View source for Returner

{{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]]-->.

==Plot==
Milly is a soldier from 2084, when humanity is on the verge of extinction from a losing war with an alien race known as the "Daggra".{{efn|"Daggra" is [[Lhasa Tibetan]] for "enemy".}} In mankind's final stronghold in [[Tibet]], Milly leaps into a newly built time portal just before the fortress is overrun. The portal sends her to 2002, where her mission is to kill the first Daggra, who faked a crash landing, and stop him from signaling his invasion fleet.

Milly lands in the aftermath of a shootout in [[Tokyo Bay]], where a hitman named Miyamoto holds the murderous [[Triad (organized crime)|Triad]] mobster Mizoguchi at gunpoint. Miyamoto has a personal score to settle with Mizoguchi, who killed his childhood friend by kidnapping him and selling off his organs. Milly's arrival allows the mobster to escape and Miyamoto takes Milly, whom he thinks he accidentally shot, back to his place. She reveals a plate of metal in her coat that stopped the bullet. To get Miyamoto to work with her on her mission, Milly places a [[magnet therapy]] patch on his neck and makes him believe it is an explosive. 

That night, Miyamoto sees Milly cleaning up his trenchcoat on a coat hanger, so he tells her to go back to sleep. The next morning he discovers photos of himself and a newspaper article on his death. He shows these to his weapons supplier Shi Zhi Tang, who tells him it is an elaborate trick the Triads would not waste their time on.

With Shi's help, Miyamoto and Milly track down where the alien spaceship crashed, but it has been taken away to the National Institute of Space Science. As the duo arrive at the NISS building, Mizoguchi and his goons take over the facility. Miyamoto and Milly discover the alien, but is confused by its weakened appearance. The alien uses Miyamoto as its mouthpiece to say it wants to go home. Milly realizes that mankind started the war by capturing and killing the alien, and that they must stop Mizoguchi from acquiring the alien technology and selling it to the black market. Following the destruction of the NISS lab, Mizoguchi and his goons take the alien and its ship. Meanwhile, Miyamoto and Milly regroup for the next part of her mission.

The duo again confronts Mizoguchi at an abandoned oil rig, where they rescue the alien. Surviving a huge explosion, a bloodied Mizoguchi threatens to kill them all for ruining his plans. However, his bullets hit an invisible force field, giving Miyamoto an opportunity to kill Mizoguchi. Before they can figure out where the force field came from, a Daggra craft, disguised as a [[Boeing 747-400]] airliner arrives, having received the alien's distress signal. The Daggra take their wounded comrade and leave Earth. As the future war has ceased to exist, Milly slowly disappears.

Shortly after the incident, Miyamoto decides to give up his life of violence and hands in his guns to Shi. While walking home, he is confronted by a thug whose life he had spared earlier at Tokyo Bay. Realizing that he is weaponless, Miyamoto is helpless as the thug shoots him. The thug walks away, assuming that Miyamoto is dead. Soon after, Miyamoto staggers up and finds a plate of metal similar to Milly's saved his life. The plate has a written message by Milly, telling him she has repaid him. Miyamoto recalls the night Milly messed around with his trenchcoat. While Miyamoto and Milly were asleep, a second Milly traveled from the future and slipped the metal plate into his trenchcoat before returning to her timeline. On her way out, she accidentally dropped the newspaper article on Miyamoto's death.

