Japan’s hit Demon Slayer anime sequel shatters own box-office record
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The Demon Slayer series is part of Sony’s ambitions to parlay popular anime intellectual property into a fresh array of content.
PHOTO: SONY PICTURES
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TOKYO – The Japanese smash-hit anime series Demon Slayer has shattered its own opening weekend box-office record, earning over 5.5 billion yen (S$47.7 million) with the release of a second movie on July 18.
Three-day takings for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle, which opens in Singapore cinemas on Aug 14, surpassed a 4.6 billion yen record set by the first film’s release in October 2020, Sony Group Corp-owned producer Aniplex said on July 22.
The Demon Slayer series, a historical fantasy centred on a revenge-seeking boy warrior, is part of Sony’s ambitions to parlay popular anime intellectual property (IP) into a fresh array of content.
Earlier in 2025, the Tokyo-based entertainment giant launched a streaming-focused anime production house between units Aniplex and Crunchyroll. That follows deepening investment and a media alliance with powerhouse anime publisher Kadokawa in December 2024.
The first Demon Slayer movie, Mugen Train, broke Japan box-office records to take in more than 40 billion yen during its local run, toppling the Academy Award-winning Spirited Away (2001).
The original manga series by Koyoharu Gotouge was a bestseller in its own right, in addition to inspiring several TV series.
Shares in the film’s distributor Toho Co closed 4.1 per cent higher on July 22, following the movie’s opening weekend. BLOOMBERG
