‘Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle’ Breaks Box Office Record Held by ‘Pokémon The First Movie – Mewtwo Strikes Back’ Since 1999

Anime has taken over the box office once again. “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle” is proving to be a massive hit, smashing records that had stood for decades.

On its opening day in North America, the film pulled in an incredible $33 million across Friday and early preview screenings at more than 3,300 locations. That number makes it the biggest single-day debut for an anime film in U.S. history, nearly tripling the $10.9 million record previously held by “Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero” in 2022.

But that’s not the only milestone. Over the weekend, “Infinity Castle” also blew past the long-standing benchmark set by “Pokémon: The First Movie – Mewtwo Strikes Back,” which had held the crown since 1999 with a $31 million opening.

While Pokémon’s debut came during a slightly longer window, it opened on a Wednesday and had two days of play before the traditional weekend frame, the record stood firm for more than two decades until “Demon Slayer” toppled it.

The film, which is the first chapter of a planned trilogy to conclude the saga, benefitted from wide availability. It’s showing in both subtitled and dubbed formats and has additional revenue coming from premium large-format screens. According to reports, $6.4 million of Friday’s total came from Imax theaters alone.

Reviews for the movie are strong, and audience response has been just as enthusiastic. CinemaScore, a company that surveys audiences after screenings, gave the film a glowing “A” grade.

Internationally, the numbers are just as impressive. “Infinity Castle” has already pulled in more than $279 million worldwide, with over $200 million coming from Japan. In its home country, the movie is still in the number one spot after eight weeks and has climbed the ranks to become the third-highest-grossing film of all time there.

For Sony and its anime distribution arm, Crunchyroll, this is another huge win. Crunchyroll has been pushing anime into mainstream theaters, and “Demon Slayer” has been one of its biggest success stories. In 2021, “Demon Slayer: Mugen Train” stunned theater owners during the uncertain pandemic era with a $20 million opening weekend.

At the time, that was seen as a massive number. Now, “Infinity Castle” has tripled that figure, showing just how much the appetite for anime on the big screen has grown.

The timing couldn’t be better for Sony. The studio has had a quieter summer compared to some of its rivals, so a box office powerhouse like “Infinity Castle” gives it a much-needed boost. Analysts are closely watching how the film performs through the weekend.

Anime movies typically see a big turnout on the first day, as fans rush to catch the earliest showings. Projections suggest the film could bring in around $56 million for the weekend, with some estimates climbing past $60 million. If it reaches the higher end, it could even outpace “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” which opened to $56.5 million, making “Infinity Castle” Sony’s biggest domestic opening in more than two years.

What makes this moment stand out is how anime, once seen as a niche genre at U.S. box offices, is now breaking records that no one expected would fall. From “Pokémon” in the 90s to “Dragon Ball” in recent years, anime films have always had passionate fans. But “Demon Slayer” has taken that passion and turned it into box office dominance.

This proves that anime isn’t just a trend anymore, it’s a major force in global cinema. With storytelling that connects across cultures and visuals meant for the big screen, it’s no surprise fans are showing up in record numbers. What do you think? Is this just the beginning of anime’s dominance in theaters worldwide? Share your thoughts in the comments.