Tokyo, Japan – The first installment of the highly anticipated Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle Arc, titled Akaza Returns, has rapidly climbed Japan’s all-time box office charts, securing the #4 position and surpassing the long-held records of Disney’s Frozen and Makoto Shinkai’s Your Name. Released just over a month ago on July 18, 2025, the film has already garnered over ¥25.7 billion (approximately $171 million USD) as of August 17, 2025, in its first 31 days.
Rapid Ascent to the Top Tier
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle Arc: Part 1 – Akaza Returns has demonstrated an unprecedented pace since its debut, setting new benchmarks for the Japanese box office. It recorded the highest opening day and opening weekend gross in the country’s cinematic history, outperforming even previous record-holders from the Demon Slayer franchise, notably Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train. This swift accumulation of earnings has allowed it to quickly overtake two major box office titans.
Prior to Infinity Castle – Akaza Returns‘ meteoric rise, Disney’s animated hit Frozen (2014) held the fourth spot on Japan’s all-time box office list with ¥25.50 billion, while Makoto Shinkai’s critically acclaimed Your Name (2016) was positioned at fifth with ¥25.17 billion. The latest Demon Slayer film has now surpassed both, cementing its place among Japan’s highest-grossing cinematic releases.
The Enduring Phenomenon of Demon Slayer
The incredible box office performance of Infinity Castle Arc: Part 1 – Akaza Returns underscores the sustained and immense popularity of the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba franchise in Japan and worldwide. The series, based on Koyoharu Gotouge’s manga, has consistently captivated audiences with its compelling narrative, stunning animation, and memorable characters.
The previous cinematic outing, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train, released in 2020, remains the undisputed highest-grossing film of all time in Japan, boasting a staggering ¥40.75 billion. Mugen Train also achieved the distinction of being the first non-Hollywood production to top the annual global box office. While Infinity Castle – Akaza Returns has set faster initial pace records, Mugen Train‘s overall gross currently remains unmatched.
A Trilogy in the Making
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle Arc: Part 1 – Akaza Returns is not a standalone film but the inaugural chapter in a planned trilogy designed to conclude the epic storyline of the Demon Slayer manga. This multi-film approach for the climactic “Infinity Castle Arc” mirrors the successful format previously utilized for the “Mugen Train” arc. The decision to release this pivotal arc as multiple feature films highlights the studio’s confidence in the franchise’s drawing power and allows for a comprehensive adaptation of the manga’s intense final battles.
With future installments yet to be released, the Demon Slayer franchise is poised to continue its remarkable impact on the global animation and film industry, further solidifying its legacy as a cultural phenomenon.
