The biggest film at this weekend’s global box office was animated. Not just that: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train, which opened on Friday in Japan, is a bona fide hit, even by pre-pandemic standards.
The film took a whopping 4.623 billion yen — around USD$44 million — in its first three days, breaking the country’s all-time opening record. To put that number in perspective: Makoto Shinkai’s Weathering with You grossed 1.644 billion yen ($15.2 million) in three days last year, while Frozen 2 managed $18.2 million, which was the best opening ever achieved by a Disney or Pixar film in the country. Japan’s previous opening weekend record was held by The Matrix Reloaded, which took $20.8 million in 2003.
Distributors Toho and Aniplex released Mugen Train in 403 theaters across Japan: 365 normal screens and 38 IMAX screens. There are reports of some theaters showing it as early as 7 a.m. on Friday, and others screening it 40 times in one day.