Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Becomes Japan’s 2nd Highest-Grossing Film
On September 10, 2025, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle – Part 1: Akaza Returns achieved a historic milestone, surpassing Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away to become Japan’s second highest-grossing film of all time, trailing only its predecessor, Demon Slayer: The Movie: Mugen Train. Released on July 18, 2025, the film has grossed over ¥31.7 billion (approximately $214 million) in just 55 days, with 22.07 million admissions, per posts on X. This article explores the factors behind this unprecedented success, detailing the film’s box office performance, cultural impact, production quality, and global reach, while drawing on verified reports from sources like Koimoi, WIONews, and Crunchyroll News.
Box Office Performance
Record-Breaking Run in Japan
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle – Part 1: Akaza Returns, directed by Haruo Sotozaki and produced by Ufotable, debuted on July 18, 2025, across 443 theaters in Japan, distributed by Aniplex and Toho. The film set multiple records, per Koimoi:
- Opening Day: Earned ¥1.65 billion ($11.13 million) from 1.16 million admissions, the highest single-day gross in Japanese history, per Hollywood Reporter.
- Opening Weekend: Grossed ¥5.52 billion ($37.42 million) over three days from 3.84 million admissions, the biggest opening weekend ever in Japan, per Reuters.
- Four-Day Total: Including the Marine Day holiday on July 21, the film reached ¥7.31 billion ($49.55 million) with 5.16 million tickets sold, per Crunchyroll News.
- Fastest to ¥10 Billion: Within eight days, the film earned over ¥10 billion ($71 million), surpassing Mugen Train’s record, per Koimoi.
- Surpassing Milestones: By August 17, it overtook Your Name (¥25.17 billion) to enter Japan’s top five, and by September 2, it crossed ¥30 billion, becoming only the third film to achieve this, per Koimoi. By September 10, it surpassed Spirited Away’s ¥31.68 billion with ¥31.7 billion, per posts on X.
As of September 11, 2025, the film’s domestic total stands at approximately ¥31.7 billion ($214 million), with 22 million admissions, making it Japan’s second highest-grossing film, behind Mugen Train’s ¥40.43 billion ($273 million), per IMDb.
Global Box Office Success
Globally, Infinity Castle has grossed over $320 million across 10 markets, with a projected climb toward $500 million as it expands to the US, Latin America, and Europe on September 12, 2025, per Koimoi. In Asia, it has set records:
- Taiwan: $18.34 million, the largest opening for a Japanese film, surpassing Mugen Train by 50%, per Twisted Voxel.
- Hong Kong: $7.1 million, per WIONews.
- Thailand: $6 million, with a $2.2 million opening day, among the strongest post-pandemic debuts, per Twisted Voxel.
- Indonesia: $6.2 million, per WIONews.
- Malaysia: $5 million, per WIONews.
The film’s IMAX performance is notable, earning $35.1 million globally, making it the second biggest animated film in IMAX history, behind Ne Zha 2, per Koimoi. Its global trajectory suggests it could challenge Mugen Train’s $507.12 million worldwide total, per Hollywood Reporter.
Plot and Appeal
Storyline and Themes
Infinity Castle adapts the climactic “Infinity Castle” arc from Koyoharu Gotouge’s manga, serving as the first of a trilogy of feature-length films, unlike the compilation films To the Swordsmith Village and To the Hashira Training, per Wikipedia. The plot follows Tanjiro Kamado and the Demon Slayer Corps as they confront Muzan Kibutsuji in his dimensional stronghold, the Infinity Castle. After recovering from Kagaya Ubuyashiki’s trap, Muzan traps the Corps inside, where they battle powerful demons like Kokushibo and Doma, per Crunchyroll News. Key plot points include:
- The Corps’ separation, leading to intense individual battles.
- Kiriya, Kuina, and Kanata Ubuyashiki mapping the castle with Kasugai crows.
- Former Hashiras Tengen Uzui and Shinjuro Rengoku guarding the operation.
- Nakime manipulating the castle’s layout to confuse the Corps.
The film’s dark fantasy action, emotional depth, and themes of sacrifice and camaraderie resonate with audiences, building on the franchise’s established fanbase, per WIONews.
Voice Cast and Music
The voice cast, led by Natsuki Hanae (Tanjiro Kamado), Akari Kitō (Nezuko Kamado), Hiro Shimono (Zenitsu Agatsuma), and Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Inosuke Hashibira), delivers powerful performances, per Wikipedia. Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina’s score, with theme songs “Taiyō ga Noboranai Sekai” by Aimer and “Zankoku no Yoru ni Kagayake” by LiSA, enhances the film’s emotional weight, per Crunchyroll News. These elements elevate the cinematic experience, drawing fans to theaters.
Cultural and Industry Impact
Surpassing Spirited Away
Spirited Away held Japan’s box office crown for 18 years until Mugen Train overtook it in 2020 with ¥40.43 billion. Infinity Castle’s ascent to second place in just 55 days, per posts on X, underscores the Demon Slayer franchise’s dominance. The film’s rapid climb past iconic titles like Your Name (¥25.17 billion), Titanic (¥26.20 billion), and One Piece Film: Red (¥19.60 billion) reflects its cultural resonance, per Koimoi. Fans on X celebrated, with posts like “Demon Slayer rewriting history!” trending, per Crunchyroll’s social media.
