“Demon Slayer” Shatters Box Office Records, Becoming First anime Film to Top domestic Charts
“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle Arc” has made anime history, surging to the top of the domestic box office in it’s second weekend and outpacing new releases like “The Conjuring: last Rites” and “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.” The film’s success marks a watershed moment for anime distribution in the United States, demonstrating a previously untapped mainstream audience and signaling a potential shift in Hollywood’s approach to international animation.
The record-breaking performance of Demon Slayer-earning an estimated $26 million to $27 million-is particularly notable as it competes directly with horror films for younger audiences.This achievement comes as The Conjuring: Last Rites falls to second place and Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale debuts in third with approximately $19 million or more. Both Demon Slayer and Downton Abbey received an A CinemaScore, indicating strong audience reception.
Lionsgate’s dystopian thriller The Long Walk, based on a Stephen King novel, opened in fourth place with an estimated $11 million to $12 million, earning a B+ CinemaScore. Disney’s rerelease of Pixar’s Toy Story, celebrating its 30th anniversary, rounded out the top five with $3.2 million to $3.8 million.
Further down the charts, Rob Reiner’s sequel Spinal Tap II: The End Continues is projected to open in ninth or tenth place with $1.7 million to $2 million, receiving an A- CinemaScore. The film is a continuation of Reiner’s cult-classic mockumentary.
