The global film industry saw some remarkable achievements in 2025, with several anime and animated films making significant waves at the box office. Leading the charge was the first installment of the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle trilogy, which raked in an impressive $718,491,762 worldwide. This monumental success placed it as the seventh highest-grossing film of the year globally. In the United States, it secured the #2 spot among animated films, amassing $134,487,320 and ranking #18 overall in the U.S. market. Globally, it stood as the third highest-grossing animated film of 2025.
©Koyoharu Gotoge / SHUEISHA, Aniplex, ufotable
Other notable anime films that made it into the top 100 worldwide include Japan’s Kokuho, which became the highest-grossing Japanese live-action film of all time in Japan. It achieved a global box office total of $119,641,262, securing the #38 spot.
Additionally, The Exit 8, the live-action adaptation of KOTAKE CREATE’s infinite-loop horror game, earned $39,003,150 globally, placing it at #76. My Daughter is a Zombie, a live-action Korean film based on Yun-Chang Lee’s webtoon, followed closely with $37,891,989 in global earnings, ranking #77. Neither of these films had screenings in the U.S. in 2025.
The KPop Demon Hunters animated film also made a notable impact, ranking at #98 with earnings of $24,619,953. Despite debuting first on Netflix and having limited theatrical screenings, it still managed to capture a significant audience.
The top spot for 2025 went to China’s Ne Zha 2 animated film, followed by Zootopia 2 and the live-action Lilo & Stitch.
Entertainment news outlet Deadline reported that the global box office for 2025 reached an estimated $33.5 billion, marking a 12% increase from 2024. In Japan, the second-largest international market outside of China, there was a 35% increase in yen and a 33% increase in U.S. dollars. Deadline highlighted anime as a growing medium that is expanding globally and resonating with diverse audiences.
News Source: Animenewsnetwork.com
