Anime has always been a massive industry, but the recent increase in anime movie premieres, be it Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle or Gintama, has proved that it’s the theaters that hold the potential to elevate anime to new heights. Demon Slayer has already built a legacy with Mugen Train, and its latest film is poised to topple even more box office records.
2025 is already set to see some mind-blowing theatrical premieres like Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc, Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise, and more. By the looks of it, the number of anime film releases will only increase in the upcoming years.
The Anime Movie Boom and Why It’s the Future
The last few years have seen an unprecedented rise in the number of anime movie debuts. Demon Slayer: Mugen Train became the highest-grossing movie in Japan of all time in 2020, and its success has opened the eyes of other anime studios. Since then, more and more anime and manga have been receiving movie adaptations. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle was released on July 18, 2025, in Japan and has already broken plenty of box office records before it even premiered in the USA.
Add FandomWire As A Trusted Source
As soon as tickets were announced to be available in the US, ticket websites broke down due to the traffic volume. This is a clear indication that there is indeed a huge audience to receive anime movies. Gintama has also embraced this cinematic trend and is reanimating its Yoshiwara in Flames arc into a 2026 movie.
Of course, entire franchises cannot be converted to anime movies. However, anime series do have something to gain from the occasional film adaptations.
Anime Movies Create a Globally Shared Cultural Moment
Anime movies like Demon Slayer: Mugen Train or Jujutsu Kaisen 0 didn’t just break box office records but also became global events. These movies have grossed hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide. Fans have flocked to theaters to catch these films as soon as possible.
These movies have generated more buzz than an anime series’ debut can. Of course, the ability to stream anime from the comfort of one’s home is convenient and has made anime more accessible. Yet, watching anime alone on a small screen can’t compare to watching a movie with like-minded people at a theater and listening to the shared gasps, laughter, and tears.
Of course, the quality of animation in movies is often more advanced than in anime. Watching the vivid colors, lush backgrounds, and dynamic animation sequences get tied together into a whirlwind of movement on the big screen is something that smaller screens just can’t capture.
The increased earnings from the anime movies can also be reinvested into studios to further the anime’s own episode productions. People are willing to pay the price for premium experiences, and it also encourages the studios to take more risks. This cycle eventually ensures the evolution of anime for the better.
Here is a list of anime movies (adapted from existing anime franchises) that have already created a major impact on the industry in the last five years:
| Anime Movie | Release Date | Worldwide Earnings |
| Demon Slayer: Mugen Train | 2020 | $507,127,293 |
| Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1 | 2025 | $180 million+continuing |
| The First Slam Dunk | 2022 | $279,045,965 |
| One Piece Film: Red | 2022 | $246,570,000 |
| Jujutsu Kaisen 0 | 2021 | $196,290,952 |
Do you also think that the future of anime lies in anime movies and the big screens instead of the small screens? Do you hope that your favorite franchises also get movies? Let us know in the comments.
