Anime has once again proven its dominance at the box office. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle opened with an incredible $70 million in the U.S., becoming the biggest anime movie debut ever and claiming the No. 1 spot domestically. This milestone more than doubled the long-standing record held since 1999 by Pokémon: The First Movie – Mewtwo Strikes Back.
A Record-Breaking Opening
Distributed by Sony Pictures and Crunchyroll, Infinity Castle has already surpassed $350 million globally. This is not the first time the Demon Slayer franchise has made waves. The earlier film, Mugen Train, was also a massive hit, and fans can revisit that achievement in our coverage of Demon Slayer: Mugen Train box office performance.
Why This Matters for Anime
The success of Infinity Castle reflects the rise of anime’s global popularity. Anime films are no longer niche releases but mainstream events that compete directly with Hollywood. In fact, this film’s strong numbers highlight anime films surpassing Hollywood blockbusters, something that was nearly unthinkable a decade ago.
A Trilogy That Fans Are Waiting For
Sony has confirmed that Infinity Castle is just the first installment of a trilogy that will conclude the epic battle between the Demon Slayer Corps and their monstrous foes. That means fans can look forward to more big-screen moments soon. To stay ahead, check out our preview of upcoming anime movie releases that are set to captivate audiences worldwide.
With an opening weekend that smashed records, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle has shown that anime is one of the most powerful forces in modern entertainment. It not only outperformed major Hollywood releases but also redefined what animated films can achieve. For additional coverage, see Variety’s report on the record-breaking opening and explore more updates on anime at Anime News Network.
