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Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle has made history at the box office, overtaking Mugen Train to become the highest-grossing Japanese film of all time. In just 57 days, the film has earned an astonishing 57.5 billion yen, or roughly 389 million dollars, outpacing the previous record holder, Mugen Train, which finished at 54.5 billion yen. Spirited Away, Suzume, and Your Name round out the rest of the top five, now looking modest compared to Infinity Castle’s rapid climb.
The momentum has not been limited to Japan. Infinity Castle stormed into US theaters with a staggering 33 million dollar opening day, including 11.4 million in preview screenings. That figure sets multiple records, including the biggest opening day for any international film in US history, the highest-ever debut for an R-rated animated release, and the largest opening day of the year for an animated feature. For perspective, the film outgrossed Pokémon: The First Movie’s full opening weekend in just one day, surpassing a record that had stood for nearly three decades. Sony initially projected a 56 million dollar weekend, but industry observers now expect totals in the 65 to 70 million dollar range.
International audiences have also embraced the film with enthusiasm. In Spain, Infinity Castle set the all-time record for an opening day by a Japanese production, grossing 1.43 million euros on Friday alone, a figure higher than the lifetime gross of The Boy and the Heron in the country. The United Kingdom also saw the film break anime records with a 1.8 million dollar opening day, though it placed second behind Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale. Even so, Infinity Castle managed to eclipse in a single day what Mugen Train earned during its entire UK theatrical run.
Directed by Haruo Sotozaki and produced by Ufotable, the Infinity Castle film series adapts the manga’s final arc. The first part, Akaza Returns, follows the success of its predecessor, Mugen Train, with even greater international reach due to streaming and global fan engagement. The film’s performance highlights how Demon Slayer has evolved from a niche manga into a worldwide cultural phenomenon.
AloJapan.com