The Apothecary Diaries is getting a movie, and it landed a title and a date: Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: Bouhi no Hihou — "The Deceased Empress' Treasure" — opens in Japan on December 11, 2026. Aoi Yuki (Maomao) and Takeo Otsuka (Jinshi) are back, with Mariya Ise joining as Mu Qing. The trailer dropped July 2.
Quick answer
The Apothecary Diaries film (*Kusuriya no Hitorigoto: Bouhi no Hihou*) opens in Japan on December 11, 2026 with an original story written by series author Natsu Hyuga — not an adaptation of an existing light-novel arc. Aoi Yuki returns as Maomao and Takeo Otsuka as Jinshi, with Mariya Ise as new character Mu Qing. Crunchyroll streams the TV series (subbed and dubbed) worldwide, so it's the safe bet for the film's eventual release. According to SenpaiRanks, the TV series ranks in the upper tier of both the Consensus and Quality boards — a rare double, and the reason a movie was inevitable.
What the film is actually about
This isn't a recap movie. Hyuga wrote an original mystery: Maomao and Jinshi travel to the homeland of a concubine who died five years ago in the imperial harem, escorting her remains home. Pirates, hidden treasure, the secret of the empress' remains, and a mysterious boy who ties it all together. It's the poison-tester-turned-detective formula that made the show work, scaled up for a theatrical runtime.
Where to watch it
The TV series streams on Crunchyroll worldwide, in Japanese with subtitles and with a full English dub. No Western distributor for the film has been named yet, but the pattern with the series makes Crunchyroll the most likely home once it clears its Japanese theatrical window. We list platforms without bias — when the film lands somewhere else, we'll say so.
Here's the film's trailer:
Where it sits on the board
Per SenpaiRanks's ranking, The Apothecary Diaries holds a top-tier Consensus rank (broadly loved) alongside a strong Quality rank (it holds up on rewatch) — the dual-axis split that a single MyAnimeList score can't show you. Think our read is too high, or too low? Rate it yourself on the ranking page and see where your taste lands against the crowd.
For more film release dates this season, see our Summer 2026 watch guide, and for other confirmed premieres, Saga of Tanya the Evil Season 2 and the Girls und Panzer das Finale 5th film.
Frequently asked questions
Q: When does The Apothecary Diaries movie release?
A: It opens in Japanese theaters on December 11, 2026. A Western release date has not been announced.
Q: Is the movie a recap of the anime?
A: No. It's an original story written by series author Natsu Hyuga, following Maomao and Jinshi on a journey to return a dead concubine's remains.
Q: Where can I watch The Apothecary Diaries?
A: The TV series streams on Crunchyroll worldwide, subbed and dubbed. The film's streaming home hasn't been confirmed.
Q: Who voices Maomao and Jinshi?
A: Aoi Yuki returns as Maomao and Takeo Otsuka as Jinshi, with Mariya Ise joining as Mu Qing.
Q: Is The Apothecary Diaries worth watching?
A: On SenpaiRanks it ranks in the upper tier of both the Consensus and Quality boards, meaning it's both broadly liked and holds up critically. If you like mystery with a court-intrigue backdrop, yes.