Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle Arc: Part 1 Akaza Returns debuted at No.1 in Japan’s latest cinema ranking, earning ¥5.52 billion ($37.6M) and drawing 3.84 million viewers in its first three days (July 18–20). The film surpassed the record-breaking opening of the 2020 hit Mugen Train and achieved top figures for opening, first-day, and single-day performances.

Record-Breaking Opening

According to Kogyo Tsushinsha, the film earned ¥5.52 billion ($37.6M) during its opening weekend, from July 18 to 20, with an audience of 3.84 million. This surpasses the previous record set by Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, which had ¥4.62 billion ($31.4M) and 3.42 million viewers during its first three days in 2020.

The film also set new records for first-day and single-day revenue. On July 18, its opening day, it attracted 1.15 million viewers and grossed ¥1.65 billion ($11.2M). On July 20, it recorded 1.42 million admissions and ¥2.04 billion ($13.9M), both historical highs in Japan.

Four-Day Totals and Franchise Momentum

Including July 21, the film’s four-day total has reached 5.16 million admissions and ¥7.3 billion ($49.7M). This strong performance positions Infinity Castle Arc: Part 1 Akaza Returns as one of the fastest-grossing films in Japan, further boosting the popularity of the Demon Slayer franchise.

The Demon Slayer story follows Tanjiro Kamado, a boy whose family is slaughtered by demons, as he joins the Demon Slayer Corps to restore his sister Nezuko, who has been turned into a demon. Since the anime’s first broadcast in April 2019, the franchise has expanded through TV series, films, and global screenings.

Based on the hit manga that ran in Weekly Shonen Jump from February 2016 to May 2020, Demon Slayer is set in the Taisho era, in a world plagued by man-eating demons. It follows Tanjiro Kamado, a young boy who joins the Demon Slayer Corps to avenge his family and restore his demon-transformed sister Nezuko back into a human. The manga has sold over 220 million copies worldwide.

The anime series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc aired in 2019, quickly becoming a sensation. The 2020 release of Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Arc went on to gross over 51.7 billion yen globally, solidifying its status as a cultural phenomenon.

Following its success, the franchise expanded into video games and stage plays, with new anime arcs airing in December 2021 (Entertainment District Arc), April 2023 (Swordsmith Village Arc), and from May to June 2024 (Hashira Training Arc).

The new film trilogy, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Arc, depicts the Demon Slayer Corps’ climactic battle against their arch-nemesis Muzan Kibutsuji and the Upper Rank demons. Part 1, Akaza Reappears, centers on the corps’ incursion into the demons’ stronghold—the Infinity Castle.

Teaser Trailer

Source : ORICON NEWS