==Cast==
* [[Takeshi Kaneshiro]] as {{nihongo|Miyamoto|ミヤモト}}, a hitman known as a "Returner", who disrupts illegal transactions and recovers black money.
:* [[Kanata Hongō]] as young Miyamoto
* [[Anne Suzuki]] as {{nihongo|Milly|ミリ}}, a 14-year-old girl from the future sent to 2002 Japan to prevent the cause of the alien war that destroyed her timeline.
* Goro Kishitani as {{nihongo|Mizoguchi|溝口}}, a mobster who works for the Liu Group triad.
* [[Kirin Kiki]] as {{nihongo|Shi Zhi Tang|謝}}, an elderly Chinese antique shop owner who is Miyamoto's informant and arms dealer.
* Masaya Takahashi as {{nihongo|Liu Laoban|劉老板}}, head of the Liu Group triad.
* Kisuke Iida as {{nihongo|Karasawa|唐沢}}, a subordinate of Mizoguchi.
* [[Yukiko Okamoto (actress)|Yukiko Okamoto]] as {{nihongo|Dr. Yagi|八木博士|Yagi Hakase}}, a scientist at the National Institute of Space Science.
* Kazuya Shimizu as {{nihongo|Murakami|村上}}, a physically strong subordinate of Mizoguchi.
* Dean Harrington as {{nihongo|Dr. Brown|ブラウン博士|Buraun Hakase}}, a scientist in the future who invented the time portal and Milly's Sonic Mover device.
* [[Mitsu Murata]] as {{nihongo|Mizoguchi's henchman|溝口の手下|Mizoguchi no teshita}}, who is shot in the leg by Miyamoto.
* [[Chiharu Kawai]] as {{nihongo|Liu's interpreter|劉の通訳|Ryū no tsūyaku}}
* Hōshi Ishida as {{nihongo|Xi Fan|シーファン|Shīfan}}, Miyamoto's childhood friend who was abducted and killed by Mizoguchi.

[[Patrick Harlan]] makes a cameo appearance as an American newscaster.

== Production ==
On January 12, 2002, ''[[Screen Daily]]'' reported that production on ''Returner'' had begun and would [[Wrap (filmmaking)|wrap]] in April of the same year.<ref name="ScreenDaily">{{Cite web |last=Schilling |first=Mark |date=January 12, 2002 |title=Pony Canyon launches sci-fi extravaganza ''Returner'' |url=https://www.screendaily.com/pony-canyon-launches-sci-fi-extravaganza-returner/407972.article |access-date=February 2, 2024 |website=Screen Daily |publisher=[[Screen International]] |language=en}}</ref> According to a publicist, the film pursued "to be a combination of ''[[Mission: Impossible (film series)|Mission: Impossible]], [[The Matrix]]'' and ''[[Léon: The Professional|Leon]]''".<ref name="ScreenDaily" /> It had 300 [[Computer-generated imagery|computer-generated]] cuts and alleged "[[state-of-the-art]]" [[wire fu]].<ref name="ScreenDaily" /> [[Robot Communications]] produced it on an estimated {{JPY|450 million}} ({{USD|4 million|long=no}}) budget, and funded it with [[Toho]], [[Fuji Television Network]], [[Hakuhodo DY Music & Pictures|Amuse Pictures]], [[Shirogumi]], and [[Imagica]].<ref name="TK" /><!-- For further research http://www.rm2c.ise.ritsumei.ac.jp/tamura/sfx/sfxv_content125.html
https://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/333/333347/ -->

== Soundtrack ==
{{Infobox album
| name       = Returner: Original Soundtrack
| type       = soundtrack
| artist     = Akihiko Matsumoto
| cover      =
| alt        =
| released   = {{start date|2002|08|21}}
| recorded   =
| studio     = {{hlist|Studio Lights|Sound Inn}}
| genre      = [[Film score]]
| length     = 51:29
| label      = [[EMI Music Japan|Toshiba EMI]]
| producer   = Akihiko Matsumoto
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title =
| next_year  =
}}
The film's soundtrack was composed by Akihiko Matsumoto, released by [[EMI Music Japan|Toshiba EMI]] on August 21, 2002. Not included in the soundtrack album is the ending theme "[[Dig In]]" by [[Lenny Kravitz]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tohokingdom.com/cd/returner_emi.htm |title=Returner - Original Soundtrack |website=Toho Kingdom |access-date=November 3, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://vgmdb.net/album/62978 |title="Returner" Original Soundtrack |website=VGMDb |access-date=November 3, 2024}}</ref>

=== Track listing ===
{{Track listing
| total_length  = 51:29
| all_music     = Akihiko Matsumoto
| title1        = The Annihilated World
| length1       = 1:07
| title2        = Destroy: Theme of Returner
| note2         = DESTROY ~リターナーのテーマ
| length2       = 4:14
| title3        = Sounds of Death
| length3       = 0:46
| title4        = The Ringleader
| length4       = 1:55
| title5        = Xi-Huan
| length5       = 3:04
| title6        = The Annihilated World Against 'Daggra'
| length6       = 6:13
| title7        = Extravehicular Crisis
| length7       = 5:04
| title8        = Sparks
| length8       = 4:37
| title9        = Take Me to the Place - Part 1
| length9       = 2:33
| title10       = Magnet Bang
| length10      = 3:10
| title11       = Human Riddle
| length11      = 1:47
| title12       = Liu
| length12      = 2:40
| title13       = The Sun of My Diamond
| length13      = 3:02
| title14       = Mother Earth
| length14      = 6:02
| title15       = Take Me to the Place - Part 2
| length15      = 2:04
| title16       = Good Bye, Milly
| length16      = 3:03
}}

