Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle Opens with $10 Million in First Night
According to CinemaDrame News Agency, Sony and Crunchyroll’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle earned nearly $10 million in U.S. theaters on Thursday night, based on early estimates. The figure is nearly double its five-day advance ticket sales and marks a new record for an anime.
Its preview gross of $10.3 million is close to Five Nights at Freddy’s ($10.3M) and just shy of Oppenheimer ($10.5M), while surpassing Warner Bros.’ Joker: Folie à Deux ($7M). Fans flocked to theaters for what is billed as the first part of a planned trilogy. The all-time record for an anime opening week in the U.S. still belongs to Pokémon (1999), which grossed $31 million.
Sony’s Infinity Castle is headed toward a $35 million opening, though some projections suggest the number could reach between $45 and $60 million. The film has received a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes from 27 reviews.
Elsewhere at the box office, New Line’s The Conjuring: Last Rites is expected to place second with about $29 million in its second weekend. Focus Features’ Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale and Lionsgate’s The Long Walk are tracking for $15–20 million and $10 million respectively in their opening three days. Last Rites crossed the $100 million mark last Wednesday, becoming the highest-grossing film in The Conjuring franchise in North America.
Another new release this week, Bleecker Street’s Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, directed by Rob Reiner, is expected to gross $3–5 million and currently holds a 74% Rotten Tomatoes score.
The Long Walk, based on Stephen King’s novel about a group of teenage boys competing in an annual walking contest, is projected to earn $1.2–1.5 million. Directed by Francis Lawrence, the film has scored 94% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale grossed over $1 million in its opening night, similar to the start of Downton Abbey: The New Era, which debuted with $16 million.
