Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle Arc Chapter 1: Akaza’s Return has officially cemented itself as one of the most successful anime films in Japanese history. In just 25 days since its premiere, the movie has grossed an astonishing 22.07 billion yen, which is roughly 149 million USD, while selling an impressive 15,698,202 tickets. This achievement not only marks a massive commercial victory but also pushes the film past the lifetime Japanese box office earnings of One Piece Film Red, which stood at approximately 20.33 billion yen. The film now ranks as the 6th highest-grossing anime movie of all time in Japan.
The momentum behind this record-breaking run has been nothing short of spectacular. When it first opened on July 18, the film debuted in the largest number of theaters ever for the Demon Slayer franchise, boasting a 155-minute runtime. Within its first 17 days, it had already reached 17.63 billion yen in revenue and sold over 12.55 million tickets, proving its unstoppable popularity.
A major factor in the movie’s success has been the sheer excitement around the central battle. The recently released trailer highlighting the intense showdown between Tanjiro, Giyu, and Akaza generated over a million views in less than 16 hours, further fueling anticipation and driving repeat theater visits. Fans have praised not only the breathtaking animation from ufotable but also the emotional storytelling that continues to elevate Demon Slayer beyond being just another action anime.
Following its incredible domestic success, Infinity Castle Arc Chapter 1 is now preparing for its global release, scheduled between August 14 and September 25, 2025. This staggered international launch is expected to bring another surge of revenue and could push the film even higher in the global box office rankings for anime.
The Demon Slayer franchise has also been expanding beyond the big screen. On August 1, Japan saw the release of Demon Slayer: Hinokami Chronicles 2, with a worldwide launch following on August 5 for PlayStation, Steam, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. This synergy between the anime, films, and games has strengthened the franchise’s cultural presence and kept fans engaged across multiple platforms.
With its rapid climb up the box office charts, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Arc Chapter 1 is proving to be not just a major success for the franchise but also a milestone moment for anime cinema as a whole. The combination of powerful storytelling, stunning animation, and beloved characters has once again shown why Demon Slayer continues to dominate the anime landscape both in Japan and abroad.
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