Box Office: Japan’s Anime Blockbuster ‘Demon Slayer Infinity Castle’ Scoring Record U.S. Opening

Talk about an unexpected September bloom at the box office that continues this weekend with a cornucopia of new offerings, led by the record-smashing U.S. debut of the Japanese anime sequel Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – the Movie Infinity Castle. The Sony-owned Crunchyroll is handling the movie.

Based on a huge Friday haul of $33 million, including $11.4 million in previews, the pic is on course to score the top opening ever for an anime title at the North American box office with a weekend haul of anywhere from $56 million to $65 million (Sony is staying on the conservative side and sticking with the lower figure).

Heading into the weekend, tracking suggested the Demon Slayer would open to $35 million to $40 million; others thought $50 million was far more likely. Now, it’s coming in even higher after being embraced by critics and audiences alike.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castleis the first feature film in the three-part cinematic trilogy representing the final battle of the hugely popular, award-winning anime shonen series from famed animation studio Ufotable.

The film has likewise done record-smashing business in Japan, where it debuted in July. Its global tally is nearly $280 million to date.

Directed by Haruo Sotozaki, Infinity Castle adapts the final arc of Koyoharu Gotouge’s best-selling manga series. Voice cast regulars Natsuki Hanae (Tanjiro), Akari Kitō (Nezuko), Hiro Shimono (Zenitsu) and Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Inosuke) return as the Demon Slayer Corps embarks on a climactic assault against the demon king Muzan Kibutsuji. The film was co-financed by Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Group. International distribution is set to begin Sept. 12 via Toho, Aniplex and Crunchyroll, with Imax releases planned in over 40 territories worldwide.

The film also posted historic results for Imax Japan; ditto for Imax screens in North America.

Warner Bros. and New Line’s The Conjuring: Last Rites is falling to second place in its second weekend, and is no doubt competing with Demon Slayer for younger moviegoers. Estimates show that the record-breaking movie earned between $26 million and $27 million.

The final big screen adaptation of the beloved British show Downton Abbey looks to come in third with a debut in the $19 million or more. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is likewise benefiting from glowing reviews and audience.

Lionsgate’s dystopian The Long Walk, based on a Stephen King novel, is opening in fourth place with an estimated $11 million to $12 million. The pic earned a B+ CinemaScore, not unusual for the genre. Demon Slayer and Grand Finale each received an A.

In celebrating the 30th anniversary of Pixar’s seminal animated film Toy Story, Disney is rereleasing the movie this weekend to strong numbers. The pic looks to round out the top five with a pleasing $3.2 million to $3.8 million.

Rob Reiner’s sequel Spinal Tap II: The End Continues is on course to open in ninth or tenth place with $1.7 million to $2 million. The sequel to Reiner’s cult-classic mockumentary earned an A- CinemaScore.