Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — Infinity Castle: Part 1 has made history as the first Japanese film to gross over ¥100 billion (RM2.69 billion) worldwide, its distributors Aniplex and Toho announced.
The film, which marks the beginning of a planned trilogy and follows protagonist Tanjiro Kamado in his final mission to defeat demons and restore his sister’s humanity, has drawn 89.17 million viewers globally since its international release in August. It premiered in North America earlier and opened in China last Friday.
In Japan, it stands as the second-highest-grossing film domestically, just behind the earlier Demon Slayer movie released during the Covid-19 pandemic—a blockbuster that surpassed Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away (2001).
Originally created by manga artist Koyoharu Gotouge and animated by studio Ufotable, Demon Slayer has received widespread acclaim for elevating anime cinematography. The latest film features vivid visual effects and high-intensity, fast-paced combat scenes set within an infinite multi-layered castle.
Unlike other major franchises such as One Piece, which spans over 100 volumes, Demon Slayer‘s manga consists of just 23 volumes, making its success particularly noteworthy.
While anime continues to dominate Japan’s entertainment landscape, its global appeal has surged. In 2025, the Chinese animated fantasy Ne Zha II became the highest-grossing film worldwide, and Netflix’s most-watched movie to date is KPop Demon Hunters, also an animated feature.
Demon Slayer’s latest milestone underscores the growing worldwide influence of anime as a powerhouse in modern cinema.
