The first film in the highly anticipated Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle trilogy has maintained its iron grip on the Japanese box office, securing the #1 spot for an impressive ninth consecutive week. This continued success has propelled the film to become the second-highest-grossing movie of all time in Japan, surpassing Studio Ghibli’s iconic Spirited Away. Meanwhile, the latest installment in the beloved magical girl franchise, You and Idol Precure The Movie: For You! Our Kirakilala Concert!, made its debut at #4.
“Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle” Achieves Historic Milestones
Released on July 18, 2025, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle – Part 1: Akaza Returns continues to draw massive audiences. As of September 15, its 60th day in theaters, the film had sold an astounding 23.04 million tickets and amassed a staggering ¥33.056 billion (approximately US$224 million) in Japan alone. This monumental achievement pushed it past Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away (which earned ¥31.6 billion) to claim the second position on Japan’s all-time box office chart. The only film still ahead is the previous franchise entry, Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train, which holds the top spot with ¥40.75 billion.
The film’s success extends far beyond Japan’s borders, with its worldwide gross reaching an incredible ¥68.01 billion (over US$450 million) and total admissions exceeding 55 million globally. Directed by Haruo Sotozaki and animated by ufotable, Infinity Castle adapts a pivotal arc from Koyoharu Gotouge’s original manga, captivating audiences with its renowned animation quality and emotional depth. The film also broke records in international markets, including the biggest opening weekend for an anime film in the U.S. with $70 million.
“You and Idol Precure” Kicks Off Run at Fourth Place
Making its theatrical debut on September 12, Eiga Kimi to Idol Precure♪ Omatase! Kimi ni Todokeru KirakkiLive! (“You and Idol Precure The Movie: For You! Our Kirakilala Concert!”) opened at the fourth position in the Japanese box office rankings. The 34th feature film in the long-running Precure anime franchise, it launched in 348 theaters across Japan.
During its opening weekend (Friday to Sunday), the film garnered ¥346 million (US$2.36 million) from 283,000 admissions. Its four-day total, extending through Monday, reached ¥470.41 million (US$3.21 million) with 380,000 tickets sold. While a solid debut, its opening weekend gross represented 94.3% of the performance of last year’s Wonderful Precure! The Movie. The You and Idol Precure film focuses on the theme of “idols” and the idea that “Because of you, we can shine and become stronger!”, featuring characters from previous Precure seasons.
