The highly anticipated Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle – Part 1: Akaza Returns has achieved colossal success since its July 18, 2025 release, not only dominating the Japanese box office by surpassing James Cameron’s Titanic but also setting unprecedented records throughout Southeast Asia. The film’s impressive performance solidifies the Demon Slayer franchise’s enduring global appeal.
Japan Box Office: Surpassing a Cinematic Giant
In a remarkable feat, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle – Part 1: Akaza Returns officially climbed to the third spot on Japan’s all-time highest-grossing films list. Within just 38 days of its release, the film garnered an astounding ¥28.08 billion (approximately $187 million), eclipsing Titanic‘s long-standing ¥27.77 billion, which had held the third position since its 1997 debut. The anime movie also attracted nearly 20 million admissions during this period, underscoring its immense popularity among Japanese audiences.
The film’s opening weekend was nothing short of historic, setting new records for the highest opening day and opening weekend in Japan. It quickly became the fastest film in Japanese history to cross the ¥10 billion mark, achieving this milestone in just eight days. Currently, Infinity Castle trails only two other cinematic titans in Japan: Demon Slayer: Mugen Train (¥40.75 billion) and Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away (¥31.68 billion). Beyond gross revenue, the film also surpassed animated hits like Disney’s Frozen and Makoto Shinkai’s Your Name in terms of admissions, further cementing its place in Japanese cinema history.
Record-Breaking Run in Southeast Asia
The Infinity Castle film’s success is not confined to its home country; its international rollout, particularly across Southeast Asia, has been equally explosive. In its first week, the movie grossed over $44 million internationally, contributing to a worldwide total exceeding $220 million. Several markets witnessed the film outperforming even the previous Demon Slayer film, Mugen Train, in its opening weekend.
Key highlights from the Southeast Asian box office include:
- Indonesia: Recorded the biggest anime opening ever, with $3.6 million.
- Hong Kong: Also achieved its largest anime opening, raking in $3.5 million.
- Thailand: Secured the biggest animation opening of all time, with $3.2 million, surpassing the likes of Frozen II and Super Mario Bros.
- Taiwan: Generated NT$176.7 million (US$5.9 million) over its debut weekend, marking the largest-ever opening for a Japanese production in the market and surpassing Mugen Train‘s opening by approximately 50%.
- South Korea: Shattered records with an opening weekend gross of nearly $13 million and 1.65 million tickets sold, demonstrating an exponential increase in performance compared to Mugen Train‘s initial run in the country.
Across eight Southeast Asian markets, Infinity Castle debuted with a combined $17.5 million, surpassing Frozen II to become the highest-grossing animated film in the region.
The Enduring Phenomenon of Demon Slayer
The unprecedented success of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle – Part 1: Akaza Returns reinforces the global cultural impact of the Demon Slayer franchise. Originating as a manga series, its anime adaptation by Ufotable has consistently captivated audiences worldwide. This latest film, which adapts a pivotal arc of Koyoharu Gotouge’s original manga, is the first installment in a planned trilogy. Its robust box office performance signals immense anticipation for the subsequent parts and indicates that the franchise continues to redefine what anime films can achieve on the global cinematic stage.
