Tokyo, Japan – Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle Part 1 has concluded 2025 as Japan’s top-grossing domestic film, cementing the franchise’s unparalleled box office prowess and leading a historic year for anime in the domestic film industry. Released on July 18, 2025, the highly anticipated film quickly shattered multiple records, demonstrating the enduring global appeal of Koyoharu Gotouge’s dark fantasy saga.
The first installment of the Infinity Castle film trilogy, which adapts the pivotal final arc of the manga series, closed out the year with an estimated domestic box office revenue between ¥38.71 billion and ¥400 billion (approximately $2.6-$2.7 billion). This monumental success not only positioned it as the highest-earning Japanese film of 2025 but also saw it breaking its own records for single-day and opening weekend grosses.
Breaking Records and Setting New Benchmarks
From its debut, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle Part 1 signaled its intent to rewrite box office history. On its opening day alone, the film amassed ¥1.64 billion (US$11.11 million) from 1.15 million admissions, marking the highest opening day gross in Japanese box office history. The momentum continued through its opening weekend, where it collected ¥5.52 billion (US$37.42 million) from 3.84 million admissions over three days, securing the biggest opening weekend of all time in Japanese cinema.
This initial surge was merely a prelude to its sustained dominance. Over its first four days, including a public holiday, the film’s total soared to ¥7.31 billion (US$49.55 million) with 5.16 million tickets sold. It further distinguished itself by becoming the fastest film in Japan to reach the ¥10 billion milestone, achieving this within eight days of its release, thereby surpassing the record previously held by Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train. The film debuted at No. 1 and held the top position for nine consecutive weeks, remaining in the Top 3 for 15 weeks.
The Infinity Castle Arc: A Climactic Cinematic Adaptation
The Infinity Castle film is a direct sequel to the fourth season of the Demon Slayer anime television series and meticulously adapts the manga’s fourth, fifth, and sixth arcs. Directed by Haruo Sotozaki and produced by Ufotable, the studio behind the critically acclaimed anime series, the film plunges the Demon Slayer Corps into a decisive, climactic battle against Muzan Kibutsuji and the remaining Upper Ranks within the titular “Infinity Castle”. This arc is renowned among fans for its intense action, emotional depth, and pivotal character developments, making its adaptation a highly anticipated event.
Unlike previous compilations that adapted anime episodes for theatrical release, Infinity Castle is presented as a feature-length multi-film adaptation, a decision made to accommodate the arc’s extensive content and dramatic pacing, akin to the treatment of Mugen Train. This multi-part cinematic approach promises a comprehensive and visually stunning conclusion to Tanjiro Kamado’s journey.
International Acclaim and Broader Impact
While its domestic performance was stellar, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle Part 1 also achieved significant international success. The film was distributed internationally by Crunchyroll through Sony Pictures Releasing, with staggered release dates across various territories starting in August and September 2025. It reportedly grossed $70 million in its U.S. opening weekend, setting a new record for the biggest opening weekend for an international film in the U.S. Globally, the film earned an astounding $780 million, becoming the seventh-highest-grossing film worldwide in 2025 and the highest-grossing international film in the U.S.
Its success contributed significantly to a year where anime dominated the Japanese box office, with animated features accounting for half of the annual Top 10 films. The film’s overwhelming performance underscores the massive cultural impact and commercial power of the Demon Slayer franchise, solidifying its place as a modern anime phenomenon. With two more films planned to complete the Infinity Castle trilogy, fans eagerly await the conclusion of this epic saga on the big screen.
