The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle movie has stormed into theaters in Japan with a historic opening, shattering box office records and setting a new benchmark not just for anime films, but for the Japanese film industry as a whole.
Released on July 18, the film earned a staggering ¥1.64 billion (~$11 million) on its first day alone, surpassing the previous all-time opening day record held by 2020’s Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, which had earned ¥1.28 billion (~$12 million USD at 2020 exchange rates) on its opening day. This marks a triumphant return for the franchise, once again proving its dominance at the Japanese box office.
On Saturday, the film continued its momentum with an estimated ¥1.84 billion (~$12.5 million) haul, pushing its two-day total to ¥3.48 billion (~$23.5 million). From Friday to Sunday, Infinity Castle totaled 5.52 billion ($37.3 million) with 3.84 million admissions, officially breaking its own weekend record and eclipsing Mugen Train’s then-historic ¥4.6 billion ($44 million in 2020) three-day debut.
The cumulative total box office gross for the first four days, including Monday which was a national holiday (Marine Day) in Japan, reached 7.3 billion yen (49.7 million USD) on 5.16 million admissions.
The film’s ¥2.03 billion (~$13.8 million) Sunday total is also officially the highest single-day gross ever recorded in Japanese box office history, for any film, foreign or domestic.
While the current devaluation of the yen against the U.S. dollar tempers the film’s international monetary optics, the numbers remain astronomical by every metric. In 2020, the yen stood stronger against the dollar, meaning Mugen Train’s opening numbers appeared larger in dollar terms. However, Infinity Castle surpasses it in pure yen volume, solidifying it as the biggest theatrical anime opening ever in Japan.
A Monumental Start to a Climactic Trilogy
The film marks the first installment in a three-part adaptation of the final arc of Demon Slayer, which sees the Demon Slayer Corps infiltrating Muzan’s stronghold—the titular Infinity Castle.
Directed by Haruo Sotozaki, with music by Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina and animation from Ufotable, the movie retains the same powerhouse creative team that elevated Mugen Train to international acclaim.
Adding to the fanfare are two brand-new theme songs, “A World Where the Sun Never Rises” by Aimer and “Shine in the Cruel Night” by LiSA. Both artists are no strangers to the franchise; Aimer’s “Zankyosanka” is already a fan favorite, and LiSA’s “Gurenge” is the song that the fans probably relate with Demon Slayer the most. The new songs are now out on all major streaming platforms globally.
Global Rollout Begins in August
Following its explosive Japanese debut, Infinity Castle is gearing up for a staggered global rollout:
- August 14: Malaysia, Singapore, Pakistan
- August 15: Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam
- August 20: Philippines
- September 11: Latin America, Middle East, parts of Europe and Oceania
- September 12: United States, Canada, India, UK, and more
- September 17–25: France, Germany, Belgium, and other regions.
The film will be released in Japanese with English subtitles, as well as English-dubbed versions, including IMAX and premium large-format screenings in select territories.
A New Era of Anime Blockbusters
Japan’s box office hit new heights in 2024, driven by a strong shift toward homegrown content, especially anime. Local films brought in $1.01 billion (155.8 billion yen), capturing around 75% of the market, while foreign titles lagged at $329 million (51.2 billion yen), dragged down by underperforming Hollywood releases. Anime alone made up over half of all ticket sales, fueled by enduring franchises like Detective Conan and Haikyu!!.
While Mugen Train captured global headlines during the pandemic by becoming the highest-grossing Japanese film of all time ($507 million worldwide), Infinity Castle seems poised to carve its own legacy—not just as a record-breaker, but as a cultural moment for fans old and new, and really push Japanese cinema to uncharted territories.
Source: Crunchyroll.