Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Smashes Anime Box Office Records

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle has delivered a historic opening weekend, setting a new benchmark for anime films at the box office. The film debuted to $70 million in the United States alone, more than doubling the $31 million record previously held by 1999’s Pokémon: The First Movie – Mewtwo Strikes Back. Its global haul exceeded $350 million during the first weekend, with over $200 million generated in Japan, where it has already become the nation’s third-highest-grossing release of all time.

The opening weekend success of Infinity Castle exceeded expectations for both domestic and international markets. Variety reports that the first Pokémon movie’s long-standing record was not only beaten but surpassed by almost $40 million. Analysts note that ticket price inflation and the presence of premium large-format screenings such as IMAX theaters contributed to the high numbers, but the scale of Infinity Castle’s achievement remains remarkable given the consistent underperformance of other anime films over the past quarter-century.

The film is the first installment in a trilogy that promises to cap the popular Demon Slayer series. Infinity Castle is playing widely in both subtitled and English-dubbed versions, ensuring accessibility to a broad audience across North America and globally. Box Office Mojo reports that the film’s U.S. earnings made it the most popular movie of the weekend domestically, outpacing other releases including Warner Bros. and New Line’s The Conjuring: Last Rites, which dropped 69% to earn $26.1 million. Sony also marked Infinity Castle as its biggest domestic opening in over two years, surpassing Bad Boys: Ride or Die’s $56.5 million.

Demon Slayer franchise continues its expansion into gaming with Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles 2. The game picks up where its predecessor left off, faithfully adapting key arcs from the anime while introducing an expanded character roster and polished combat mechanics.

The film’s global performance underscores the increasing appetite for anime in theaters, a trend highlighted by recent successes such as Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters. Analysts suggest that visually driven animated films translate well to the big screen, contributing to strong box office performance and a growing international fanbase.

Paul Dergarabedian, a box office analyst at ComScore, emphasized the genre’s global appeal:

"Animated films just lend themselves visually to the big screen experience and it’s a genre that is truly global."

In Japan, Infinity Castle’s earnings are especially notable. With $200 million generated domestically, the film surpassed Pokémon’s entire worldwide run of $163 million. This rapid accumulation of revenue positions the movie as not only an anime milestone but also a top-performing title in the broader film market, ranking as the 13th highest-grossing movie released in theaters worldwide this year just days into its run.

The film’s success follows a relatively quiet summer for Sony’s anime distribution banner, Crunchyroll. Earlier releases such as Caught Stealing, Karate Kid: Legends, and I Know What You Did Last Summer performed modestly, leaving Infinity Castle to emerge as a major hit. Its performance also comes amid a period of top-grossing theatrical releases, including sleeper hits and franchises experiencing a dip in popularity, suggesting that the audience for animated and anime-focused content is both engaged and expanding.

Infinity Castle’s box office triumph demonstrates the potential for anime films to achieve mainstream success outside of Japan. The combination of established franchise popularity, accessible localization, and premium viewing experiences has created a box office phenomenon, highlighting the genre’s growing commercial impact.

The record-breaking debut has implications for the broader anime film market, potentially influencing release strategies for studios seeking to capitalize on global demand. Analysts note that the sustained popularity of Demon Slayer, combined with its cinematic quality, indicates an ongoing opportunity for anime properties to perform strongly in theaters, particularly when targeting both domestic and international audiences.

Infinity Castle’s early success hints at further potential for the series, as two more movies are already confirmed as part of the trilogy. The strong performance may encourage additional theatrical and merchandising support, echoing the commercial models established by other major anime properties, although specific plans for global merchandising have not yet been detailed.

With its combination of critical acclaim and commercial success, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is positioned to reshape perceptions of anime’s viability as a major cinematic genre. The film’s performance not only challenges long-standing box office records but also demonstrates the evolving tastes of global audiences, highlighting the appetite for high-quality animated storytelling that crosses cultural boundaries.

Sony and Crunchyroll’s strategic release approach, offering both subtitled and dubbed versions, appears to have maximized accessibility while leveraging premium theater experiences to drive ticket sales. The resulting revenue figures suggest that future anime releases may continue to benefit from similarly wide and diversified distribution strategies.

As Demon Slayer continues its cinematic run, the industry will likely watch closely to see whether Infinity Castle can sustain its momentum and continue to break records. Its opening weekend performance cements the film as a landmark release for anime in theaters, surpassing expectations for both domestic and international box office achievements.

Infinity Castle’s debut has made a definitive mark on the box office landscape, setting new standards for anime films and providing a roadmap for how animated content can capture the attention of global audiences, demonstrating that franchises rooted in Japanese manga and anime can achieve blockbuster success in the modern cinematic market.