Demon SlayerThe Movie: Mugen Traindebuted in Japan with a record-breaking $44 million its opening weekend. In addition to becoming the best performing film in the world this weekend, the action-adventure anime film has also scored the biggest opening gross of any film in Japan, foreign and domestic.
Directed by Haruo Sotozaki,Mugen Trainserves as a direct sequel to theDemon Slayeranime series based onthe manga seriesby Koyoharu Gotōge, with the main Japanese and English cast returning to voice their respective characters. The story follows Tanjiro Kamad and the Demon Slayer Corps as they investigate a series of mysterious disappearances aboard the Infinity Train. Unbeknownst to them, the investigation puts them in the line of a trap set by the last member of a group of twelve powerful Demons.
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While Japan typically releases films on Saturday/Sunday sessions,Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Trainopened on 403 screens starting on the morning of October 16th, earning $12 million on its first day. Per Variety, its three-day total gross of $44 million was amassed from 3.42 admissions. These figures exceed the $30 million three-day gross ofDisney’sFrozen IIin 2019 and the $15.6 million debut ofWeathering with You. TheDemon Slayerfilm has also surpassed the $36 opening weekend intake ofConfidence Man JP: Princess, which is currently the third highest-grossing Japanese film of 2020.
The high demand forDemon Slayertickets resulted inTOHO cinemas lifting the capacity restrictionsfor all of its theaters during the film’s opening weekend. The anime film will next be released in Taiwan on October 30 before debuting in additional overseas markets. In North America, Aniplex of America and Funimation will handle distribution, with a release date set for early 2021.
The box office success ofDemon Slayer The Moviecould be a positive sign forPretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal The Movie, the two-part anime film slated for a theatrical release on January 8 and Jul 09, 2025. While theSailor Moonfilm was originally scheduled to be released in September, it became one of many projects to be postponed on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unfortunately, North American theaters aren’t likely to fare as well in the coming weeks due to a lack of new blockbusters. Withthe postponement of the James Bond film,No Time Time to Die,and the second wave of the pandemic underway, many theater chains found themselves with no option but to close their doors again.
Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Trainwill be released in theaters in North America in 2021.
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