The anime blockbuster Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle has once again stunned the movie world, claiming the top spot at the North American box office this weekend with an impressive $17.3 million in ticket sales. UPI+2Boxoffice Pro+2
This marks the film’s second straight weekend in first place, even as new releases like Him and A Big Bold Beautiful Journey tried to challenge its reign—but ultimately fell short. Yahoo News+3Boxoffice Pro+3EW.com+3
What’s behind the success?
- The $17.3M weekend pushed Demon Slayer’s domestic total past $100 million in North America, now sitting around $104.7 million. That’s historic territory for an anime feature. Boxoffice Pro+2Reddit+2
- It’s not just a win—it’s a record-breaker. The film has now become the highest-grossing anime film ever in North America. Boxoffice Pro+1
- Globally, the momentum remains strong: Infinity Castle has crossed $555 million in total earnings, making it not only the highest-grossing Japanese film ever but also a defining movie of 2025 in world box offices. Boxoffice Pro+1
Challenges & drops
Of course, like many major films in their second week, Demon Slayer saw a steep drop—about 70-75% compared to its opening weekend. That’s a big decline, but not unusual for high-profile anime releases, which often front-load most of their audience. Boxoffice Pro+1
Still, even with that drop, it managed to out-earn its competitors by a comfortable margin. JoBlo+1
Why fans are flocking
- The anime has been praised for its animation quality, emotional story arcs, and faithful adaptation of fan-favorite manga material. Wikipedia+1
- Strong pre-release buzz, packed theaters for opening screenings, positive word of mouth, and the growing popularity of anime in North America have all played a big role.
- It also benefits from softer competition this weekend; while he and A Big Bold Beautiful Journey launched, they didn’t connect as strongly with audiences. Boxoffice Pro+2EW.com+2
What’s next for Demon Slayer?
If current trends hold, Infinity Castle could continue to add significant box office revenue over the next week or two. While steep weekend drops are expected, its strong base means it likely has more runway. It may even extend its lead over past top anime films like Mugen Train. Boxoffice Pro+1
In a crowded movie season, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle isn’t just surviving—it’s dominating. If you haven’t seen it yet, this might be your chance to find out what everyone’s talking about.