Latest Hit Anime Movie Smashes Records with $70M U.S. Opening Weekend
Anime fans are celebrating as Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie Infinity Castle opened to a record-breaking $70 million in the U.S. and Canada this past weekend.
The film, distributed in North America by Sony-owned Crunchyroll, played in 3,315 theaters and earned $33 million on Friday alone, setting a new record for the highest opening ever for an anime film in the U.S., according to box office sources.
“The response has been incredible,” said a spokesperson for Crunchyroll. “Fans of the series turned out in huge numbers, and we’re thrilled to see the movie break so many records.”
The film also marks a milestone for Sony, becoming its biggest release in recent memory, and the top debut of the year for an animated movie in the United States. It is also the largest September animated opening of all time, not adjusted for inflation.
The final battle ignites 🔥
— Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (English) (@DemonSlayerUSA) June 28, 2025
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle premieres September 12 only in theatres!
[ THEME SONGS ]
🎵 “A World Where the Sun Never Rises” by Aimer
🎵“Shine in the Cruel Night” by LiSA pic.twitter.com/zbKCYCmwco
Overseas, Infinity Castle earned $49 million in 49 additional markets, bringing its global weekend total to $132.1 million. The worldwide gross is now over $400 million, with Crunchyroll’s share reaching $177.8 million.
The film’s U.S. audience skewed male, making up 57 percent of ticket buyers, most of them aged 18 to 34. Analysts had predicted an opening of $35 million to $40 million, while others expected closer to $50 million. The film’s $70 million debut exceeded all expectations, reflecting growing enthusiasm for anime in North America.
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is the first of a three-part cinematic trilogy that adapts the final arc of Koyoharu Gotouge’s best-selling manga.
Produced by the acclaimed animation studio Ufotable, the movie sees Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, and Inosuke take on the demon king Muzan Kibutsuji. Returning voice actors include Natsuki Hanae, Akari Kitō, Hiro Shimono, and Yoshitsugu Matsuoka. The film was co-financed by Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Group, and will see international distribution through Toho, Aniplex, and Crunchyroll, with Imax releases in over 40 territories.
In Japan, where the film debuted in July, it has already earned over $200 million and set records for Imax screenings. North American Imax and other premium large-format screens accounted for 44 percent of the opening weekend gross, showing strong demand for the enhanced viewing experience.
The success of Infinity Castle comes after a slow August for movie theaters, though holdovers like The Conjuring: The Last Rites and recent releases such as the final Downton Abbey movie helped maintain momentum.
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