Since its debut in Japan, "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Infinity Castle Arc Chapter 1: Akaza Returns" has absolutely dominated the box office, sweeping through Asian markets with incredible numbers and sparking a global pilgrimage for fans in the US and beyond.
On October 17, producer and distributor Aniplex announced that as of October 13, the film's global cumulative box office had soared past approximately 94.8 billion JPY, attracting a staggering 77.53 million viewers worldwide. This monumental success officially crowns the movie as the fifth highest-grossing film globally for 2025 (according to Sony Pictures Entertainment), reaching unprecedented heights for a Japanese animated film.
After its US release on September 12, "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Infinity Castle Arc Chapter 1: Akaza Returns" made history as the first Japanese animated film to top the North American box office for two consecutive weeks, with cumulative earnings exceeding $128.62 million. This not only makes "Demon Slayer" the highest-grossing foreign language film in North American box office history but also shatters a 25-year-old record.
Globally, the film had already become the highest-grossing Japanese film of all time by late September, and its record-breaking run continues to climb.
Toho, the film's distributor, released a statement of gratitude: "We extend our heartfelt thanks to every audience member who stepped into cinemas to watch this film, and to all the theaters and staff who helped bring this work to viewers around the world."
Starting October 18, Japanese cinemas will also be giving away the "6th round Koyuki illustration board" as a special moviegoer bonus.
While it hasn't yet surpassed "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train" at the Japanese box office, its worldwide cumulative gross has already claimed the top spot for Japanese films globally. This signifies that the "Infinity Castle Arc" viewing frenzy is truly a world-class phenomenon, with international earnings collectively outstripping its domestic performance. And the numbers are still soaring, continuing this unprecedented run almost three months after its release.