“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle” has set a new box office record for Japanese animated films in North America, earning an estimated $70 million in its opening weekend and topping overall box office rankings.

The film’s Friday-through-Sunday performance surpassed the previous anime record held since 1999 by “Pokemon: The First Movie,” marking a significant milestone for Japanese animation in Western markets.

The film topped North American box office charts overall, according to research firm Comscore, prompting industry analysis about changing viewer preferences.

“Younger audiences are sending a message to Hollywood: Our tastes in movies are changing,” the New York Times noted in its coverage.

While the $70 million opening is substantial for anime, it remains distinct from mainstream animated releases.

Disney’s “Inside Out 2” grossed $154.2 million in its North American opening weekend last year, according to Box Office Mojo, highlighting the different market scales between anime and traditional Western animation.

“Infinity Castle” is the first instalment in a trilogy adapting the final story arc of the popular “Demon Slayer” manga series.

The film is performing strongly in Japan alongside its North American success.

Sony Pictures Entertainment and Crunchyroll, Sony Group’s anime streaming service, are jointly distributing the film in North America.

Crunchyroll’s streaming of the “Demon Slayer” anime series has been instrumental in building the franchise’s substantial following outside Japan.

The franchise’s popularity was evident at July’s Anime Expo in Los Angeles, North America’s largest Japanese pop culture convention, where many attendees cosplayed as “Demon Slayer” characters.

While specific Australian box office figures aren’t available, the North American success suggests strong potential for local releases.

The $70 million USD opening (approximately $105 million) demonstrates anime’s growing mainstream appeal in Western markets.

Australian anime theatrical releases have grown significantly, with major chains like Event Cinemas and Hoyts regularly programming anime films.

“Demon Slayer” films have previously performed well in Australia, though typically on smaller scales than North American releases.

The record comes as anime gains broader critical recognition in Western markets.

Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy and the Heron” won an Academy Award last year, marking a high-profile critical success for the genre.

The “Infinity Castle” performance suggests anime is transitioning from niche to mainstream entertainment in Western markets, driven by streaming accessibility and younger audiences familiar with Japanese animation aesthetics and storytelling.

For the anime industry, the record validates continued investment in theatrical releases alongside streaming distribution, potentially encouraging more ambitious release strategies for future anime films in Western markets.