars [[Takeshi Kaneshiro]] and [[Anne Suzuki]] as a hitman and time traveler, respectively, who team up in present-day Japan to prevent an alien race from invading Earth. {{Ill|Goro Kishitani|ja|岸谷五朗}} and [[Kirin Kiki]] are featured in supporting roles.

Production took place from circa January to April 2002. It reportedly aspired "to be a combination of ''[[Mission: Impossible (film series)|Mission: Impossible]], [[The Matrix]]'' and ''[[Léon: The Professional|Leon]]''", and exercised 300 [[Computer-generated imagery|computer-generated]] shots, as well as [[wire fu]]. The film was produced by [[Robot Communications]] and was funded by Robot, [[Toho]], [[Fuji Television Network]], [[Hakuhodo DY Music & Pictures|Amuse Pictures]], [[Shirogumi]], and [[Imagica]].

''Returner'' premiered at [[Shibuya Public Hall]] on August 19, 2002, and was released in Japan on August 31. [[Samuel Goldwyn Films]] later distributed it in the United States on October 17, 2003. The film grossed over {{USD|11 million|long=no}} worldwide against a {{USD|4 million|long=no}} budget and was the [[List of Japanese films of 2002#Highest-grossing films|fourteenth highest-grossing Japanese film of 2002]]. It received generally negative reviews from critics, with most attacking the screenplay and perceived lack of originality, although some praised the acting, action sequences, and visual effects. The film received five nominations at the [[26th Japan Academy Film Prize]]. A sequel was planned but ultimately abandoned<!-- in favor of an [[Always: Sunset on Third Street|unrelated film set in the Shōwa era]]-->.