Sony's Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle has achieved a phenomenal box office debut, exceeding expectations with an estimated opening weekend gross of $56 million to $60 million. This marks not only the biggest anime opening in US history, but also Sony's largest opening of 2025, surpassing even last year's hits like Venom: The Last Dance and Bad Boys: Ride or Die. The film's Friday gross, including previews, reached a staggering $33 million, setting the stage for a record-breaking weekend. While Saturday saw a projected 41% drop, some analysts predict the film's final weekend total could even reach $70 million.
The film's success can be attributed to several factors. Its status as a pivotal moment in the Demon Slayer franchise – a crucial turning point likened to Empire Strikes Back – created immense anticipation among dedicated fans. Advance ticket sales, exceeding $10 million in just five days, broke anime records. CinemaScore audiences awarded it a solid A, the highest grade ever given to a Demon Slayer film. Furthermore, Crunchyroll's targeted marketing strategy, focusing on reaching the devoted fanbase with minimal linear advertising spend, proved highly effective. Ispot data shows a minimal linear TV ad budget of $74,000, significantly less than other contemporary releases. This contrasts sharply with the massive social media campaign, boasting 200 million followers across multiple platforms, generating overwhelmingly positive audience engagement.
Premium Large Format (PLF) and IMAX screenings accounted for a substantial 44% of the weekend's ticket sales, demonstrating the film's appeal to a wide demographic. The audience breakdown showcases diverse viewership, with 37% Hispanic and Latino viewers, followed by 27% Caucasian, 16% Black, and 14% Asian. The male audience made up 57% of the total viewership. The international box office performance is equally impressive, with a reported $350 million in overseas revenue, driven primarily by the film's home country of Japan.
Demon Slayer's strong performance overshadowed other weekend releases. The Long Walk, based on a Stephen King novel, opened at $11 million to $12.5 million, while the Downton Abbey: A New Era sequel performed better than expected, securing around $19.5 million. The Spinal Tap sequel, however, underperformed, only bringing in $1.55 million. Overall, the box office totaled approximately $147 million, marking a 57% increase compared to the same frame last year. This makes it the most successful mid-September box office weekend in the post-Covid era, reinforcing the power of targeted marketing and passionate fanbases in the current cinematic landscape.
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Originally published at: https://deadline.com/2025/09/box-office-demon-slayer-infinity-castle-conjuring-long-walk-1236529652/
