Sony and Crunchyroll’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle is storming the domestic box office, on track for a stunning opening weekend of $56 million to $60 million or more after earning a massive $33 million on Friday. The performance not only marks the biggest anime opening in U.S. history but also gives Sony its largest debut of 2025 so far.
While anime films are typically front-loaded, with Saturday projections expected to drop to around $19.5 million, some analysts believe the film could surge as high as $70 million. The opening surpasses all of Sony’s major 2024 releases, including Venom: The Last Dance ($51M) and Bad Boys: Ride or Die ($56.5M), making it the studio’s most successful launch since Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse ($120.6M) in June 2023.
The film’s blockbuster potential became clear when advance tickets set an anime record, pulling in $10 million over five days. For its devoted fanbase, Infinity Castle represents a pivotal, Empire Strikes Back-style moment in the franchise. This enthusiasm was reflected in its ‘A’ CinemaScore from audiences, the highest grade for any film in the series.
Crunchyroll’s targeted and efficient marketing strategy proved highly effective, with Sony spending only $74,000 on linear TV ads. This is a fraction of the promotional budgets for competitors like Lionsgate’s The Long Walk ($3.5M) and Focus Features’ Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale ($5.7M).
Premium large formats and IMAX are driving a significant 44% of the weekend gross. The film is performing well nationwide, with particular strength in the West. Demographics show a broad appeal, led by Hispanic and Latino audiences (37%), followed by Caucasian (27%), Black (16%), and Asian (14%) viewers, with a 57% male skew. The film has already amassed an international total of $350 million, primarily from Japan.
Elsewhere at the box office, The Conjuring: Last Rites is holding strong in second place with a projected $27 million in its sophomore weekend.
Focus Features’ Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale successfully captured an older audience as counterprogramming, opening in third place with an estimated $19.5 million. This debut surpasses that of its predecessor, A New Era ($16M), and earned the franchise its third consecutive ‘A’ CinemaScore. The film is attracting a heavily female audience (72%), with 56% of viewers over the age of 55, and is showing strong results across the country, not just in major coastal cities.
In fourth place, Lionsgate’s Stephen King adaptation The Long Walk is struggling, with an opening projection of $11 million to $12.5 million. The film’s target demographic of 18-to-34-year-olds was largely captured by Demon Slayer. Despite direction from Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games), the film’s cast of newcomers and its perceived anti-military message may have limited its broader appeal.
Meanwhile, Bleecker Street’s sequel Spinal Tap II: The End Continues failed to find an audience, opening to a disappointing $1.55 million from 1,920 theaters. While the mockumentary received strong support at its Hollywood premiere, its performance suggests its core audience will likely discover it through home ancillary markets, much like the original cult classic. The film earned an A- CinemaScore from the few who attended, who were predominantly male (74%) and over 45 (60%).
Overall, the weekend box office is projected to reach approximately $147 million, a 57% increase over the same frame last year.
