Anime is experiencing a remarkable resurgence at the box office, with the highly anticipated film “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle” earning an impressive $33 million during its opening weekend, which includes Friday and preview screenings across 3,315 locations. This figure marks the biggest opening day domestic gross ever for an anime film, surpassing the previous record of $10.9 million set by “Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero” in 2022. This phenomenal performance not only establishes a new benchmark for anime films, but also sets the stage for what’s to come in the world of anime cinema.
In addition to its record-breaking opening day, “Infinity Castle” has already become the largest opening weekend ever for an anime movie, eclipsing the $31 million held by “Pokémon: The First Movie – Mewtwo Strikes Back” since its release in 1999. Though it’s worth noting that “Mewtwo Strikes Back” debuted on a Wednesday, giving it two full days of box office earnings before the typical three-day weekend frame. “Infinity Castle” is the first installment of a trilogy intended to conclude the Demon Slayer saga and is available in both subtitled and dubbed formats. The film has also benefited from being screened in premium large format theaters, contributing significantly to its overall revenue.
On Friday alone, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle” generated $6.4 million domestically in IMAX theaters, showcasing the film’s drawing power. Early reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, with audiences expressing their adoration for the film. CinemaScore, a moviegoer survey firm, reported a robust “A” grade for the film, indicating strong viewer satisfaction.
The success of “Infinity Castle” extends beyond domestic theaters, as it has already grossed over $279 million globally, with more than $200 million coming from its home market in Japan. The film has maintained its position as the No. 1 release in Japan for eight weeks and is now the country’s third-highest-grossing film of all time. This remarkable global performance reflects the growing influence of anime in cinema and the effectiveness of Sony’s anime distribution banner, Crunchyroll, in elevating the genre's profile in North America.
Back in 2021, Crunchyroll made waves in the industry with “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train,” which was one of the first significant theatrical releases post-COVID lockdowns, debuting with a commendable $20 million. The overwhelming success of “Infinity Castle” could potentially triple that figure, indicating a new era for anime films at the box office.
In the context of the September box office, “Infinity Castle” is part of a larger trend, as theaters welcome several other new wide releases. Following the unexpected success of “The Conjuring: Last Rites,” which debuted to a stunning $84 million last weekend, the box office is performing significantly above industry expectations. This is promising news for Sony, which has just completed a quieter summer blockbuster season.
While “Infinity Castle” leads the weekend, other notable releases include “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” which aims to capitalize on the beloved TV series’ legacy. The film earned $8.8 million from 3,694 locations on Friday and is projected to reach around $19.5 million for its opening weekend, showing an upward trend compared to its predecessor, “Downton Abbey: A New Era,” which launched with $16 million in May 2022. Critics have responded positively to “The Grand Finale,” giving it an “A” grade on CinemaScore.
Lionsgate has also launched the Stephen King adaptation “The Long Walk,” which generated $4.76 million across Friday and preview screenings from 2,845 locations. The film is expected to open north of $11 million, a solid start against its modest production budget of $20 million, despite mixed audience reactions reflected in its “B” grade on CinemaScore.
In the second place, “The Conjuring: Last Rites” brought in an additional $8.4 million on Friday, marking a 67% drop from its previous week’s earnings. The film has already grossed $113 million in North America, positioning it as the 14th-biggest release of the year after just eight days. Meanwhile, Disney’s re-release of “Toy Story” achieved $1.1 million across 2,375 theaters, rounding out the top five.
Further down the list, “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues” earned approximately $820,000 across Friday and previews in 1,919 locations, struggling to make a mark in the top 10. The sequel to the iconic 1984 film “This Is Spinal Tap” sees director Rob Reiner reuniting with the original cast for a comedic take on modern rock farewell tours. While reviews are lukewarm, the target audience has enjoyed the film, giving it an “A-” grade on CinemaScore.
