"Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" Surpasses 28 Billion Yen in Box Office Revenue, Overtaking "Titanic" to Become the Third Highest-Grossing Film in Japan

1. What Happened—Deciphering the "28 Billion"

On August 25, 2025, "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Infinity Castle Arc Chapter 1: Akaza Returns" reached a box office revenue of 28,087,694,600 yen / 19,825,555 viewers in 38 days since its release. Following the announcement by the official X, major media outlets like Oricon, Nikkan Sports, Cinema Today, and ABEMA TIMES reported, "Surpassing 'Titanic' (27.77 billion yen) → 3rd in domestic box office history." As of the previous week, at the 31-day mark, it was 25.78 billion yen, marking an increase of approximately 2.3 billion yen over the past seven days.OriconCinema TodayABEMA TIMESAnime Hack

The important point in terms of numbers is that each company adopted the domestic final figure of **27.77 billion yen for 'Titanic' as a benchmark. Surpassing this, the ranking has been updated to 1st: Mugen Train (40.75 billion) / 2nd: Spirited Away (31.68 billion) / 3rd: Infinity Castle Arc Chapter 1 (28.09 billion) / 4th: Titanic (27.77 billion)**.ENCOUNT

2. The Background of "Fastest" Repeated—From Initial Surge to Sustained Attendance

From its release, the film set records in opening performance, first-day performance, and single-day performance, ranking 1st in Japan's history, and updated the fastest record by surpassing 10 billion yen in 8 days. Subsequently, holiday demand, stage greetings, and initiatives like the "Japan Tour" played a role in creating a "second wave" of growth by combining repeat viewers and new audiences. On the 31st day, it recorded 25.78 billion yen, surpassing "Frozen" (25.5 billion yen) to rank 4th in history, and within a week, overtook "Titanic" to rise to 3rd place.ENCOUNTAnime Hack

3. Ranking Coordinates—The Barriers of 'Mugen Train' and 'Spirited Away'

The top positions in historical box office revenue are firmly held by Mugen Train 40.75 billion yen (2020) and Spirited Away 31.68 billion yen (2001). This time, Infinity Castle Arc Chapter 1 surpassed 27.77 billion yen of "Titanic" to take 3rd place, but the gap to Spirited Away is approximately 3.6 billion yen. Depending on the momentum of the work and the continuation of the screening environment, there is even a realistic possibility of rising to 2nd place. Furthermore, considering that it is the "first chapter" of a trilogy, the cultural and economic impact of the series combined may rival or match the "Mugen Train phenomenon" of 2020.ENCOUNT

4. Looking Back at the "38 Days" in Chronological Order

• Opening Weekend (3 days): Started as Japan's No.1 in history. Daily records were also updated.ENCOUNT

• 8th Day of Release: Surpassed 10 billion yen at the fastest pace.ENCOUNT

• 31st Day of Release: 25.78 billion yen / 18.27 million viewers. Ranked 4th in history.Anime Hack

• 38th Day of Release (8/25): 28.09 billion yen / 19.82 million viewers. Surpassed 'Titanic' to rank 3rd in history.Oricon

5. Positioning of Infinity Castle Arc (Chapter 1)

Infinity Castle Arc is a large-scale project depicting the climax of the original series in a movie trilogy. The first chapter: Akaza Returns is currently being released, with updates on news and related initiatives continuing on the official website. The continuity of viewing from the TV series, the anticipation of the showdown with the Upper Rank Demons, and the cinematic experience (sound, 4D, large-screen formats) all come together as a comprehensive effort to provide a "reason" to watch in theaters.Demon Slayer Official Website

6. The Phenomenon Beyond "Numbers"

Shared experiences among fans (including the context of SNS and spoiler considerations), multiple viewings with parents/friends, and stage greetings and regional tour events supported the base of attendance through community-driven "chains." The horizon of "anime movies becoming social phenomena," opened by Mugen Train in 2020, has diversified further with the Infinity Castle Arc in 2025. Overseas media are also reporting on the box office trends daily, and in the English-speaking information environment, a virtuous cycle of "early buzz → increase in pre-release sales" is visible.GamesRadar+

7. International Release and Cross-Border Effects

Infinity Castle Arc (Chapter 1) is scheduled for theatrical release in the US and UK on September 12, with a preview screening for Crunchyroll members announced for September 9. Reports indicate that the record-breaking achievements in Japan have spread to the English-speaking world, with pre-sales reaching the highest level for anime in history. The domestic success story is expected to directly boost the initial global box office revenue.GamesRadar+

8. Scope for Business—Cinemas, Distribution, and Surrounding Markets

• Cinema Side: High occupancy rates even on weekdays due to long-term screening arrangements (screen allocation, late-night shows, 4D, IMAX operations).

• Distribution Promotion: Nationwide initiatives, including the **"Japan Tour,"** amplified fan engagement in local areas.ENCOUNT

• Package/Streaming: Future deployment of 4K/IMAX Enhanced materials may boost secondary revenue.

• Surrounding Market: In addition to new demand for official books and merchandise, the "waiting demand" for Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 drives medium- to long-term consumption.

9. Momentum Seen Through Data—The "Accelerating Second Wave"

The increase from 25.78 billion yen on the 31st day to 28.09 billion yen on the 38th day, a growth of approximately 2.3 billion yen, is difficult to explain as a mere long tail. Despite being a regular week after the Obon holiday, the resurgence of interest (new key visuals, stage greetings, and articles from various companies) formed the "second wave." Media referred to official X as the basis for the numbers, and comparing with the public standard of 'Titanic' 27.77 billion yen also contributed to the consistency of the reports.Cinema TodayOricon

10. Possibility of Breaking Records—The Back of 2nd Place "Spirited Away"

The remaining gap of approximately 3.6 billion yen could be within reach over a 1-2 month span if boosted by major holidays or additional perks. Of course, it depends on the screening environment (competition with new releases, securing screens, reallocation of formats), so in the short term, the focus will be on the weekly decay rate. If **re-screening and expansion strategies around the release of "Chapter 2" are implemented, the social presence of the series combined** will increase even further.

11. The Value of the "Trilogy"—Towards the Completion of the Story

Infinity Castle Arc is a trilogy. The success of the first chapter itself has firmly positioned Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 as experiences "to be