Demon Slayer' Anime Outshines Hollywood's Latest Bets, with More Streaming to Follow

The anime juggernaut “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle” held its #1 spot at the box office, shattering records to become the highest-grossing anime film in U.S. history. Its massive success stood in stark contrast to the weekend’s new Hollywood movies, including the horror entry “Him” and the star-studded romance “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey”, both of which flopped.

• A new king is crowned: With a domestic total of $104 million and a global haul over $555 million, “Infinity Castle” is now the biggest Japanese-produced film ever worldwide. The film’s continued grip on the #1 spot is a testament to its dedicated fanbase, even with a steep 76% drop from its opening weekend.
• Hollywood's bets bomb: The anime's coronation left Hollywood's new bets in the dust. Universal’s “Him” opened to a weak $13.5 million and a C- CinemaScore, while Sony's "A Big Bold Beautiful Journey" cratered with just a $3.5 million opening despite its A-list cast.

The weekend sends a clear message: established franchises with passionate fanbases are outperforming new, original blockbusters. While new IP stumbled, older properties thrived, as Warner Bros.' "The Conjuring: Last Rites" sailed past the $400 million mark globally to become the most successful film in its franchise's history. For fans wondering what's next, analysis suggests "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle" will likely hit streaming in early 2026. The power of classic anime was also on display, as a re-release of Studio Ghibli's "Howl's Moving Castle" also cracked the box office top ten. Meanwhile, theaters are looking beyond movies for revenue, with AMC set to host an in-theater album release party for Taylor Swift.