Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Shatters Box Office Records; Surpassing Disney’s Frozen in Just 31 Days

The anime phenomenon continues to rewrite box office history. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle has officially surpassed Disney’s Frozen to become Japan’s fourth highest-grossing film of all time, achieving this milestone in just 31 days since its release. This remarkable feat showcases the unstoppable power of anime in the global entertainment landscape.

Breaking Down the Numbers

As of August 17, 2025, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle has earned an impressive 25.78 billion yen (approximately $174.32 million) in Japan alone. The film sold over 18.27 million tickets in its first month, demonstrating the incredible draw of this beloved franchise.

To put this achievement in perspective, the original Mugen Train film earned 23.35 billion yen after 31 days back in 2020. The new movie has not only surpassed its predecessor but has done so while setting new records along the way.

How It Stacks Up Against Frozen

Disney’s Frozen, which had held the fourth position in Japan’s all-time box office rankings, has now been dethroned by the latest Demon Slayer installment. The anime film also surpassed Makoto Shinkai’s acclaimed “Your Name.” in the process, cementing its place among Japan’s most successful theatrical releases.

The speed of this achievement is particularly noteworthy. While Frozen took much longer to reach its final box office total, Infinity Castle accomplished this feat in barely a month, highlighting the intense dedication of anime fans and the franchise’s massive appeal.

Record-Breaking Opening Performance

Infinity Castle didn’t just succeed—it dominated from day one. The film set multiple opening records, including:

• Best opening-day box office with 1.16 million tickets sold for 1.65 billion yen ($11.16 million)
• Best single-day box office performance with 1.42 million tickets for 2.04 billion yen ($13.8 million)
• Fastest film to reach 10 billion yen, beating even its predecessor, Mugen Train

The film opened on 443 screens throughout Japan, the most in franchise history, and included premium IMAX screenings that drew massive crowds.

Global Box Office Domination

Japan isn’t the only market where Infinity Castle is making waves. The film has collected close to $193 million internationally, with 75% of that total coming from Japan. In Southeast Asian markets, it opened to $17.5 million across eight territories, not only surpassing the entire regional lifetime of Mugen Train but also outdoing Frozen II as the highest all-time animated opening in the region.

The film’s performance has exceeded other blockbuster animated titles, including Inside Out 2, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Moana 2, and Ne Zha 2, in these markets.

What Makes This Achievement Special

This isn’t just any sequel—this movie represents the beginning of the end for the Demon Slayer story. As the first film in a trilogy adapting the final battle arc of the popular series, it carries the weight of fan expectations and the promise of an epic conclusion to Tanjiro’s journey.

The film draws viewers into the Infinity Castle, where Tanjiro, Nezuko, and the Hashira face terrifying Upper Rank demons in what begins the ultimate confrontation against the series’ main antagonist, Muzan Kibutsuji.

Looking Ahead: Continued Success Expected

With advance ticket sales for the U.S. release already breaking records and international expansion planned for over 150 countries and regions, Infinity Castle shows no signs of slowing down. The film is set to debut in the United States and Canada on September 12, where it’s expected to challenge or potentially surpass the domestic performance of previous Demon Slayer films.

Fandango reported that the film achieved the best first-day presales for an anime film of all time, ahead of both Mugen Train and Jujutsu Kaisen 0, suggesting that American audiences are just as eager to experience this cinematic spectacle.

The Power of Anime Cinema

This film’s success represents more than just box office numbers—it demonstrates the global reach and cultural impact of anime storytelling. The film’s ability to surpass a Disney classic like Frozen in one of the world’s most competitive entertainment markets speaks to the medium’s evolution from niche interest to mainstream phenomenon.

As the first film in the concluding trilogy, this movie has set impossibly high standards for its sequels. With this level of success in just one month, the complete trilogy could potentially reshape Japan’s all-time box office rankings entirely.

The anime industry continues to prove that compelling stories, stunning animation, and passionate fandoms can create box office magic that rivals any Hollywood blockbuster. This film isn’t just breaking records—it’s setting new standards for what anime films can achieve on the global stage.