If it was not clear that the anime becomes a more important part of the general public culture, it should be now. This is because “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – Infinity Castle”, the last cinematographic entry of the very successful Japanese animated franchise, has just made history. He is now alone as the most profitable anime film in the history at the box office, going beyond “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba: Mugen Train”.
“Infinity Castle” dominated the national box office for a second consecutive weekend with $ 17.3 million. Even if it was a huge drop of 75% in the massive opening of $ 70.6 million in the anime of $ 70.6 million, it was enough to keep the first place for a second frame. This was largely because the “HIM” “HIM” produced by Jordan Peele was not well below expectations (only gaining $ 13.5 million in North America), just like “a big daring trip” (bringing only $ 3.5 million). More importantly, however, the last episode “Demon Slayer” continues to be a huge success worldwide.
Indeed, the film brought in additional $ 44.5 million to an international scale, bringing its current global total to $ 555 million. This puts him well ahead of “Mugen Train”, which made $ 506 million between 2020 and 2021, which was largely lost for Hollywood. When the previous film “Demon Slayer” became an extremely unexpected success at the box office, there was also the feeling that the tide turned to the anime in the wider cultural sphere. It is now undeniable. To this end, “Infinity Castle” has now won $ 104.7 million at the national level and is the only animated film to cross the $ 100 million mark in the United States in 2025 so far.
The anime spends a big moment in the dominant current
“Infinity Castle” had already become a huge success in his native Japan, where he has made more than $ 200 million so far. But what is more important is that the film plays like gangbusters from around the world, having won more than 60% of its total crude from North America so far.
Anime, of course, has always had a faithful audience, even in the United States which said, the form has really accelerated in popularity in recent years. While “Spirited Away” of 2001 remains the fourth most profitable anime film of all time in the world with $ 395 million, the first three entries on this list have all arrived in the last decade, including “Your Name” of 2016 ($ 405 million). The signs were also there, as when “The Boy and the Heron” unexpectedly exceeded the National Box-Office in 2023 on its way up to $ 293 million worldwide.
These films may not be as largely popular as Marvel films, but they are undoubtedly increasing. Hollywood can no longer raft them like a niche devoid of meaning or a fantasy that passes. Consequently, it was wise to Sony to throw actors of big names like Channing Tatum for the English Dub “Demon Slayer”. There is gold there, hills, so to speak, that is to say that there is an audience to serve, and when they are well served, they will present themselves happily. More importantly, this public grows up each year.
At a time when the box office remains on fiercely uncertain land, the emergence of the anime is welcome. Anything that brings people to more regularly theaters can help move the needle, whether in the United States or elsewhere in the world. It is a global theatrical market, after all, and the anime obviously has its big moment on the whole planet. Right now, it feels like the sky is the limit.
“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle” is now in theaters.
