Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Breaks Korean Box Office Records with 1.15M Viewers in Two Days
Anime blockbuster achieves biggest 2025 opening despite cultural controversies
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie: Infinity Castle has dominated Korean theaters since its August 22 release, collecting $4.4 million on opening day with 544,000 admissions-the biggest opening day of 2025. By its second day, the film attracted an additional 606,333 viewers, bringing total attendance to 1.15 million in just 48 hours.
Record-Breaking Performance
The film earned approximately 10 times more than Demon Slayer: Mugen Train's $423,000 opening day collection in 2021. Korean audiences have embraced the anime with exceptional ratings of 9.7 on CGV and 9.5 on Megabox, equivalent to an A+ CinemaScore.
Industry projections suggest the film could earn $14-17 million during its opening weekend, potentially setting the record for the highest-grossing animation opening in Korean box office history.
Cultural Tensions and Box Office Success
The film's release timing sparked controversy, coinciding with Korea's Liberation Day celebrations commemorating independence from Japanese colonial rule. The LG Twins baseball team canceled plans for Demon Slayer characters to throw ceremonial first pitches after swift backlash.
However, Korean moviegoers have historically separated entertainment from politics. Mugen Train attracted 2.2 million Korean viewers in 2021 despite similar controversies, proving the franchise's enduring appeal transcends cultural sensitivities.
Chasing Animation Records
The film now targets two major Korean milestones: surpassing Mugen Train's 2.2 million total attendance and challenging Suzume's 5.06 million admissions record as the highest-grossing Japanese film in Korean history.
Global Phenomenon
Infinity Castle has already earned ¥1.64 billion ($11.1 million) on its Japanese opening day, setting a new record for highest first-day gross in Japanese cinema history. The film's Japanese total now stands at approximately $167.6 million with 17.7 million admissions, positioning it to become the fifth highest-grossing film in Japanese history.
Worldwide, the film has crossed $209.8 million, making it the 10th anime movie to reach the $200 million milestone.
What's Next
Based on Koyoharu Gotouge's manga series with over 220 million copies sold, Infinity Castle is the first part of a trilogy concluding the Demon Slayer story. The film depicts the climactic battle in the demon fortress where the Demon Slayer Corps faces their ultimate challenge against elite demons.
With its remarkable Korean debut and upcoming North American release on September 12, Infinity Castle appears positioned to match or exceed the global success of its predecessor, which earned over $500 million worldwide.