This weekend's box office saw a fierce battle for the top spot, with unexpected results. The anime phenomenon, *Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – the Movie: Infinity Castle*, continues its impressive run, projected to earn around $16 million, despite a significant 77 percent drop from its record-breaking opening weekend. Even with this decline, the film, distributed by Sony's Crunchyroll, remains a formidable force, boasting a massive global total of $419.2 million. Its continued success highlights the enduring power of anime in the North American market.
Challenging *Demon Slayer* for the number one position is *Him*, a psychological horror film produced by Jordan Peele. With a Friday gross of $6.4 million and a projected weekend total of $15 million, *Him* delivers a strong performance, though ultimately falling short of the anime giant. The film, starring Tyriq Withers as a talented NFL quarterback facing career-altering trauma, showcases a compelling premise but received a less-than-stellar C- CinemaScore from audiences.
Meanwhile, the weekend brought disappointment for Sony Pictures with the underperformance of *A Big Bold Beautiful Journey*. Despite starring Margot Robbie in her first leading role since the *Barbie* phenomenon, the romantic fantasy only managed a projected $3.8 million, landing it in sixth place. The film, directed by Kogonada and featuring Colin Farrell, received a B- CinemaScore and mixed reviews, highlighting the unpredictable nature of box office success even with high-profile talent.
Rounding out the top five are *The Conjuring: The Last Rites* (projected $12.1 million), *The Long Walk* ($6.4 million), and *Downton Abbey: The Finale* ($6.1 million). The diverse range of genres represented in the top five underscores the varied tastes of moviegoers and the challenges faced by studios in predicting box office winners.
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Originally published at: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/box-office-demon-slayer-edging-out-him-for-no-1-1236376666/
