Tokyo, Japan – In a significant shift within the global box office landscape, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle – Part 1: Akaza Returns has officially surpassed James Gunn’s highly anticipated Superman (2025) to become the highest-grossing comic book adaptation film of the year. The anime juggernaut, a direct continuation of the critically acclaimed Demon Slayer series, achieved a worldwide gross of over $617 million, eclipsing Superman‘s impressive $615.8 million haul.
This milestone underscores the burgeoning global power of anime cinema and the enduring appeal of the Demon Slayer franchise, setting new benchmarks for non-English and non-Mandarin language films on the international stage.
A Box Office Battle: Anime vs. Iconic Superhero
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, released in Japan on July 18, 2025, before expanding to international markets in August and September, quickly gained momentum with record-breaking performances. It notably broke several box office records in Japan, becoming the fastest film to earn over 10 billion yen.
Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Pictures’ Superman, which premiered globally on July 7, 2025, and in the United States on July 11, launched the new DC Universe with considerable fanfare. While Superman delivered a strong domestic performance, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle‘s exceptional international earnings, particularly in its home region of Asia, propelled it past the Man of Steel in global tallies.
The Rise of Anime at the Global Box Office
The success of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is a testament to anime’s increasing mainstream appeal and its ability to compete directly with Hollywood’s biggest tentpole productions. The film’s meticulous animation by Ufotable, coupled with a compelling narrative from Koyoharu Gotouge’s manga, resonated deeply with audiences worldwide. This marks the first time a non-English or non-Mandarin film has grossed over $600 million globally, highlighting a significant shift in audience preferences and the growing international appetite for Japanese animation.
Sony Pictures’ Crunchyroll has played a pivotal role in the international distribution and promotion of Demon Slayer films, strategically releasing them in theaters and leveraging their streaming platform to engage fans. This focused approach has maximized the franchise’s global reach and box office potential.
Dissecting the Performance: Domestic vs. International Strength
While Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle dominated internationally, particularly with an 80.5% international to 19.5% domestic gross split, Superman exhibited strong domestic performance, with 57% of its gross coming from North America. Despite Superman‘s domestic strength, its international performance was noted as underperforming compared to previous superhero entries.
This divergence in geographical success highlights different marketing strategies and audience demographics for each film. Demon Slayer benefits from an established, highly engaged global fanbase cultivated through its anime series, which creates a built-in audience for its cinematic releases.
The Future of Comic Book and Anime Film Adaptations
The box office triumph of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle over Superman is a powerful indicator of changing industry dynamics. It signals that original and adapted anime content can be a formidable force in the theatrical market, capable of drawing massive audiences and generating substantial revenue on par with, or even exceeding, traditional superhero blockbusters.
With Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle being the first part of a planned trilogy, the franchise is poised for continued success, potentially reaching even greater financial heights. Meanwhile, the performance of Superman will undoubtedly inform future strategies for the nascent DC Universe as it seeks to establish its presence in a competitive global market increasingly open to diverse storytelling from around the world.
