by (CNN) The anime film “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Castle Arc Chapter 1: Akaza Returns” has opened in North America. Its opening weekend box office gross is estimated at $70 million, the highest ever for an anime film.
Distributed by Crunchyroll, a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment, the film earned $33 million in just 12 days, surpassing the $31 million grossed by 1999’s “Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back.” “Mugen Castle Arc” also marks the highest opening yet for a “Demon Slayer” film.
The previous records were $21 million for “Mugen Train Arc” released in 2021 and $11.5 million for “Pokémon: The First Hour” released in 2024. “It’s a surprise hit,” said Paul Dergarabedian of research firm Comscore, noting, “No one could have predicted the dominance this film would have (at the North American box office).” He also called “Infinity Castle” a “box office giant.”
Comscore data indicates it had the sixth-highest opening of all time for a September release. Shawn Robbins, founder and owner of box office analysis site Box Office Theory, said animated films “have been building toward this kind of success for years.” “It’s culminating in a blockbuster-level box office success that kicks off the final trilogy,” he said, adding that the genre continues to grow in the U.S., especially among younger generations, particularly those in Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Warner Bros.’
“The Conjuring 2” came in second with $26.1 million for the weekend. In third place went Focus Features’ “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” with $18.1 million. In fourth place was Lionsgate’s “The Long Walk,” based on Stephen King’s “The Long Walk,” with $11.5 million. While movies appealing to audiences of all ages and genres continued to do well this weekend, horror films are gaining traction as we head into the fall. Dergarabedian said this month’s “carefully curated” lineup of releases could keep ticket sales strong in the coming weeks. Jordan Peele’s new film “HIM” is also due to open this month.
