Anime has conquered the big screen once again, and this time it’s doing so on an unprecedented scale. “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle” has stormed into cinemas, smashing a record that has stood since the late 1990s.
Biggest Opening Day Ever for an Anime Film
On its opening day in North America, Infinity Castle earned a staggering $33 million from Friday screenings and early previews across more than 3,300 locations. This makes it the largest single-day debut for an anime film in U.S. history, nearly tripling the $10.9 million record set by Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero in 2022.
Breaking Pokémon’s Longstanding Record
The film didn’t stop there. Over its first weekend, Infinity Castle also surpassed the long-held opening record of $31 million set by Pokémon: The First Movie – Mewtwo Strikes Back all the way back in 1999. While Pokémon’s figure came from a slightly extended launch (opening on a Wednesday before the weekend), that record had remained untouched for over two decades — until Demon Slayer came along.
Premium Formats and Rave Reviews Drive Success
Part of the film’s success comes from its wide release strategy, offering both subtitled and dubbed screenings, plus premium formats like IMAX. According to reports, $6.4 million of Friday’s haul came from IMAX showings alone.
Critics have responded positively, and audience reaction has been even stronger — CinemaScore awarded the film a rare “A” grade, signalling huge word-of-mouth momentum.
A Global Phenomenon Dominating Japan’s Box Office
Internationally, the numbers are just as eye-popping. Infinity Castle has already earned over $279 million worldwide, including more than $200 million in Japan alone. After eight weeks in release, it’s still holding the #1 spot in Japan and has become the third highest-grossing film in the nation’s history.
A Massive Win for Sony and Crunchyroll
For Sony and its anime distribution arm Crunchyroll, this is another major triumph. The company has steadily pushed anime into the mainstream cinema landscape, and Demon Slayer has been its biggest success story. In 2021, Demon Slayer: Mugen Train stunned the industry with a $20 million opening during the pandemic era — a figure that now looks modest next to Infinity Castle’s $33 million opening day.
Projections Point to a Record-Breaking Weekend
Industry analysts are now watching to see how far Infinity Castle can climb. Early projections estimate the film will bring in $56–60 million across its first weekend, which would make it Sony’s biggest domestic opening in more than two years, even outpacing Bad Boys: Ride or Die ($56.5 million). Anime films traditionally see huge day-one turnouts as fans flock to early showings, but Infinity Castle is showing signs of strong staying power well beyond its core fanbase.
Anime Is No Longer Niche — It’s a Global Force
The success of Infinity Castle marks a turning point. Anime, once considered a niche interest at the U.S. box office, is now breaking records that once seemed untouchable. From Pokémon in the 90s to Dragon Ball in the 2010s, anime films have long had passionate followings — but Demon Slayer has turned that passion into box office dominance.
This isn’t just a moment. It’s a movement. With universal storytelling, stunning visuals, and a global fanbase, anime is no longer on the fringes of cinema — it’s right at the centre of it.