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.
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.
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.
Demon Slayer and Grand Finale each received an A.
With a plethora of new releases, including the record-breaking U, the box office is continuing its unexpected September bloom this weekend. S. Infinity Castle, the Japanese anime sequel to Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, makes its debut. In charge of the film is Crunchyroll, which is owned by Sony.
With a weekend total of anywhere between $56 million and $65 million (Sony is sticking with the lower figure), the film is on track to have the highest opening ever for an anime film at the North American box office, based on a massive $33 million Friday haul, which included $11.4 million in previews.
Tracking going into the weekend indicated that the Demon Slayer would open to $35–40 million, but some believed that $50 million was much more likely. Now that both audiences and critics have embraced it, its rating is even higher.
The first feature film in the three-part cinematic trilogy, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle, depicts the decisive battle of the wildly successful and critically acclaimed anime shonen series from renowned animation studio Ufotable.
When the movie made its debut in Japan in July, it also broke box office records there. It has so far raised close to $280 million worldwide.
The final arc of Koyoharu Gotouge’s best-selling manga series is adapted in Infinity Castle, which was directed by Haruo Sotozaki. As the Demon Slayer Corps launches a final attack against the demon king Muzan Kibutsuji, voice cast regulars Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Inosuke), Akari Kitō (Nezuko), Hiro Shimono (Zenitsu), and Natsuki Hanae (Tanjiro) make a comeback. A division of the Sony Group called Aniplex contributed to the movie’s funding. With Imax releases scheduled in more than 40 countries worldwide, Toho, Aniplex, and Crunchyroll handle international distribution.
Additionally, the movie had record-breaking performance at Imax Japan and Imax theaters across North America.
Warner Bros. and New Line’s The Conjuring: Last Rites is undoubtedly vying for younger audiences with Demon Slayer, dropping to second place in its second weekend. The record-breaking film is expected to make between $26 million and $27 million.
Downton Abbey, the final big-screen adaptation of the popular British series, is expected to debut for at least $19 million, placing it in third place. The audience and positive reviews for Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale are also helping the show.
Based on a Stephen King novel, Lionsgate’s dystopian The Long Walk is opening in fourth place with an estimated $11–$12 million. The film received a B+ CinemaScore, which is typical for the genre. Grand Finale received an A, as did Demon Slayer.
In honor of Pixar’s groundbreaking animated film Toy Story’s 30th anniversary, Disney is rereleasing the film this weekend to a resounding audience. With a gratifying $3.2 million to $3.8 million, the picture appears to complete the top five.
