Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle is setting the stage for an extraordinary box office debut in China, where presale tickets have generated explosive demand. According to early industry tracking, the film has earned an estimated ¥20 million (roughly $2.8 million) within just five hours of ticket sales opening—an unprecedented achievement considering it reached this milestone without any promotional campaign. Analysts have described the surge as “absolute insanity,” noting that it marks the most rapid advance ticket sales for an imported film in China since Avengers: Endgame.
Market projections are already painting an ambitious picture. Box office analysts in China are forecasting that Infinity Castle could generate as much as $200 million during its opening weekend, a figure that would easily outpace any previous anime film release in the region. While these numbers remain speculative, the enthusiasm among Chinese audiences suggests that the forecast may not be far from reality. The film’s viral traction on local platforms like Weibo, coupled with word-of-mouth excitement, has made it one of the most anticipated foreign releases of the year.
The movie, distributed in China by Maoyan Pictures, is scheduled to premiere nationwide on November 14, 2025. This release follows the film’s remarkable international run, during which it has already amassed an estimated $675.8 million globally. With the addition of the Chinese market, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is now projected to cross the $900 million threshold, potentially pushing it beyond the billion-dollar mark—a feat no anime film has ever achieved.
Such an accomplishment would place Infinity Castle among the highest-grossing films of the year, alongside Lilo and Stitch ($1.04 billion), Minecraft: The Movie ($957.9 million), and Jurassic World Rebirth ($868.5 million). It would also reinforce Demon Slayer’s dominance in the global box office, as the franchise continues to outperform both domestic and international competitors. Its predecessor, Mugen Train, set the initial record for the highest-grossing anime film, a title now held by Infinity Castle following its sweeping success in both Western and Asian markets.
The film adapts the climactic Infinity Castle Arc from Koyoharu Gotouge’s acclaimed manga, depicting the desperate confrontation between the Demon Slayer Corps and Muzan Kibutsuji’s most formidable demons. The narrative thrust, coupled with Ufotable’s high-caliber animation and emotionally charged storytelling, has resonated with audiences worldwide. In the U.S., the film has already made history as the highest-grossing international release of all time, demonstrating the franchise’s extraordinary global appeal.
