In what is rapidly becoming one of the most dominant box office runs in Japanese cinematic history, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle has officially claimed the top spot as the highest-grossing Japanese film ever, surpassing even its celebrated predecessor Mugen Train.
A Box Office Coup
Upon its July 18, 2025 debut, Infinity Castle wasted no time rewriting the record books:
- On opening day, it pulled in ¥1.64 billion (approx. US$11.11 million), making it the highest single-day gross ever seen in Japan.
- Over its three-day opening weekend, it earned ¥5.52 billion (≈ US$37.4 million), setting a new benchmark for opening weekends.
- Including the June “Marine Day” holiday, the first four days totaled ¥7.31 billion (≈ US$49.5 million), shattering prior records.
- Within eight days the film crossed the ¥10.7 billion threshold (≈ US$73 million), becoming the fastest film in Japanese cinema to reach that mark.
As of recent tallies, Infinity Castle has grossed over ¥57.5 billion, officially overtaking Mugen Train’s long-held record. In the process, the film also eclipsed Spirited Away, claiming the #2 spot on Japan’s all-time box office list (behind Mugen Train) with more than ¥33.1 billion in domestic receipts.
On the international stage, Infinity Castle has been a juggernaut. The film’s global haul has crossed the half-billion mark, putting it in rarefied territory among the highest-grossing anime films worldwide.
In the United States, it marked yet another historic feat: a $70 million opening weekend, the biggest ever for an anime in the U.S., claiming the title of highest-grossing international film in U.S. box office history.
The Fandom Shift: Enter the God Valley Arc
While demon slayers and monsters dominate the screens, another saga has quietly but powerfully overtaken the hearts of manga fans: One Piece’s God Valley Incident arc.
Long shrouded in mystery, the God Valley Incident has now become a central “legendary history” arc in One Piece, bringing together the likes of Rocks D. Xebec, Gol D. Roger, Monkey D. Garp, and the enigmatic Imu. The narrative dives deep into the early power struggles that shaped the world — expanding lore, secret lineage, and the political underpinnings of the Celestial Dragons. For many fans, it represents an unprecedented window into the “true history” of the One Piece universe.
What’s remarkable is how many readers are reluctant to return to the ongoing Straw Hat storyline. Across social media, fans are openly declaring that the present-day adventures pale in comparison to the grandeur and intrigue of this flashback:
“If we return to the Straw Hats now, it’ll feel like waking up from a dream.”
— User on X (formerly Twitter)
That sentiment, echoing across forums and comment threads, signals a rare moment in fandom: the past is more compelling than the present.
Two Titans, Two Eras, One Legacy
At first glance, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle and One Piece’s God Valley arc may appear to occupy different realms — one in cinemas, the other in ongoing manga pages — but both reflect something deeper: the enduring power of mythic storytelling in modern fandom.
- Infinity Castle’s box office success reinforces the commercial and cultural might of anime, proving that the medium can not only compete with but dominate mainstream film markets. Its record-breaking trajectory speaks to a global hunger for emotionally powerful, visually stunning narratives.
- Meanwhile, One Piece’s God Valley arc demonstrates the storytelling longevity that only a decades-long saga can deliver. It shows how authors can reward long-time readers by weaving hidden threads into overarching lore, transforming side stories into epochs unto themselves.
Many fans argue this balance — between epic history and onward adventure — is what cements a franchise’s legacy. Even if, for now, the fandom’s collective gaze is fixed backward, the eventual return to the Straw Hats is all but inevitable. When it comes, expectations are high: the narrative momentum built by the God Valley arc must either be sustained or surpassed.
For now, though, Demon Slayer leads the box office race, and One Piece is redefining how legends are told. Two different media, two different giants, and both reshaping the way stories resonate.
