In a groundbreaking weekend for the film industry, ‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle’ has etched its name in box-office history. The Japanese anime film, distributed by Sony-owned Crunchyroll, stormed to the top of the charts with an astonishing $70 million debut in North America, according to Comscore estimates. This remarkable achievement not only surpasses the previous record held by ‘Pokémon: The First Movie’ ($31 million in 1999) but also cements its place as the highest-grossing anime opening of all time. Globally, the film amassed $177.8 million, with $132.1 million coming from international markets. Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore, remarked on the unpredictability of the box office, stating, ‘If you predicted this outcome, kudos to you.’ The film is the first installment in a trilogy that brings the beloved Shonen saga to its climactic finale. It follows Tanjiro Kamado, a compassionate young swordsman battling a supernatural underworld to save his demon-turned sister, Nezuko. Produced by the acclaimed studio Ufotable, the film’s stunning visuals and intense action sequences have solidified the franchise as a global phenomenon. The success of ‘Infinity Castle’ has also signaled a September resurgence for the box office, following a sluggish August. Warner Bros.’ ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ slipped to second place with $26 million, while Focus Features’ ‘Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale’ debuted in third with $18.1 million. Other notable openings included Lionsgate’s ‘The Long Walk’ ($11.5 million) and Pixar’s ‘Toy Story (30th Anniversary)’ ($3.5 million). Dergarabedian expressed optimism for the month, anticipating further success with upcoming releases like Jordan Peele’s ‘HIM’ and Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another.’
‘Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle’ opens to $70M, biggest anime debut to claim top box-office spot
