Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Takes the Box Office by Storm with $33 Million Opening Day – Setting New Records for Anime!

Anime is making waves at the box office again. “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle” has kicked things off with a bang, raking in $33 million from its first day alone. This marks the highest opening day ever for an anime film, topping the previous record of $10.9 million set by “Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero” in 2022. It’s also poised to make history as the biggest opening weekend for anime, outpacing the $31 million record held by “Pokémon: The First Movie” since 1999.

“Infinity Castle” is just the start of a trilogy planned for the series. It’s available in both subtitled and dubbed formats, contributing to its impressive earnings. In IMAX theaters alone, it brought in $6.4 million on its opening Friday. Fans are thrilled, as shown by the high CinemaScore of “A” from early viewers. Globally, the film has already topped $279 million, with over $200 million coming from Japan, where it continues to dominate despite being out for eight weeks.

Sony’s Crunchyroll, which handles anime distribution, is redefining the market in North America. Since the pandemic, it’s been smooth sailing for titles like “Demon Slayer: Mugen Train,” which opened to great success in 2021. “Infinity Castle” is on course to potentially triple Mugen Train’s opening weekend. Interestingly, after strong performances from recent releases like “The Conjuring: Last Rites,” the September box office is smashing expectations.

While “Infinity Castle” leads the box office, several other films are vying for attention. “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” for instance, is projected to earn around $19.5 million this weekend after making $8.8 million on Friday. This sequel to the beloved British series shows that nostalgia still brings audiences to theaters. Fans have responded positively, giving it an “A” grade as well.

Lionsgate’s new Stephen King adaptation, “The Long Walk,” has also premiered, albeit with more modest projections around $11 million. Directed by Francis Lawrence, known for his work on “The Hunger Games,” the film has received mixed reviews, earning a “B” on CinemaScore from viewers.

Warner Bros. and New Line’s “The Conjuring: Last Rites” continues to hold strong in the second position, though it saw a 67% drop from its previous week. With earnings now hitting $113 million in just over a week, it ranks as one of the top releases of the year.

In the background, Disney’s re-release of “Toy Story” and the sequel “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues” have also made their marks, though neither is expected to break the top five.

Interestingly, the success of anime films in the U.S. points towards a growing trend. A recent report shows that anime viewership has increased by 29% among U.S. audiences in the last five years. This shift suggests an expanding appetite for diverse storytelling, highlighting the potential for future releases in the genre.

With strong performances from various films, it’s clear that audiences are eager to return to theaters. As new titles emerge, the landscape for both anime and traditional genres continues to evolve, making for an exciting time in Hollywood.



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