Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle is shaping up to be one of the most significant anime releases in U.S. box office history. According to ticketing platform Fandango, the film has already secured the title of best first-day pre-seller for an anime film in America, surpassing all previous records. With such strong momentum, analysts suggest the movie could topple the long-standing $31 million U.S. opening record set by Pokemon: The First Movie in 1999.
For context, Pokemon: The First Movie opened with $31 million, eventually reaching $85.7 million domestically and $163.6 million worldwide. While that figure remains a landmark for anime films in America, the surging hype around Infinity Castle indicates it may have the potential to challenge or even surpass it.
Globally, Infinity Castle has already grossed nearly $210 million across eight Asian markets, pushing it into the top ten highest-grossing anime films of all time. In Japan alone, the film has generated around $176 million, making it the highest-grossing release of 2025 in the country and the fourth biggest film in Japanese box office history. Taiwan also saw record-setting momentum, with the film crossing $13 million in just ten days, while Vietnam posted its best-ever opening for an anime feature.
The film’s reach continues to expand rapidly. Early fan screenings in Europe, such as those at London’s BFI IMAX and Paris’s Le Grand Rex, sold out weeks in advance—a feat that even many Hollywood blockbusters struggle to achieve. With its U.S. release scheduled for September 12, industry observers project that Infinity Castle will cross $300 million worldwide before the end of the month, potentially climbing even higher as it enters new markets.
Directed by Haruo Sotozaki and produced by Ufotable, the movie adapts the acclaimed “Infinity Castle” arc from Koyoharu Gotouge’s manga. Unlike the franchise’s prior compilation films, this marks the beginning of a full-length trilogy, with Part 1: Akaza Returns released in Japan on July 18, 2025. The continuation of the story positions the film as both a direct sequel to the anime’s fourth season and a key chapter in the franchise’s ongoing cinematic adaptations.
While reviews from critics have been mixed, audience enthusiasm has shown little sign of slowing down. With presales breaking records in the United States and the global box office already vaulting past Ponyo, Infinity Castle is on track to become one of the defining anime blockbusters of the decade.
