I remember the first time I caught a Demon Slayer episode—late night, half-asleep on a red-eye from Cannes, the animation hitting like a Tanjiro swing, all fury and grace. That was years ago, back when anime felt like this vibrant undercurrent in the West, bubbling but not quite bursting the banks. Now? Haruo Sotozaki's Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle just did that bursting, wide open, with a $70 million domestic opening that doesn't just top the weekend— it rewrites the anime playbook. Released September 12, 2025, under Sony's Crunchyroll banner, this thing arrived like a demon itself, clawing to the top of the box office and leaving the competition gasping.
It's the biggest debut ever for an anime film stateside, eclipsing even the Pokémon frenzy of '98 that pulled $31 million. And for Crunchyroll's theatrical slate? Untouched territory. Friday alone raked in $33 million, Saturday $21.6 million, Sunday $15.4 million—across 3,315 theaters, no less. EntTelligence numbers show 4.5 million souls showed up, average ticket at $14.56 for standard, jumping to $17.91 for those premium IMAX glow-ups. Men edged out at 57% of the crowd, 37% Hispanic or Latino viewers, and subtitled screenings snagged 55%. Evening slots after 5 p.m. on Saturday? 53% of the take. Hell, Regal Irvine Spectrum in California led the pack with $167,000—must've been a sea of cosplay and cheers.
PostTrak has audiences at 98% positive, CinemaScore slapping an “A” on it—the best yet for the franchise. Sixty-seven percent bought tickets in advance, which tells you the hype train left the station early. Internationally, it's a monster: $282.9 million overseas, pushing worldwide to $352.9 million already (via Box Office Mojo). Sony's calling it their 2025 champ so far, with premium formats accounting for 44% of the domestic haul. Marketing? A lean $10-12 million spend—smart plays like digital blasts, a 24-hour watch party, trailer drops at expos, sports crossovers, and those theater-exclusive collectibles that had fans lining up like it was Comic-Con.
Weekend Warriors: The Full Box Office Breakdown
But let's zoom out—this wasn't a solo act. The fall calendar's just kicking off, and September 12-14, 2025, felt like a brawl. Michael Chaves' The Conjuring: Last Rites—that horror finale with Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson—tumbled hard from its $84 million opener last week to $26.1 million, a 69% drop that's front-loaded as hell. Still, domestic's at $131.1 million, and global? $332.9 million, topping the franchise (beating James Wan's original by a hair). Word of mouth fizzled, but who cares when it's already the Conjuring Universe's box office king, edging out The Nun‘s $366.1 million from 2018.
Then there's Simon Curtis' Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, wrapping the saga on a $50 million budget with an $18.1 million debut—solid third place, but a whimper compared to the 2019 film's $31 million bow. Francis Lawrence's The Long Walk, that brutal Stephen King adaptation, landed fourth at $11.5 million; rave reviews, sure, but the gore might've scared off the casuals. Rob Reiner's Spinal Tap II: The End Continues? Oof—$1.7 million in ninth, barely topping a Sound of Music re-release. Disney's Toy Story redux held fifth at $3.5 million, domestic cumulative $196 million.
Here's the top 10, straight from the weekend tally:
| Rank | Title | Weekend Gross | Domestic Total | Theaters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle* | $70,000,000 | $70,000,000 | 3,315 |
| 2 | The Conjuring: Last Rites | $26,100,000 | $131,053,000 | 3,802 |
| 3 | Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale* | $18,100,000 | $18,100,000 | 3,694 |
| 4 | The Long Walk* | $11,500,000 | $11,500,000 | 2,845 |
| 5 | Toy Story (re-release) | $3,500,000 | $196,023,233 | 2,375 |
| 6 | Weapons | $2,725,000 | $147,452,000 | 2,310 |
| 7 | Hamilton | $2,200,000 | $14,957,531 | 1,850 |
| 8 | Freakier Friday | $2,100,000 | $91,097,850 | 2,460 |
| 9 | Spinal Tap II: The End Continues* | $1,674,926 | $1,674,926 | 1,920 |
| 10 | The Sound of Music (re-release) | $1,486,231 | $164,700,517 | 1,178 |
*New releases. Data via Deadline and CinemaBlend.
