Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle is on track for a monumental opening in Mainland China, with presale numbers indicating unprecedented demand for a foreign animated film. According to the latest box office data, the film has already generated more than ¥24 million (approximately $3.3 million USD) in advance ticket sales, far outpacing comparable releases such as Suzume (¥6.8 million), The First Slam Dunk (¥9.3 million), and The Boy and the Heron (¥3.9 million) during the same early presale period. The film, slated to open on November 14 with preview screenings beginning November 13, is now being described by analysts as a potential record-breaker for Japanese animation in the region.
Presales for anime films in China tend to be heavily frontloaded, with much of the initial surge occurring within the first several days of ticket availability. Even so, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is exhibiting extraordinary staying power, maintaining strong day-to-day growth while expanding its reach across Chinese exhibitors. Over 83,000 screenings have already been scheduled for presales — the highest ever recorded for a non-Chinese film this early in its ticketing cycle. As of its second day, the breakdown includes ¥600,000 in Thursday previews, ¥3.4 million for opening day, ¥2.2 million for Saturday, and ¥750,000 for Sunday.
Early projections suggest that if presales continue at their current pace, total advance sales could exceed ¥30 million by November 13. This would position Infinity Castle to secure an opening in the $60 million to $95 million range over its first three days, surpassing the benchmark set by Suzume’s $49.9 million debut and The First Slam Dunk’s record $55.2 million four-day launch. Some analysts speculate that, under ideal conditions and with strong walk-up attendance, the film could even challenge post-COVID foreign film records in China, potentially surpassing Avatar: The Way of Water’s $57.1 million and Godzilla vs. Kong’s $69.2 million openings.
There is a lot of enthusiasm for Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle in China. Within just five hours of ticket sales opening, the film amassed ¥20 million in revenue without a major marketing push, making it the fastest-selling imported film in China since Avengers: Endgame. Its viral momentum on platforms like Weibo has further amplified anticipation, transforming the release into one of the most buzzed-about cinematic events of the year.
While a $100 million debut remains unlikely under typical anime market behavior, the scale of engagement surrounding Infinity Castle already cements it as a cultural milestone. Should its presale trajectory hold steady, the film will not only set a new record for Japanese animation in China but may also redefine expectations for international releases in the country’s evolving post-pandemic box office landscape.
