Demon Slayer Movie Shatters Korea's Japanese Film Box Office Record
The anime blockbuster "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle" has officially dethroned Makoto Shinkai's "Suzume" as the highest-grossing Japanese film in South Korean cinema history. The record fell after just 79 days in theaters.
Breaking the Two-Year Record
CJ ENM confirmed that "Infinity Castle" surpassed 5.59 million admissions, edging past "Suzume's" 5.589 million record set in 2023. The film opened nationwide on August 22, 2025, and immediately dominated with 920,000 advance ticket sales-the highest pre-sale figure of the year.
The anime's box office run has been remarkable. It hit one million viewers in two days, crossed three million in 10 days, and reached four million by day 18. These milestones made it the fastest film to reach each benchmark in 2025.
Chasing This Year's Top Spot
"Infinity Castle" is now closing in on "My Daughter is a Zombie," the current 2025 box office leader with 5.636 million admissions. If the anime overtakes the Korean comedy-horror, it would become the year's overall champion-a rare achievement for a Japanese release competing against domestic films.
The film earned over $42 million in South Korea through October, maintaining the number-one position for four consecutive weekends after opening.
Record-Breaking Japanese Performance
The film's Korean success mirrors its performance in Japan, where it has become a cultural phenomenon. "Infinity Castle" has grossed over 37.5 billion yen in its home market, ranking as one of the highest-grossing films in Japanese cinema history.
The movie broke multiple records on its July 18 opening, including the highest single-day gross in Japanese box office history with 1.64 billion yen. It now sits alongside the 2020 "Demon Slayer: Mugen Train" (40.8 billion yen) as the franchise's two biggest releases in Japan.
About the Franchise
"Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" originated as a manga by Koyoharu Gotouge, serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from February 2016 to May 2020. The series has sold over 220 million copies worldwide, making it one of history's best-selling manga.
Studio ufotable adapted the series into an anime in 2019, earning widespread praise for its animation quality. The first film, "Mugen Train," grossed over $500 million globally in 2020, becoming the highest-grossing film of that year.
"Infinity Castle" is the second theatrical film and the first of a planned trilogy. It adapts the manga's final arc, depicting the Demon Slayer Corps' assault on villain Muzan Kibutsuji's fortress.
Comparison to Previous Films
The original "Mugen Train" earned approximately $15.5 million during its 2021 South Korean release, later reaching $30 million with re-releases. "Infinity Castle" has far exceeded that performance, opening with 10 times the first-day admissions and maintaining stronger momentum throughout its run.
The film achieved 2 million admissions in just five days-a milestone that took "Mugen Train" four months to reach.
Suzume's Previous Reign
Makoto Shinkai's "Suzume" held the Japanese film record after its March 2023 release. The film became the first Japanese movie to cross 5 million admissions in South Korea, dominating the box office for 35 consecutive days.
Shinkai's previous works, including "Your Name" and "Weathering With You," had already established strong Korean audiences for Japanese animation, paving the way for "Infinity Castle" to push records even higher.
Global Success
"Infinity Castle" has grossed over $555 million worldwide, establishing itself as the highest-grossing Japanese film internationally. The anime achieved the largest opening day for any international film in U.S. history with $33 million, and topped box office charts in virtually every market it entered.
Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment handle international distribution outside Asia.
