Anime

Top Anime Films: Demon Slayer Maintains Box Office Dominance, Idol Precure Debuts

The Japanese box office continues to be dominated by anime films, with several notable releases making significant waves. Let’s dive into the latest trends and achievements in the anime film industry.

The first film in the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle trilogy, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle – Akaza Sairai, has maintained its top spot in the Japanese box office for an impressive nine consecutive weekends. Over the weekend of September 13-15, the film sold 523,000 tickets, generating approximately 829,888,500 yen (about US$5.65 million). As of September 15, the film has sold a staggering 23,042,671 tickets, accumulating 33,056,606,000 yen (about US$224 million) in total earnings. This remarkable performance has propelled it to the second-highest-grossing film of all time in Japan, surpassing the iconic Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, which held the second spot for many years.

The previous highest-grossing anime film in Japan, Demon Slayer – Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train, released in October 2020, continues to hold the top spot with a total earnings of 40.75 billion yen (about US$277 million). This film surpassed Spirited Away in December 2020, just two months after its release.

The live-action adaptation of the popular horror game The Exit 8, also known as 8-ban Deguchi, saw a slight drop in its third weekend, moving from the second to the third position. The film sold 368,000 tickets, earning 542,799,200 yen (about US$3.70 million) from Friday to Sunday. Since its release on August 29, The Exit 8 has sold a total of 2.26 million tickets, accumulating 2,955,550,500 yen (about US$20.15 million). The film had a successful premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, receiving an eight-minute standing ovation and winning the Prix Luciole poster competition. It will also be screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and the SITGES International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia. North American distribution is set for early 2026 by NEON.

The latest entry in the Precure franchise, You and Idol Precure, made a strong debut at the fourth position. The film, set during the Super Miracle Idol Festival on Aiai Island, sold 283,000 tickets and earned 346 million yen (about US$2.35 million) in its opening weekend. The film features a star-studded cast, including Maaya Uchida, Ayane Sakura, and Atsuhiro Tsuda, and includes appearances from previous Precure series. Each junior high school student or younger who attends the film will receive a light-up Miracle Aiai Bracelet, and the nationwide concert tour accompanying the film will feature its theme song.

Other notable mentions include Karada Sagashi The Last Night, the sequel to the 2022 live-action horror film, which dropped off the top 10 but still earned 92,471,280 yen (about US$630,400) in its second weekend. The revival screenings of Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- did not rank in the top 10 but earned 67,994,200 yen (about US$463,600). Eiga Crayon Shin-chan Chō Karei! Shakunetsu no Kasukabe Dancers, the latest film in the Crayon Shin-chan series, also dropped off the list in its sixth weekend but still earned 47,361,400 yen (about US$322,900).

The new theatrical screenings of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz remained at the top of the mini-theater rankings in its second weekend.

The anime film industry in Japan continues to thrive, with both long-standing franchises and new releases capturing the hearts of audiences and achieving remarkable box office success.