The anime wave has finally landed in India. Hindustan Times wrote that Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba : Infinity Castle collected a massive ₹40 crore net on its first weekend in India at the box office, surpassing Bollywood action film Baaghi 4 (₹31 crore) and Sunny Deol's Jaat (₹23 crore). For an anime film to outperform mainstream Bollywood blockbusters in India is unprecedented and signals a turning point for the genre’s popularity in the country.
The movie is the first part of a three-film series wrapping up the Demon Slayer franchise, had already broken records in Japan since its launch in July. On September 12, it launched in more international markets such as Asia and North America.
Anime dominates US box office with record-breaking debut
In North America, the movie has shattered every expectation. NBC News, quoting figures from Comscore, reports that Infinity Castle earned $70 million over its opening weekend, the largest domestic debut for an anime movie ever. It topped Pokémon: The First Movie (1999), which held the previous record of $31 million.
The Associated Press, through NBC News, further added that the worldwide weekend box office figure was $132.1 million, making it the most successful anime opening in history. Box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian explained to the publication that the success of the movie served as a reminder of the unpredictability of the box office, since few would have expected a Japanese anime leading the way against a Conjuring sequel.
The increasing worldwide power of Demon Slayer
Aside from the figures, the success reflects the increasing impact of anime globally. The movie tracks Tanjiro Kamado and his companions as they encounter their final fights inside the Infinity Castle, a plot that was long-awaited by the fans. Its rich visuals and action-filled narrative, developed by Ufotable Studio, have been both a cultural and financial titan.
With a global tally now exceeding $353 million, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is not only sweeping Indian and American theaters but also demonstrating that anime can take on and even surpass the largest franchises in the world. For fans, it is not just a movie, it is an experience where their passion has finally gone mainstream.