==Release==
=== Theatrical ===
''Returner'' had its worldwide premiere at [[Shibuya Public Hall]] on August 19, 2002,<ref>{{Cite web |title=「Returner」プレミア試写会 IN 渋谷公会堂 (1) |url=http://www.returner.net/shibuya/pre01.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021104202729/http://www.returner.net/shibuya/pre01.html |archive-date=November 4, 2002 |access-date=February 4, 2024 |website=Returner.net}}</ref> where it was reportedly attended by 2,000 people and the key cast members also gave a "stage greeting".<ref>{{Cite web |title=「Returner」プレミア試写会 IN 渋谷公会堂 (4) |url=http://www.returner.net/shibuya/pre04.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021209150709/http://www.returner.net/shibuya/pre04.html |archive-date=December 9, 2002 |access-date=February 4, 2024 |website=Returner.net}}</ref> Toho released distributed the film theatrically in Japan on August 31.{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=424}} It was later screened at the 15th [[Tokyo International Film Festival]] on October 30, with English subtitles.<ref name="Topics">{{Cite web |title=TOPICS一覧 |url=http://www.returner.net/topics_arc/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031018091513/http://www.returner.net/topics_arc/index.html |archive-date=October 18, 2003 |access-date=February 4, 2024 |website=Returner.net}}</ref>

As far back as January of that year, [[Pony Canyon]] were set to handle the film's international distribution.<ref name="ScreenDaily" /> On August 1, 2002, the official website announced that [[Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group|Columbia TriStar]] would be responsible for releasing the film overseas.{{cn|date=February 2025}} Nevertheless, Pony Canyon would be credited for the film's international release<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 17, 2003 |title=''Returner'' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/189888638/ |access-date=February 4, 2024 |newspaper=[[The Los Angeles Times]] |pages=145 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> and it eventually received a theatrical release in the United States with English subtitles on October 17, 2003, through Destination Films and [[Samuel Goldwyn Films]].{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=424}}

Toho released a [[4K resolution|4K remaster]] of the film on a limited theatrical run in Japan on November 29, 2024, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Yamazaki's directorial career.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://theater.toho.co.jp/toho_theaterlist/returner4k.html |title=「リターナー」 4Kデジタルリマスター |publisher=[[Toho]] |access-date=November 4, 2024}}</ref>

=== Home media ===
On March 7, 2003, [[Hakuhodo DY Music & Pictures|Amuse Pictures]] released Standard and Deluxe editions of the film simultaneously on [[DVD]].<ref name="Topics" />

Overseas, the film was released on DVD in the UK by Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment in 2002 and in the U.S. by [[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]] on February 10, 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Returner-DVD/277756/ |title=''Returner'' DVD (UK) |website=Blu-ray.com |access-date=November 4, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Returner-DVD/2938/ |title=''Returner'' DVD (U.S.) |website=Blu-ray.com |access-date=November 4, 2024}}</ref>