Compared to last year's To the Hashira Training—$11.5 million second-place finish—this is a quantum leap. It's the 21st biggest 2025 opener, sandwiched between Danny Boyle's 28 Years Later ($70.4 million) and Gavin O'Connor's The Accountant 2 ($65.5 million). Anime's no niche anymore; think Taylor Swift's Eras Tour concert film smashing $97 million after Hannah Montana's $31 million ceiling. Demon Slayer just did that for swords-and-demons epics.
Anime's Ascent: From Festival Darling to Box Office Beast
I've walked the floors at TIFF and Berlinale, where anime panels used to draw the die-hards, whispering about Ufotable's fluid fights like sacred texts. Now, with Sony acquiring Crunchyroll, they're treating it like the IP goldmine it is—20% distribution fee on this beast, and the momentum's international, building week by week. Premium formats? Forty-four percent of the take—folks want that IMAX immersion for Muzan's glare or Nezuko's blaze.
But here's the rub: this success isn't just numbers. It's cultural. Demon Slayer's pulled in diverse crowds—subtitled dominance, Latino turnout—and that “A” CinemaScore? Fans aren't just watching; they're invested, emotional, the kind of pull that horror franchises like Conjuring chase but rarely match in loyalty. Yet, as Infinity Castle eyes higher climbs, I wonder—will Hollywood pivot harder to anime adaptations, or keep treating it like an exotic import? The Conjuring drop shows front-loading's a risk; Demon Slayer's got legs, I bet.
Behind the scenes, Sotozaki's vision—adapting the manga's Infinity Castle arc—leans into those production quirks, like rumored last-minute choreography tweaks for the demon slayers' arcs. Ufotable's animation? Still peerless, even if the budget's whispered at modest for theatrical. And the timing—mid-September, pre-Halloween—slots it perfectly against horror heavyweights, stealing thunder without apology.
What This Means for Fall 2025 and Beyond
Fall's heating up: Kogonada's A Big Bold Beautiful Journey and Justin Tipping's HIM drop next week, promising more tumult. Demon Slayer's not fading; with worldwide pushing past $350 million already, it's Sony's 2025 flag-bearer. For anime fans, it's vindication— from Sundance sidebars to multiplex monarch.
Check our Demon Slayer franchise guide on Filmofilia for the full arc breakdown. And if you're catching it, grab those premium seats—the fights demand it.
Record-Shattering Debut $70 million domestic opener crushes anime history, drawing 4.5 million viewers hungry for Tanjiro's next clash. It's not just big; it's a cultural quake.
Diverse Crowds Fuel the Fire Subtitled screenings at 55%, strong Latino representation—Demon Slayer's pulling in faces Hollywood often overlooks, with 98% audience love to boot.
Premium Power Plays IMAX and such snagged 44% of the haul, proving fans will pay up for that visceral swordplay. Average premium ticket? Nearly $18—worth every cent.
Conjuring's Tumble, Others' Struggles While Last Rites drops 69% to $26.1 million, Downton Abbey and Long Walk hold steady but can't touch the anime giant. Spinal Tap II? A sequel flop at $1.7 million.
Global Domination Underway $282.9 million overseas rockets worldwide to $352.9 million—Sony's 2025 leader, with legs that could redefine anime's theatrical future.
So, yeah—head to theaters if you haven't. This one's a slayer, alright. What'd you think of the opener? Drop thoughts in the comments; I'm all ears.
Header Image Suggestion: A dynamic poster still of Tanjiro mid-swing against a fiery demon backdrop, overlaid with glowing box office charts for that triumphant vibe. ALT: “Demon Slayer Infinity Castle box office records shattered opening weekend.”
FAQs About Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Box Office
When did Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle release? It hit theaters on September 12, 2025, wide release via Crunchyroll/Sony.
What's the biggest record it broke? Largest domestic opening for any anime film at $70 million, topping Pokémon's 1998 debut.
How does it compare to other weekends? Sixth-best September opener ever, outpacing The Conjuring: Last Rites' second-week drop.
