Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle has officially made history by breaking Pokémon's 27-year-old box office record. As the opening part of a trilogy that concludes the entire Demon Slayer saga, this blockbuster has proven to be more than just a regular anime series.
27-year record broken by Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle
In its first week of release in the US (September 12, 2025), Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle earned $33 million on its first day alone, including $11.4 million from early screenings. This figure far surpassed the record set in 1999 by Pokémon: The First Movie ($31 million).
Not only that, Infinity Castle's opening weekend revenue reached $70 million in the US, surpassing the nearly $60 million (inflation-adjusted) of Pokémon: The First Movie. This is clear evidence that Demon Slayer has become a global phenomenon, following the resounding success of Mugen Train - the film that held the No. 1 position at the Japanese box office in 2020.
Check out the Demon Slayer models at Hobiverse:
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba WCF Vol 2 Kn Figure Toy BANPRESTO HBP-17456
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba WCF Vol 1 Figure Toy BANPRESTO HBP-17992
Bold global launch strategy
This success comes not only from the inherent appeal of the brand but also thanks to a smart release strategy. Crunchyroll and Sony have coordinated to launch Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle simultaneously in many markets, creating an explosive wave around the world.
Thanks to that, the film quickly reached the $300 million mark in international revenue, approaching the $400 million mark. This makes many people believe that Infinity Castle can completely surpass Mugen Train to become the highest-grossing Japanese film of all time.
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is breaking its own records
The record for the highest-grossing Japanese film of all time currently belongs to Demon Slayer: Mugen Train with nearly 500 million USD. However, with an incredible growth rate, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is getting very close to 400 million USD and is likely to surpass the record of its "brother".
This shows how influential Koyoharu Gotouge's work has become. The first film in this final trilogy only covers the Upper Moon battles, and there will be many more battles to come, including the final battle with Muzan. This shows that the success of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is just the beginning and the appeal of this brand will continue to explode in the future.
Why is Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle so explosive?
Let's take a look at the main elements that make the anime so appealing:
- Excellent visuals and music : This is the highlight, when talking about Demon Slayer, we have to mention the magnificent effects. Ufotable continues to affirm its position as the "king" in bringing magnificent cinematic experiences to viewers.
- Emotional and humane plot: Tanjiro's journey is not just about fighting demons, but also a touching story about family, sacrifice, and kindness.
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Global fan community : Since the success of Mugen Train, the Demon Slayer franchise has transcended the realm of anime, becoming a pop culture phenomenon.
See more: Summary of 8 Upper Moon Demons in Kimetsu no Yaiba
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is not only the opening part of the final battle, but also a historical milestone in the anime industry. With huge revenue and global reach, the film has proven that anime can compete equally with Hollywood blockbusters. Hobiverse is sure that you are also looking forward to the next parts of the series, promising many more surprises in the life-and-death battles. Let's watch the movie with Hobiverse!
