Sony’s anime feature Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle has cleared a major milestone, lifting its worldwide box office to about $730 million after a $52 million opening weekend in China. The latest surge cements the film as the highest-grossing Japanese production to date and the top-earning international (non-English language) release in U.S. box office history.
Infinity Castle has been a phenomenon in Japan since its July 18 release. Within four days it earned 7.3 billion yen (around $49.6 million), breaking records for opening day, single-day gross and three-day weekend, while setting new highs for IMAX screenings. By early September it had overtaken Spirited Away to become Japan’s second highest-grossing film ever, reaching 31.7 billion yen and trailing only Demon Slayer: Mugen Train. Analysts now estimate the global total is on course to move beyond $730 million as admissions remain strong in the home market.
The film’s overseas rollout has been equally striking. Released across North America and other territories in September, Infinity Castle opened to $70 million domestically, the biggest debut for an anime film and for any international release in the U.S., helping push global takings past $175 million after its first international weekend. The movie’s status as an R-rated animated feature has not dampened turnout, with repeat viewings and premium formats adding to its momentum.
As the first part of a planned trilogy adapting the manga’s final arc, Infinity Castle’s performance has become a rare bright spot in a year where Hollywood franchises have struggled to match pre-pandemic norms. Industry coverage has pointed to the film as a key driver in shoring up the late-summer global box office and boosting IMAX results, underlining the growing commercial weight of anime in worldwide exhibition. Distributor executives say the film will remain exclusive to cinemas for the rest of 2025, with streaming expected in 2026, a strategy that signals confidence in continued theatrical demand rather than a quick pivot to digital platforms.
