Sony Pictures’ Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle has stormed to the top of the North American box office, earning an estimated $70 million in its opening weekend across the U.S. and Canada. The milestone marks the largest-ever debut for a Japanese anime film in the region.
The previous record was set back in 1999, when Pokémon: The First Movie — Mewtwo Strikes Back grossed $31 million on its opening weekend. Analysts had predicted sales between $60 million and $75 million for Infinity Castle, placing the result at the high end of expectations.
Global Success and Growing Influence
The film continues the story of Tanjiro Kamado, a young swordsman who joins a demon-hunting corps after his sister is transformed into a demon. It’s the first installment in a planned trilogy and is distributed internationally by Crunchyroll, Sony’s anime streaming platform.
Ahead of its North American debut, the movie had already generated about $280 million worldwide, adding to the extraordinary success of the Demon Slayer franchise. The original manga has sold more than 220 million copies globally and has inspired TV series, films, and video games.
Anime’s Rising Profile
Industry experts say the record-breaking opening underscores anime’s mainstream breakthrough in the U.S. market.
“Demon Slayer represents anime at its highest level, both creatively and commercially,” said Rob Pereyda, founder of anime consultancy Henshin. “While anime was once seen as niche or counterculture in America, today it brings a unique and refreshing perspective to fans everywhere.”
Sony has been leaning heavily into anime as part of its broader entertainment strategy. Earlier this year, the company scored another hit with KPop Demon Hunters on Netflix, which quickly became the platform’s most-watched original film ever within two months of release.
Sony’s Expanding Entertainment Empire
Anime is now a central pillar of Sony’s global entertainment business. With Aniplex producing original content, Crunchyroll connecting with fans, and Sony Pictures driving theatrical distribution, the company has built an ecosystem that maximizes both creative output and commercial reach.
Thanks in part to this strategy, Sony’s entertainment division — which also spans gaming, music, television, and film — now accounts for roughly 60% of the group’s total revenue.
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