Anime Film “Demon Slayer” Shatters Box Office Expectations, Signals Rising Global Interest
LOS ANGELES – “Demon slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle” has become the most profitable anime film in U.S. history just days after its release,exceeding industry predictions and signaling a surge in global anime popularity. The film earned $33 million domestically on its opening day,surpassing the $31 million debut of the 1999 Pokémon film – previously the benchmark for anime success in the U.S. – and has already amassed $555 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.
The unexpected success of “Demon Slayer“ underscores a growing appetite for anime content, notably among younger audiences. Streaming platform Spotify reported a 395% increase in global anime music streams between 2021 and 2024, with nearly 70% of that consumption driven by users under 29. This trend suggests anime is moving beyond a niche interest and becoming a mainstream cultural force.
“That this movie will dominate [home cash registers], I think no one could predict that,” according to reporting from CNN. Paul Dergarabedian,a senior media analyst for Box Office Mojo,commented on the film’s success,stating,”I think studies and cinemas should be very satisfied if it becomes a trend instead of deviation from normal. This would add another category of films to the offer of potential content that can be projected on a large screen.”
