Okay anime fam, buckle up, because Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle just exploded onto the big screen in Japan, and it’s already making box office history. The movie dropped over a four-day holiday weekend and absolutely torched expectations, like, we’re talking an estimated ¥5.9 billion, aka nearly $40 million, just after the launch.
And here’s the kicker: according to Deadline, it also broke Japan’s record IMAX opening. Ever. For any film, Hollywood or domestic. Friday night generated $3 million alone from IMAX showings. By the end of the weekend? $3.5 million in IMAX. Yeah, no big deal, just a complete flex. Let’s break it down.
The Global Box Office Is Popping Off, But Demon Slayer‘s Still the One to Watch
Alright, let’s talk contenders. Right now, A Minecraft Movie holds the title for the biggest domestic box office hit of 2025. It’s got memes, it’s got pixels, and it’s got surprisingly decent storytelling (who knew?), and it crushed it in North America. But here’s the scoop: Demon Slayer might just obliterate it.
We all remember Mugen Train breaking records in 2020–2021, as the top-grossing Japanese film of all time and reaching over $500 million worldwide. Infinity Castle is now here with an even bigger budget, an even larger fan base, and even more emotional trauma (thank you, Ufotable).
So can it top Minecraft? Honestly, yes. Especially once it hits the US in September (Sony’s doing the rollout, btw), where anime movies are more mainstream than ever. If the international hype holds, Tanjiro and friends could leave Steve in the dust.
Moreover, this weekend’s been crazy on the international front. Superman went by $400M. Jurassic World Rebirth is walking in on $650M. F1 is racing past $460M due to word of mouth and crazy holds, and How to Train Your Dragon is almost at $600M.
But let’s get real, none of them made quite the impact Demon Slayer did in just one country. Studios actually pushed back their Japan releases just to not get roasted by Infinity Castle‘s debut. When Hollywood reschedules for your anime movie, that’s power.
What About Ne Zha 2? Is That Beatdown Possible?
Alright, let’s not forget the actual boss here: China’s Ne Zha 2, the current international box office king of 2025. It’s massive. Like, scary massive. So yeah, beating that might be a stretch. But hey, don’t count Tanjiro out just yet. Demon Slayer has already shown it can go toe-to-toe with the biggest global blockbusters.
Plus, with an insane global fanbase and an even bigger rollout coming, Infinity Castle seriously has a real chance at getting dangerously close to Ne Zha‘s throne. So here’s the deal: Japan’s just the beginning. The real party starts in September when Infinity Castle launches worldwide. US, Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia, everywhere with a heartbeat and Wi-Fi is about to get a taste of the madness.
Sony’s banking on a big theatrical launch, and if it’s even half as big as Mugen Train, this film will easily reach $600M+. Possibly more. And don’t forget the anime fanbase: They show up on Day 1, they watch ten times over, they buy merch, they cry in public, and they drag their friends along too. That’s not just an audience, that’s a movement.
So, this is Tanjiro’s year. Infinity Castle is already destroying records in Japan, and with the global release still to come, it’s got a real shot at becoming one of the biggest films of 2025. Will it beat A Minecraft Movie? Highly likely. Will it dethrone Ne Zha 2? That’s a taller mountain, but hey, never underestimate the power of anime pain. One thing’s certain: when Demon Slayer shows up, the box office bows down.
Demon Slayer anime is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
