The first chapter of the "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle Arc" movie, "Akaza's Return," officially premiered last Friday (July 18) in Japan. Its record-shattering box office performance is making history, turning the film into a must-see cinematic event across the nation.
However, with such an overwhelming turnout, Japanese netizens on X have been sharing cinema announcements revealing that the massive crowds have caused theater ice machines to break down. Some fans even arrived to find all the snacks completely sold out, sparking widespread discussion online.
One netizen posted an announcement from a cinema in Nagoya, stating:
Due to the explosive popularity of "Demon Slayer," we've experienced an unprecedented surge in visitors over the past few days. Our ice machines have been overwhelmed and cannot produce ice fast enough. Therefore, we are temporarily unable to provide ice for beverages. Cold drinks will be served "without ice." We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Thank you.
Given Japan's current scorching heat, drinking a cold beverage without ice is certainly a bummer. Netizens reacted with comments like: "Are you kidding me?! Demon Slayer is truly on another level..."
It wasn't just the cinema the original poster visited; other netizens shared similar experiences at their local theaters. It seems these cinemas' capacities are truly being tested by the "Demon Slayer" craze!
Fans also joked, "The ice machine broke down! Upper Rank Two, Doma, quick, use your Blood Demon Art to make some ice! Get to work, Doma!"
While a broken ice machine might seem minor, some netizens reported that on opening day, even popcorn was completely gone, with "sold out" signs plastered over all the food items. They were stunned to find a cinema completely out of snacks!
Another netizen pointed out that the parking lot near their home cinema, which usually takes only 30 seconds to enter, was completely gridlocked on opening day, causing a half-hour delay. They never anticipated such a traffic nightmare.
These incidents, of course, perfectly illustrate the frenzied crowds for "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle Arc" Chapter 1: Akaza's Return. As box office numbers continue to skyrocket, these unbelievable phenomena are occurring right alongside them. With a staggering 7.3 billion yen crossed in just four days, hitting 10 billion within a week seems like a sure bet!