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Demon Slayer Opens to $70 Million in North America, Setting Japanese Anime Record

Industry trackers cast the outsized debut as a fresh sign of anime’s growing box-office pull.

Overview

  • The first chapter of the new Demon Slayer theatrical trilogy launched in the U.S. and Canada on September 12.
  • Weekend estimates put receipts at about $70 million, leading the North American box office.
  • The opening eclipsed the prior regional record for a Japanese animated film set by a 1999 Pokémon release at roughly $31 million.
  • Several U.S. outlets reported an opening day around $33 million, and analysts described the performance as a surprising or phenomenal debut.
  • In Japan, distributor Aniplex said the film has reached about ¥33 billion in ticket sales, placing it second all-time domestically.