If someone still believed that the incredible success of Demon Slayer: Mugen Train — the highest-grossing anime and Japanese film of all time — was due to circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic delaying all other major releases, it’s time to put those rumors to rest. The franchise’s latest release, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, has broken all box office records during its Japanese weekend release, surpassing Mugen Train’s weekend gross (¥4.6 billion, $44 million) with an estimated ¥6 billion ($40.6 million.)
[Ed. note: these numbers are based on estimates and are not to be considered final until official totals are released.]
The first in a trilogy of movies that will bring the story of Tanjiro Kamado and the Demon Slayer Corps to an end, Demon Slayer: Mugen Train is a visual spectacle, according to the spectators who flooded the theaters in Japan and were eager to share their impressions online. Makes sense: studio Ufotable has not skipped a beat since the first episode of the anime debuted in 2019. If anything, the aesthetic prowess of the series has only improved with time.
However, great animation, brilliant colors that flow on the screen like Tanjiro’s Water Breathing style, and seamlessly fluid action sequences are not the only reasons for the series’ success. Demon Slayer’s trademark blend of drama, intensity, and emotion appears to be on full display in Infinity Castle, which sees the elite of the Demon Slayer Corps locked in a battle against time, facing the strongest demons protecting their master, Muzan.
The question now is if Infinity Castle will be able to also take away Mugen Train’s record as the highest-grossing anime and Japanese film of all time, which stands at over $507 million. This success has been credited to a “perfect storm” situation, as the movie came out during a brief interlude of relative freedom during the COVID pandemic, which allowed theatres to be open but with few films on offer. Also, Mugen Train built on the success of the Demon Slayer anime and manga, which created hype and anticipation.
Fans and industry experts will surely be monitoring Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle’s performance closely. The movie will debut in the United States and Canada on Sept. 12, 2025, a moment of truth in terms of whether it will be able to surpass Mugen Train’s record. The latter is acknowledged for spearheading a global anime revolution that revealed the medium as one of the most popular and profitable forms of entertainment, so Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle has some pretty big shoes to fill.
