Box Office Records Shattered
The latest anime film, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Infinity Castle, has made a groundbreaking debut in North America, opening with an estimated $70 million through Columbia Pictures. This achievement marks the largest start of all time for an anime film. The movie’s three-day run in 3,315 locations has also made it the highest debut this year for a Sony film and any animation, with the highest arc of all time for an animated film in September.
Weekend Earnings
The film’s earnings were estimated at $33 million on Friday, $21.6 million on Saturday, and $15.4 million on Sunday. Haruo Sotozaki’s dark imagination follows the continued adventures of Tanjiro Kamado, a demon member of the Demon Slayer Corps, as he is plunged into a fight against demons in the Infinity Castle. This feature is the first in Haruo Sotzaki’s trilogy to complete the anime franchise and has already made a mark at the global box office.
Global Box Office Performance
The opening weekend delivered a total of $148 million, continuing the surprisingly strong September after the franchise record last weekend. The box office for the year to year is $6.3 billion and is around 4.4% at the same level of 2024. The global cash report will be released on Monday, providing a more detailed look at the film’s performance worldwide.
Other Notable Releases
Other notable releases include Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, which opened with $16 million, and The Long Walk, which came in fourth place with $11.5 million. Warner Bros Horror, The Magic: Last Rites, fell to second place, adding $26.1 million for a total of $131.1 million. Disney/Pixar’s re-release of Toy Story on its 30th anniversary took fifth place with $3.5 million.
New Entries in the Top 10
New entries in the top 10 include Spine Tap II: The End Continues, which opened in ninth place with $1.9 million, and the re-release of The Sound of Music, which earned $1.5 million at 1,206 locations. Mubi’s opening of The History of Sound in four locations in New York and Los Angeles earned $85,786 for a reasonable average of $21,446. The drama is expanding this week, offering more viewers a chance to experience it.
Upcoming Releases
The upcoming release of Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is expected to test the current box office records on September 26. The almost three-hour dark, strange action film has already received delightful receptions for preview screenings on the lot last week. With the current momentum, it will be interesting to see how the box office performs in the coming weeks.