==Reception==
=== Box office ===
''Returner'' was a box office hit,<ref name="AsianMoviePulse">{{Cite web |last=Barry |first=Sean |date=October 16, 2023 |title=Film Review: ''Returner'' (2002) by Takashi Yamazaki |url=https://asianmoviepulse.com/2023/10/film-review-returner-2002-by-takashi-yamazaki/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231017012404/https://asianmoviepulse.com/2023/10/film-review-returner-2002-by-takashi-yamazaki/ |archive-date=October 17, 2023 |access-date=February 1, 2024 |website=Asian Movie Pulse |language=en-US}}</ref> becoming the [[List of Japanese films of 2002#Highest-grossing films|fourteenth highest-grossing Japanese film of 2002]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2002年（平成14年）興収10億円以上番組 |url=http://www.eiren.org/toukei/img/eiren_kosyu/data_2002.pdf |access-date=February 1, 2024 |website=Eiren |publisher=Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan (MPPAJ)}}</ref> It premiered at number one in the Japanese box office on its release, beating ''[[The Cat Returns]]'', ''[[Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones]]'' and ''[[Resident Evil (film)|Resident Evil]]''.<ref name="bom">{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/japan/?yr=2002&wk=35&p=new |title=Japan Box Office |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |publisher=[[IMDb]] |access-date=March 28, 2017}}</ref> Overall, the film grossed {{JPY|1.29 billion}} ({{USD|11 million|long=no}}) in Japan,<ref name="TK"/> {{USD|73,060|long=no}} in the United States,<ref name="bom-japan" /> and {{USD|340,920|long=no}} in Hong Kong,<ref name="bom-japan">{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=returner.htm |title=Returner (2003) |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |publisher=[[IMDb]] |access-date=March 28, 2017}}</ref> making its global box office total approximately {{US$|{{#expr:11000000+73060+340920}}|long=no}}.

===Critical response===
''Returner'' received generally negative reviews.<ref name="AsianMoviePulse" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://collider.com/best-movies-turn-your-brain-off-reddit/ |title=The 10 Best "Turn Off Your Brain" Movies, According to Reddit |last=Haasbroek |first=Luc |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |date=September 15, 2023 |access-date=February 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917153432/https://collider.com/best-movies-turn-your-brain-off-reddit/ |archive-date=September 17, 2023 |url-status=live |language=en}}</ref> {{Rotten Tomatoes prose|38|4.50|34|ref=yes|access-date=November 30, 2012}} {{Metacritic film prose|36|17|ref=yes|access-date=January 25, 2024}}

[[Derek Elley]] of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote in his review that "Kaneshiro is all long flowing locks and smoldering disdain, the visual F/X are only so-so, and pacing {{sic}} is almost brisk enough to hide the plot holes."<ref name="Variety"/> Don Willmott of Filmcritic.com gave the film 2 out of 5 stars, calling it "a watchable, if somewhat absurd, sci-fi stir fry."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/reviews/Returner |title=Returner |website=[[Christopher Null|Filmcritic.com]] |access-date=November 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112084628/http://www.filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/reviews/Returner |archive-date=November 12, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Elvis Mitchell]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' said that "A smorgasbord that seems to have been picked out of a Dumpster. It clumsily combines a fish-out-of-water story with bits lifted from sources including the ''[[Terminator (franchise)|Terminator]]'' movies, ''[[Star Wars]]'', ''[[Starman (film)|Starman]]'', ''[[Close Encounters of the Third Kind|Close Encounters]]'', a couple of [[Pink Floyd]] albums and [[H. G. Wells]]."<ref name="Metacritic2">{{Cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/returner/critic-reviews/ |title=''Returner'' critic reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[Fandom (website)#Fandom, Inc.|Fandom, Inc.]] |access-date=January 27, 2024}}</ref>

On the positive side, Jo Berry of ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, saying, "So much of this film is 'borrowed' it's like watching a chirpy tribute band. Good fun."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/ReviewComplete.asp?FID=12970 |title=Returner Movie Review |magazine=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |date=December 5, 2006 |access-date=November 30, 2012}}</ref> Peter Hartlaub of the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' offered qualified praise, but also noted that "only subtitles and a few borrowed ideas from the Japan-born video game ''[[Metal Gear Solid (1998 video game)|Metal Gear Solid]]'' prevent the movie from looking like an [[American Film Institute]] clip show". Since the film features a lack of originality, as Hartlaub pointed out, it "must rely on the strength of its actors, and they're excellent across the board".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/10/17/DD298249.DTL#return |title=Film Clips / Also opening today |newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |date=October 17, 2003 |access-date=November 30, 2012}}</ref> [[Manohla Dargis]] said in her review for the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'': "Like all good B-movies, ''Returner'' comes loaded with enough eccentric touches to give the recycling a whiff of freshness and, as is often the case with many above-par follies, it's the cast that takes the whole thing to another level."<ref name="Metacritic2" /> Jae-ha Kim gave it a 3/4 rating, calling it "stylish" but even so noted that "we see elements of films we've seen before".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.jaehakim.com/2003/10/returner-delivers-compelling-sci-fi-action/ |title=''Returner'' delivers compelling sci-fi action |date=October 17, 2003 |last=Kim |first=Jae-ha |publisher=Jae-ha Kim |access-date=January 27, 2024}}</ref>

