Anime is back on top of the box office, with “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle” earning $33 million across Friday and preview screenings from 3,315 locations. That’s the biggest opening day domestic gross ever for an anime film, crushing the previous $10.9 million high-mark set by “Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero” in 2022. Not only that, it’s also already the biggest opening weekend ever for anime, surging past the $31 million record held by “Pokémon: The First Movie – Mewtwo Strikes Back” since 1999 (though “Mewtwo Strikes Back” debuted on a Wednesday, playing for two full days before the traditional three-day frame).
“Infinity Castle,” the first installment in what is meant to be a series-capping trilogy for the property, is playing in both subtitled and dubbed versions, plus it has a revenue boost from playing premium large format theaters. “Demon Slayer” did $6.4 million domestic in Imax theaters alone on Friday. Reviews are positive for the film and early audiences adore it, with moviegoer survey firm CinemaScore polling a robust “A” grade. But stateside grosses are also just the latest success for the anime epic. “Infinity Castle” has already earned more than $279 million globally, including more than $200 million in its native Japan. There, it still ranks as the No. 1 release eight weeks into release. It has become the country’s third-highest-grossing release of all time.
Sony’s anime distribution banner, Crunchyroll, is setting a new ceiling for anime in North America. Back in 2021, the label delivered one of the industry’s first substantial theatrical performers after COVID lockdowns with “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train.” That movie was a toast for theater owners at a $20 million opening — a number that “Infinity Castle” could triple. After “The Conjuring: Last Rites” surged far above initial projections last weekend with a stunning $84 million debut, the September box office is performing well above the industry’s modest expectations going into the month.
But beyond exhibitors, it’s also a welcome result for Sony itself, which just finished a quiet summer blockbuster season. Anime tends to be front-loaded at the box office, as eager fans flock to the earliest screenings possible, so how the rest of the weekend shakes out depends on Saturday holds. (Current estimates are at $56 million, while some rivals are foreseeing north of $60 million.) “Infinity Castle” could even beat “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” ($56.5 million) to become Sony’s biggest domestic opener in over two years.
While “Infinity Castle” is the winner for the weekend, theaters are also welcoming several other new wide releases. There’s “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” another play at putting a beloved TV property on the big screen, this one from Universal’s specialty label Focus Features. Along with that, Lionsgate is debuting the grim Stephen King adaptation “The Long Walk,” while Bleecker Street has the comedy legacy sequel “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.”
“Downton Abbey” has the edge for third place, earning $8.8 million from 3,694 sites across Friday and preview screenings. The big-screen continuation of the British period series is projecting $19.5 million for its opening — up from the prior entry “Downton Abbey: A New Era,” which debuted to $16 million in May 2022. Reviews have been strong on “The Grand Finale,” and the film delivered for fans with a glowing “A” grade on CinemaScore.
Meanwhile, Lionsgate is eyeing a fourth place bow for “The Long Walk,” which paced itself to $4.76 million across Friday and preview screenings from 2,845 locations. Projections are now for an opening north of $11 million for the existential thriller, directed by “Hunger Games” franchise steward Francis Lawrence. It’s no breakout, but it’s a substantial start against a lean production budget of $20 million. Reviews have been very positive, though moviegoers are more mixed, turning in a “B” grade on CinemaScore.
Back up in second place, Warner Bros. and New Line’s “The Conjuring: Last Rites” cast out another $8.4 million on Friday, down 67% from its daily total a week ago. The supposed final chapter for Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson’s paranormal dream team has already earned $113 million in North America, ranking as the 14th-biggest release of the year after just eight days in theaters.
Disney’s re-release of “Toy Story” hit $1.1 million in 2,375 theaters. The 30th anniversary reissue of Pixar’s first feature looks to round out the top five.
Further down, “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues” earned about $820,000 across Friday and previews in 1,919 locations. It will be lucky to debut in the top 10. The Bleecker Street-distributed sequel to the now canonized 1984 rock-doc parody “This Is Spinal Tap” sees director Rob Reiner reunite with funnymen Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer for a follow-up that sends up the modern era of rocker farewell tours. Reviews just lean positive, though the target audience had a great time with an “A-” grade on CinemaScore.
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