Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle has made history at the box office, overtaking Pokémon: The First Movie to claim the title of the highest-grossing anime film ever released in the United States. The film earned 2.6 million dollars on Thursday, bringing its domestic total to 87.4 million dollars, surpassing Pokémon’s 85.7 million dollar lifetime gross. In just one week, it has become the number two international film of all time in the U.S. market.
The success has not been limited to North America. Globally, Infinity Castle has crossed the 500 million dollar milestone, becoming only the second Japanese film to reach half a billion worldwide after Demon Slayer: Mugen Train. As of Wednesday, the film had earned an estimated 225 million dollars in Japan, 84.5 million dollars in North America, and 197.5 million dollars across 63 overseas markets, giving it a total of 507 million dollars. Analysts project that the film could soon outpace Mugen Train’s 520.7 million dollar record to become the highest-grossing anime film of all time.
The film’s momentum continues to build internationally. In Australia, it debuted with 5.07 million dollars in its opening week, outperforming Hollywood titles such as The Conjuring: Last Rites and Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale. In New Zealand, it grossed 923,000 dollars during its first week, topping both Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale and The Conjuring: Last Rites. In Germany, the film drew 145,000 admissions on opening day, with projections pointing to a 7 million euro debut weekend. South Korea also reported strong attendance, with the movie surpassing 4.6 million admissions.
Directed by Haruo Sotozaki and produced by Ufotable, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle – Part 1: Akaza Returns adapts the manga’s climactic “Infinity Castle” arc. Unlike prior compilation films in the series, Infinity Castle was conceived as a feature-length trilogy due to the arc’s scope and dramatic pacing. Released in Japan on July 18, 2025, the film expanded internationally through Sony Pictures and Crunchyroll in the following months.
With its global box office already at 508 million dollars and climbing, Infinity Castle has not only cemented its place in anime history but also emerged as one of the year’s biggest cinematic events worldwide. If its current pace holds, it will soon achieve the remarkable feat of becoming the highest-grossing anime film of all time.