=== Accolades ===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
! scope="col" |Award
! scope="col" |Date of ceremony
! scope="col" |Category
! scope="col" |Recipient(s)
! scope="col" |Result
! class="unsortable" scope="col" |{{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference(s)}}
|-
| rowspan="5" | [[Japan Academy Film Prize]]
| rowspan="5" | [[26th Japan Academy Film Prize|March 7, 2003]]
| Popularity Award
| [[Anne Suzuki]]
| {{won}}
| rowspan="5" | <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.japan-academy-prize.jp/prizes/?t=26 |title=26th Japan Academy Film Prize |publisher=[[Japan Academy Film Prize|Japan Academy Film Prize Association]] |date=March 7, 2003 |access-date=November 4, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[Japan Academy Film Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role|Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role]]
| Gorō Kishitani
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Japan Academy Film Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role|Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role]]
| [[Kirin Kiki]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Achievement in Film Editing
| Takuya Taguchi
| {{nom}}
|-
| Newcomer of the Year
| Anne Suzuki
| {{nom}}
|}

== Proposed sequel ==
Yamazaki planned a sequel to the film after its release, but encountered some difficulties.<ref name="CGWorld">{{Cite web |url=https://cgworld.jp/article/202212-291-shirogumi.html |title=山崎 貴監督と40年来のメンバーでふり返る、デジタル映像制作黎明期からの歩み〜白組 調布スタジオ創設メンバー座談会 |website=CGWORLD.jp |date=December 7, 2022 |access-date=February 3, 2024 |language=ja}}</ref> Thus, producer [[Shūji Abe]] insisted Yamazaki make a period piece set during the [[Shōwa era]] instead, as he had always wanted to produce such a project.<ref name="CGWorld" /> This ultimately led to the creation of Yamazaki's third film, ''[[Always: Sunset on Third Street]]'' (2005),<ref name="CGWorld" /> which <!-- received widespread critical acclaim and -->was called a "milestone" in the usage of [[computer-generated imagery]] in [[Cinema of Japan|Japanese cinema]] by film critic [[Tadao Sato]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Satō |first=Tadao |author-link=Tadao Sato |date=November 2005 |title=CGの使い方のひとつの里程標となる作品 |trans-title=A work that serves as a milestone in how to use CG |magazine=[[Kinema Junpo]] |page=58}}</ref>

In December 2023, Yamazaki expressed interest in making a sequel to ''Returner'' though he feels "too old" to write it.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 19, 2023 |title=『ゴジラ-1.0』山崎貴監督に読者の疑問をぶつけてきた！背びれギミックの創作秘話から、ラストの首模様の意図まで次々回答！ |url=https://moviewalker.jp/news/article/1171738/p3/ |access-date=January 28, 2024 |website=MOVIE WALKER PRESS |page=3 |language=ja}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Galbraith IV |first=Stuart |title=The Toho Studios Story: A History and Complete Filmography  |year=2008 |publisher=[[Scarecrow Press]] |isbn=978-1461673743}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}} {{in lang|ja}}
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes}}
* {{Metacritic movie}}
<!--*[http://www.lovehkfilm.com/panasia/returner.htm ''Returner''] at [http://www.lovehkfilm.com/ LoveHKFilm.com]-->

{{Takashi Yamazaki}}

[[Category:2002 films]]
[[Category:2002 science fiction action films]]
[[Category:2000s films about time travel]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:2000s Japanese films]]
[[Category:2000s Japanese-language films]]
[[Category:2000s Mandarin-language films]]
[[Category:English-language science fiction action films]]
[[Category:Films about human trafficking in Japan]]
[[Category:Films about Tibet]]
[[Category:Films directed by Takashi Yamazaki]]
[[Category:Films produced by Shūji Abe]]
[[Category:Films involved in plagiarism controversies]]
[[Category:Films set in 2002]]
[[Category:Films set in 2084]]
[[Category:Films set in Tokyo]]
[[Category:Japanese films about revenge]]
[[Category:Japanese post-apocalyptic films]]
[[Category:Japanese science fiction action films]]
[[Category:Triad films]]
[[Category:Toho films]]