Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle
This weekend at the Japan box office, there’s only one title anyone will be watching — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle.
Not only will the animated feature launch a highly anticipated trilogy of films, it will also follow the highest-grossing movie in Japanese history, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train.
Release Details
- Date: July 18
- Distributors: Aniplex and Toho
- Studio: Ufotable
- Expectation: Nearly guaranteed to be one of the top-grossing movies of 2025 in Japan
But will it face a showdown with its record-breaking predecessor?
Why Mugen Train Was a Phenomenon
Mugen Train benefited from a unique confluence of events upon its release in October 2020:
- Massive hype behind the Demon Slayer manga and 2019 TV series
- Backlog of moviegoing demand after pandemic restrictions lifted
Mugen Train Box Office Figures:
- Japan: $274M (¥40.43B)
- Surpassed: Spirited Away ($214M / ¥31.68B, 2001)
- Global: $507M
- US share: Nearly $50M
- Second highest-grossing Japanese anime film in the US
What’s New With Infinity Castle?
Directed by Haruo Sotozaki, the film continues Tanjiro Kamado’s journey with the Demon Slayer Corps, infiltrating the Infinity Castle, the heart of the demons’ territory.
- Based on Koyoharu Gotoge’s manga (2016–2020)
- Will conclude the original manga story over three films
Screen Boost and Competition
- Screens:
- Infinity Castle: 443 screens (including 51 IMAX)
- Mugen Train: 403 screens
- New IMAX Laser Screens: 4 opening on July 18
- Competing Films:
- Superman (this weekend)
- Jurassic World: Rebirth (August 8)
- Kokuho (domestic favorite)
“IMAX has put a lot of money into Japanese films… Mugen Train contributed toward that.” — Richardson Handjaja, Animenomics
Popularity of the Manga
- Demon Slayer manga ended in May 2020
- At Mugen Train’s release, it was #1 in manga sales globally
- 2024 US Rankings: Did not make the top 10
International Roll-Out
- Release Date: September 12
- Markets: North America, UK-Ireland
- Distributors: Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment
Notable Differences from Mugen Train:
- Shorter delay (2 months vs. 6 months)
- Now supported by: Crunchyroll’s marketing engine
- Global Growth: Especially in India and Brazil
“Crunchyroll as a brand can drive traffic to screenings.” — Handjaja
Sony’s Strategic Position
- Owns Aniplex and Funimation
- Acquired Crunchyroll in 2021 and merged both platforms
“We look forward to developing a great new line of theatrical releases… for our growing fan base in North America.”
Anime’s International Growth
Although Mugen Train remains the #2 anime film in the US, other recent hits show the genre’s expansion:
Top Recent US Box Office for Anime Films:
- Pokemon: The First Movie (2000): #1
- Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (2022): $28M
- The Boy and The Heron (2023): $46M
- To the Hashira Training (2023): $17.6M
“Anime has tripled its viewing hours in the last 5 years.”
“Over half of paying subscribers have watched anime in the past year.”
Exclusive Sneak Peek: San Diego Comic-Con Panel
- Date: July 26
- Event: Infinity Castle panel
- Location: San Diego Comic-Con
- Guests:
- Director: Haruo Sotozaki
- Lead Voice Actor: Natsuki Hanae
- Highlights:
- Surprises
- Exclusive international footage
- First non-Japan screening content
Final Thoughts
“We will likely not be able to garner as much revenue from Japan for Infinity Castle, but the international [take] will go up.”
— Richardson Handjaja
With global anime fandom booming, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is primed to make another massive impact, even if the landscape has changed since Mugen Train’s record-breaking run.