Anime’s Rising Global Influence
The Demon Slayer franchise, with Mugen Train’s $507 million global haul during the pandemic, has redefined anime’s commercial potential. Infinity Castle’s success, especially in IMAX and Asian markets, signals anime’s growing mainstream appeal, per Hollywood Reporter. Its collaboration with Major League Baseball, featuring a short film narrated by Hōchū Ōtsuka (Sakonji Urokodaki), promoted the 2025 MLB season opener in Tokyo, blending anime with global pop culture, per Wikipedia.
Fan Engagement and Social Media
The film’s trailer, released on June 28, 2025, garnered over 40 million views in 24 hours on social media, per Wikipedia. Posts on X, like those from @DemonSlayerSc, highlight the film’s milestones, amplifying fan excitement. The Los Angeles premiere livestream on September 10, announced by @Crunchyroll, further boosted global anticipation, per posts on X. This engagement has driven repeat viewings, contributing to the film’s box office longevity.
Production and Marketing Excellence
Ufotable’s Animation Quality
Ufotable’s animation, praised for its fluid combat sequences and vivid visuals, sets Infinity Castle apart, per WIONews. The Infinity Castle’s surreal, shifting architecture is a visual spectacle, with Nakime’s biwa-triggered changes creating dynamic fight scenes. Critics, while mixed on the pacing, lauded the animation’s fidelity to Gotouge’s manga, per Twisted Voxel. This quality has drawn both fans and new viewers, per Variety.
Strategic Release and Promotion
The film’s staggered release—Japan on July 18, select Asian markets in August, and global markets on September 12—maximized buzz, per Crunchyroll News. Promotions like the MLB tie-in and Fuji TV’s trailer event ensured widespread visibility, per Wikipedia. The decision to adapt the arc as a trilogy, unlike previous compilation films, allowed for a deeper narrative, appealing to manga fans, per Koimoi.
Comparison with Mugen Train
Box Office Trajectory
Infinity Castle’s three-day opening of ¥5.52 billion surpassed Mugen Train’s ¥4.623 billion by 19%, per Hollywood Reporter. Its eight-day ¥10 billion milestone beat Mugen Train’s record, per Koimoi. However, Mugen Train’s final ¥40.43 billion remains a high bar, with Infinity Castle needing a 26.7% jump to overtake it, per IMDb. Analysts predict it could close the gap if global releases perform strongly, per Beebom.
Narrative and Scope
While Mugen Train focused on a single arc aboard a train, Infinity Castle’s sprawling setting and multiple battles offer greater scale, per WIONews. The trilogy format allows for deeper character exploration, particularly for Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke, appealing to fans, per Crunchyroll News. However, some critics noted the first part’s cliffhanger ending as a drawback, per Twisted Voxel.
Challenges and Criticisms
Mixed Critical Reception
While audiences embraced Infinity Castle, critics gave mixed reviews, praising the animation but questioning the pacing and cliffhanger, per Twisted Voxel. Some felt the trilogy format stretches the arc unnecessarily, per WIONews. Despite this, fan enthusiasm, reflected in 22 million admissions, has overshadowed critical concerns, per Koimoi.
Budget Speculation
Rumors suggest a $390 million budget, per Beebom, though unconfirmed by Ufotable or Aniplex. If true, this would make Infinity Castle one of the most expensive animated films, raising questions about profitability despite its box office success. The lack of official budget data limits analysis, per Reuters.
Global Release and Future Prospects
International Rollout
The film’s September 12, 2025, release in North America, Latin America, Europe, and other markets, distributed by Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures, is expected to push its global total past $500 million, per Koimoi. Posts on X from @Crunchyroll highlight anticipation, with Natsuki Hanae’s message to fans boosting hype. The staggered rollout has sustained momentum, per WIONews.
Potential to Overtake Mugen Train
With $320 million already earned, Infinity Castle is on track to challenge Mugen Train’s $507 million global total, per Koimoi. Its performance in major markets like the US and Europe will be crucial, with analysts predicting a $600 million ceiling, per Beebom. The trilogy’s remaining parts, set for release in 2026 and 2027, could further elevate the franchise’s legacy, per Crunchyroll News.
Conclusion
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle – Part 1: Akaza Returns has cemented its place as Japan’s second highest-grossing film, surpassing Spirited Away with ¥31.7 billion in just 55 days as of September 10, 2025. Its record-breaking opening, Ufotable’s stunning animation, and cultural resonance have driven its success, amplified by social media and strategic marketing. Globally, its $320 million haul and upcoming releases signal potential to rival Mugen Train’s $507 million. Despite minor critical gripes, the film’s emotional depth, led by Tanjiro Kamado and the Demon Slayer Corps, has captivated audiences, making it a landmark in anime cinema. As it expands worldwide, Infinity Castle continues to redefine the industry, proving Demon Slayer’s enduring dominance.
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