In a historic milestone for the anime industry, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle - Akaza Sairai, the first film in the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle trilogy, has officially overtaken Studio Ghibli’s iconic Spirited Away to claim the title of Japan’s second highest-grossing film of all time. As of September 15, 2025, the film has earned an astonishing ¥33,056,606,000 (approximately US$224 million) at the Japanese box office, with 23,042,671 tickets sold in just 60 days since its domestic release on July 18, 2025. This achievement places it behind only its predecessor, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train, which holds the top spot with ¥40.75 billion (approximately US$277 million).
The rapid ascent of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle - Akaza Sairai has shattered multiple box office records in Japan. The film achieved the fastest climb to ¥30 billion, reaching this milestone in a mere 46 days, outpacing both Spirited Away and Mugen Train. It also secured the record for the highest opening weekend in Japanese box office history, grossing ¥5.52 billion (approximately US$37.42 million) and the highest single-day revenue ever in Japan with ¥2.03 billion (approximeately US$13.76 million) on its opening Sunday. By its eighth day, the film had crossed ¥10 billion (approximately US$66.8 million), setting another record as the fastest to reach that mark in Japanese cinema history.
The post also notes that Infinity Castle has earned 68.01 billion yen worldwide, selling more than 55 million tickets after its huge debut across North America, Australia, Europe, South America, and beyond. This makes it only the second Japanese film to ever surpass 50 billion yen globally, with the first and biggest still being Mugen Train.
Data from South Korea’s box office tracker KOBIS shows the movie has grossed US$35.27 million from 4.49 million admissions, ranking as the country’s second most successful foreign release behind F1. In Taiwan, distributor Muse reported earnings of NT$740 million (US$24.37 million) from 2.35 million tickets, placing it eighth all-time in the region and pushing past Top Gun: Maverick.
Directed by Haruo Sotozaki and produced by Ufotable, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle - Akaza Sairai adapts the Infinity Castle arc, the first half of the Final Battle arc from Koyoharu Gotouge’s manga series. The film serves as the fourth cinematic installment in the Demon Slayer franchise, following Mugen Train (2020), To the Swordsmith Village (2023), and To the Hashira Training (2024). Distributed by Aniplex and Toho in Japan and by Crunchyroll through Sony Pictures Releasing worldwide, the film has been praised for its high-stakes narrative and visually stunning animation, continuing the franchise’s reputation for delivering emotionally resonant storytelling and breathtaking action sequences.
The film’s global box office total currently stands at US$352.9 million, with international markets contributing US$282.9 million. In Japan, it has solidified its position as the highest-grossing film of 2025 and the third highest-grossing film of all time before surpassing Spirited Away. The achievement marks a significant moment for the anime industry, as Demon Slayer continues to redefine the genre’s commercial potential, both domestically and internationally. With its current trajectory, industry analysts speculate that the film could challenge Mugen Train’s record as Japan’s highest-grossing film, though it remains approximately ¥9 billion short of that milestone.
Crunchyroll’s official description of the film provides insight into its narrative scope:
Tanjiro Kamado – a boy who joined an organization dedicated to hunting down demons called the Demon Slayer Corps after his younger sister Nezuko was turned into a demon. While growing stronger and deepening his friendships and bonds with fellow corps members, Tanjiro has battled many demons with his comrades – Zenitsu Agatsuma and Inosuke Hashibira. Along the way, his journey has led him to fight alongside the Demon Slayer Corps’ highest-ranking swordsmen, the Hashira, including Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku aboard the Mugen Train, Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui within the Entertainment District, as well as Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito and Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji at the Swordsmith Village. As the Demon Slayer Corps members and Hashira engaged in a group strength training program, the Hashira Training, in preparation for the forthcoming battle against the demons, Muzan Kibutsuji appears at the Ubuyashiki Mansion. With the head of the Demon Corps in danger, Tanjiro and the Hashira rush to the headquarters but are plunged into a deep descent to a mysterious space by the hands of Muzan Kibutsuji. The destination of where Tanjiro and Demon Slayer Corps have fallen is the demons’ stronghold – the Infinity Castle. And so, the battleground is set as the final battle between the Demon Slayer Corps and the demons ignites.
You can watch the trailer for the film below:
As Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle - Akaza Sairai continues its theatrical run, its record-breaking performance underscores the growing global influence of anime and the enduring appeal of the Demon Slayer franchise. With two more films planned in the trilogy, the series is poised to further cement its legacy as a cultural and commercial juggernaut.
Sources: Kogyo Tsushin, Demon Slayer on X, Muse on Instagram, KOBIS
