Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle is carving out its own legend as it tears through U.S. theatres, officially claiming the title of the highest-grossing international film in American history. After just one month in release, the anime epic has earned over US$128.6 million in North America at the time of writing, edging past the long-standing record of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), which held the crown for over two decades. What began as a niche manga has grown into a full-scale phenomenon, and now Demon Slayer stands shoulder to shoulder with the biggest cinematic imports ever screened in the United States.
This milestone puts Infinity Castle in rarefied air. Its current U.S. total nudges Life is Beautiful (1997) into third place, while Godzilla Minus One (2024), Parasite (2019), Hero (2002), and Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) continue to round out the top ten. As international films go, few have crossed into this kind of mainstream awareness, and fewer still have done it through animation. For Demon Slayer, this level of success is not a surprise but a continuation of its meteoric rise that began with Mugen Train in 2020.
Adapting the climactic Infinity Castle arc from Koyoharu Gotouge’s manga, the film finds Tanjiro Kamado diving into the heart of a demonic fortress. It’s here that the stakes escalate sharply, laying the foundation for a trilogy that will eventually bring the Demon Slayer saga to its conclusion. The sheer scale and intensity of the battles have resonated with fans, many of whom have followed Tanjiro’s journey from day one. That loyalty has translated into full-house screenings and repeat viewings, giving the film impressive staying power well beyond opening weekend.
Globally, Infinity Castle continues to dominate. It has pulled in approximately US$648 million worldwide according to Box Office Mojo, making it the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2025 and outpacing titles like How to Train Your Dragon. It now ranks as the eighth highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, even overtaking The Passion of the Christ (2004).
As it climbs these charts, the film is also redefining what’s possible for anime in the global mainstream. No longer confined to niche audiences or late-night screenings, anime has proven it can hold its own (and thrive!) next to Hollywood blockbusters. With two more instalments on the way, Demon Slayer shows no signs of letting up.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Caleb from Love and Deepspace.
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