The latest installment of the anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, the theatrical film Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Arc Part 1: Akaza Returns (released July 18), has achieved remarkable box office success. In just 25 days, the film drew 15,698,202 admissions and grossed ¥22,072,191,500 ($150.4 million). This figure surpasses the ¥20.34 billion ($138.6 million) earned by ONE PIECE FILM RED (2022), placing it 6th in Japan’s all-time box office rankings.

Upon release, Akaza Returns shattered multiple records. Over its first three days, it grossed ¥5.524 billion ($37.6 million), setting new national records for opening day, opening weekend, and single-day earnings (Kogyo Tsushinsha). Within eight days, it became the fastest Japanese film in history to cross the ¥10 billion milestone, earning ¥10.518 billion ($71.6 million) with 7,505,702 admissions. The film continues to outpace the record-breaking performance of Mugen Train (2020), which holds the all-time domestic record of ¥40.43 billion.

Based on Koyoharu Gotouge’s hit manga serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from February 2016 to May 2020, Demon Slayer is set in Japan’s Taisho era, where demons prey on humans. The story follows Tanjiro Kamado, a boy whose family is slaughtered by demons, and his journey to join the Demon Slayer Corps in order to turn his demonized sister Nezuko back into a human and avenge his family. The manga has surpassed 220 million copies in circulation worldwide.

The anime adaptation began in April 2019 with the Unwavering Resolve Arc, followed by the record-shattering Mugen Train movie in October 2020, which grossed approximately ¥51.7 billion ($351.7 million) worldwide. Subsequent arcs include Entertainment District Arc (2021), Swordsmith Village Arc (2023), and Hashira Training Arc (2024). The ongoing Infinity Castle Arc is being produced as a trilogy, with Akaza Returns depicting the Demon Slayer Corps’ final battle against Muzan Kibutsuji and the Upper Rank Demons within the Infinity Castle.

Franchise Performance and Global Impact

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is based on the manga by Koyoharu Gotouge, serialized from February 2016 to May 2020 in Weekly Shonen Jump. The manga has surpassed 220 million copies in global circulation.

The anime began airing in 2019 with the Unwavering Resolve Arc. Mugen Train, released in 2020, became a cultural phenomenon with a global gross of approximately ¥51.7 billion ($351.7 million).

Since then, the franchise has expanded to include the Entertainment District Arc (2021), Swordsmith Village Arc (2023), and Hashira Training Arc (2024). The ongoing Infinity Castle Arc is being adapted as a trilogy, with Akaza Returns as the first installment. The film depicts the beginning of the final battle against Muzan Kibutsuji and the Upper Rank Demons inside the Infinity Castle.

Box Office Performance of Demon Slayer: Akaza Returns

(Released July 18, 2025)
Opening Day: ¥1,646,054,200 ($11.2 million), 1,155,637 admissions — Highest opening day in Japanese cinema history (Kogyo Tsushinsha)
First 3 Days: ¥5,524,298,500 ($37.6 million), 3,843,613 admissions — Highest opening weekend in Japanese cinema history (Kogyo Tsushinsha)
First 4 Days: ¥7,315,846,800 ($49.8 million), 5,164,348 admissions
First 10 Days: ¥12,872,176,700 ($87.6 million), 9,104,483 admissions
First 17 Days: ¥17,639,557,600 ($120.0 million), 12,558,582 admissions
First 25 Days: ¥22,072,191,500 ($150.4 million), 15,698,202 admissions

Box Office Performance of Demon Slayer: Mugen Train

(Released October 16, 2020)
Opening Day: ¥1,268,724,700 ($8.6 million), 910,507 admissions
First 3 Days: ¥4,623,117,450 ($31.4 million), 3,420,493 admissions
First 10 Days: ¥10,754,232,550 ($73.1 million), 7,983,442 admissions
First 17 Days: ¥15,799,365,450 ($107.4 million), 11,891,254 admissions
First 24 Days: ¥20,483,611,650 ($139.3 million), 15,373,943 admissions
First 31 Days: ¥23,349,291,050 ($158.8 million), 17,505,285 admissions
First 59 Days: ¥30,289,307,700 ($206.0 million), 22,539,385 admissions
First 101 Days: ¥36.5 billion ($248.3 million), 26.67 million admissions
First 220 Days: ¥40.01 billion ($272.1 million), 28.96 million admissions

Teaser Trailer

Source : ORICON NEWS