The highly anticipated first film in the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle trilogy has debuted to a colossal opening in Japan, raking in 7.31 billion yen (approximately US$49.60 million) in its initial four days. The film, officially titled Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle – Part 1: Akaza Returns, also sold an impressive 5.16 million tickets during the extended holiday weekend.
A Record-Breaking Opening for the Popular Franchise
The extraordinary box office performance of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1 marks a new milestone for the immensely popular franchise, surpassing the opening records previously held by its predecessor, 2020’s Demon Slayer – Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train. Mugen Train itself was a monumental success, becoming the highest-earning anime film worldwide and the highest-grossing film in Japan’s history, with a total domestic earning of 40.43 billion yen (about US$272 million by current conversion).
The new Infinity Castle film achieved the highest-grossing opening day, first-day, and single-day results of all time in Japan. On its opening day, July 18, the film garnered approximately 1.64 billion yen from 1.15 million attendees, setting a new record for the number one opening day in Japan. This momentum continued, with Sunday, July 20, seeing an approximate 2.03 billion yen in box office income from 1.42 million people, establishing it as the number one single-day record in Japanese box office history.
Strategic Release and Fan Enthusiasm
The film’s domestic release on July 18, 2025, by Aniplex and Toho, spanned 452 cinemas nationwide, including 59 IMAX screens, exceeding the initial theater count for Mugen Train. This wide release, coupled with intense fan anticipation, saw tickets for early screenings sell out within minutes. The Infinity Castle arc represents a pivotal and climactic portion of Koyoharu Gotouge’s original Demon Slayer manga, adapted into a feature-length trilogy by renowned animation studio ufotable. This cinematic approach for the final arc, rather than a traditional anime season, appears to be a highly successful strategy for the franchise.
International Rollout and Future Prospects
Following its stellar performance in Japan, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle – Part 1 is set to commence its international rollout. Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment will distribute the film in global markets, with screenings in North America scheduled for September 12, 2025. Other international release dates are staggered, with some Asian markets beginning in August. The film will be available in both Japanese with English subtitles and an English-dubbed version.
Analysts anticipate that the strong domestic start could signal another significant global box office run for the Demon Slayer franchise. The success reinforces the growing power and influence of anime as a major force in the global theatrical landscape. Reports suggest that the subsequent films in the Infinity Castle trilogy might be released in 2027 and 2029, though official confirmation is pending. The continued overwhelming support from fans indicates that the Demon Slayer saga is poised to continue its record-breaking trajectory worldwide.
