Demon Slayer Shatters Records, Dominating a Mixed Box Office Weekend

The US box office is witnessing a historic takeover by Japanese animation as Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle continues its phenomenal run. The film has now soared past $555 million in global ticket sales, officially becoming the highest-grossing animated film of all time. This staggering success comes as Hollywood’s new releases struggle to find their footing, painting a clear picture of a shifting cinematic landscape.

An Unstoppable Anime Juggernaut

Even in its second weekend, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle easily held the top spot, pulling in another $17.3 million from 3,342 theaters. Distributed by Sony and Crunchyroll in North America, the film’s domestic total has now climbed to an impressive $104.7 million. Globally, its earnings are a combination of the North American haul and over $451 million from international markets, where it continues to dominate. While the film saw a significant 76% drop from its record-setting debut, the performance is still considered a major success that solidifies the franchise’s power. Analysts are calling it one of the biggest cultural phenomena to emerge from Japanese animation, noting that this film is just the first installment of a highly anticipated trilogy.

Newcomers Struggle to Compete

In a distant second place, the new Jordan Peele-produced sports thriller Him opened to a lackluster $13.5 million from 3,168 locations, falling short of its projected $15 million debut. The Universal release was met with a harsh reception from both critics and audiences, earning a dismal 28% on Rotten Tomatoes and a C- CinemaScore. Poor word-of-mouth will likely hamper its ability to recoup its $27 million production budget. Its international debut was even weaker, adding just $400,000 from 25 markets for a global start of $13.8 million.

The disappointment continued further down the chart with A Big Bold Beautiful Journey. Despite starring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell, the film opened with a mere $3.5 million from 3,330 theaters. Negative reviews (38% on Rotten Tomatoes) and a B- CinemaScore have crippled its chances, with a worldwide total of just $8 million against a $45 million budget.

Horror Thrives While Other Franchises Falter

Proving the enduring power of established horror, The Conjuring: The Final Rite landed in third place in its third weekend. The New Line and Warner Bros. film added $12.95 million, bringing its domestic total to a robust $151.1 million and its global tally to an even $400 million, already making it the most successful chapter in the long-running franchise.

Meanwhile, two returning films tied for fourth and fifth place, each earning $6.3 million. Lionsgate’s The Long Walk showed strong legs, reaching a total of $22.7 million on a modest $20 million budget. In contrast, Focus Features’ Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale dropped a steep 66% from its opening weekend. Its domestic total now stands at $31.6 million, signaling diminishing returns for a saga that began with massive success in 2019 but has since seen its audience shrink.

The Overall Box Office Picture

The total domestic box office for the weekend was approximately $75 million. This brings the 2025 year-to-date total to $6.446 billion, which is running 4.38% ahead of the same point in 2024. However, the industry is still lagging significantly behind pre-pandemic numbers, trailing over 22% behind 2019’s figures. With major releases from Paul Thomas Anderson and Taylor Swift on the horizon, theaters are hoping for a strong final quarter to close the gap. For now, the market is being carried by a combination of anime’s record-breaking success, reliable horror hits, and a string of inconsistent performances from new domestic productions.