The first Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle film has achieved a monumental success, securing the biggest opening weekend ever for an anime film in the United States. Distributed by Sony Pictures and Crunchyroll, the movie debuted with an estimated $70 million in ticket sales across 3,315 locations, easily surpassing previous records and claiming the top spot at the domestic box office.
This extraordinary performance not only outstripped new Hollywood releases but also set a new benchmark for animated films in 2025 and marked the best opening for an animated title in September.
Breaking Down the Record-Setting Opening Weekend
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle captivated audiences from its initial preview screenings, accumulating an impressive $33 million on Friday, $21.6 million on Saturday, and a projected $15.4 million on Sunday. Its staggering $70 million three-day total in the U.S. and Canada decisively broke the long-standing record held by Pokémon: The First Movie, which earned $31 million in 1999.
Surpassing Previous Anime Box Office Giants
The film’s opening weekend gross significantly overshadowed its predecessor, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train, which opened to $21.2 million in April 2021 during the pandemic and finished with $49.5 million domestically. Analysts had projected a strong debut for Infinity Castle, with some expecting between $60 million to $75 million, but the final $70 million figure still surprised many, underscoring the immense and growing demand for anime in mainstream cinema.
The success also extends beyond anime, as Infinity Castle secured the biggest animated opening of 2025, outperforming other animated titles such as Dog Man‘s $36 million opening.
Global Box Office Domination and Critical Acclaim
The Infinity Castle film’s success is not limited to North America. Globally, the movie has already amassed over $386.29 million, with a robust international weekend total of $132.1 million from 58 markets. Prior to its U.S. release, the film had already made over $272 million worldwide, including more than $213 million in Japan alone, where it quickly became the highest-grossing film of 2025 and the second-highest-grossing Japanese film globally, behind only Mugen Train. In Japan, it set records for the highest opening day, single-day box office revenue, and opening weekend of all time.
Positive Reception from Critics and Audiences
The film, which is the first installment of a planned trilogy adapting the “Infinity Castle” arc of the Demon Slayer manga, has received widespread positive feedback. Critics and audiences alike have lauded its stunning animation, intense action sequences, and emotional depth. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an impressive 97% from critics and a 98% audience score, along with an “A” CinemaScore and 5 stars from PostTrak. Reviewers highlighted Ufotable’s top-notch animation, vibrant color palette, strong line work, and awesome choreography, particularly during fight scenes.
The Broader Impact of Demon Slayer’s Success
The phenomenal box office performance of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle is a clear indicator of anime’s increasing mainstream appeal and its significant presence in the global film industry. Experts note that anime is no longer a niche genre but a powerful box office draw that can rival traditional Hollywood productions.
The Demon Slayer franchise, based on Koyoharu Gotouge’s hugely popular manga series that has sold over 220 million copies worldwide, has become a global phenomenon through its anime adaptation, films, and video games. Its continued success, especially with Infinity Castle, demonstrates a shift in audience demographics for anime, with a more even split between male and female viewers compared to previous releases. This broad appeal, combined with an ambitious distribution strategy by Crunchyroll and Sony, has solidified anime’s position as a major force in the entertainment landscape.
The film, which runs for approximately 155 minutes, continues the story of Tanjiro Kamado and the Demon Slayer Corps as they confront Muzan Kibutsuji and his Upper Moon demons within the treacherous Infinity Castle. While some reviews mention pacing issues and prolonged flashbacks, the consensus remains that the film delivers a thrilling and visually spectacular experience for fans.
