‘Demon Slayer’ Made More In Japan Over Its Opening Weekend Than ‘Smurfs’ Managed From 59 Territories

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle opened to a staggering ¥5.9 billion ($39.7 million) in Japan over its first four days, eclipsing the worldwide opening gross of Paramount’s Smurfs reboot, which only managed $36 million globally during the same period.

Monday was a holiday in Japan, boosting the former’s performance, but the three-day numbers weren’t any better, with Demon Slayer pulling in $36.5 million compared to Smurfs $33.6 million Friday through Sunday.

Record-Breaking Anime Debut in Japan

• Infinity Castle earned 1.7 billion yen ($11 to $13.4 million) on its opening day alone, outperforming the day-one take of 2020’s Mugen Train (1.2 billion yen), which previously held Japan’s top record.
• Benefiting from a Monday holiday boost, the film’s four-day total reached 5.9 billion yen ($39.7 million), positioning it as one of the biggest opening frames in Japanese box office history.
• Strong word-of-mouth and limited domestic competition suggest the film’s box office run will remain robust in the coming weeks.
• Sony and Crunchyroll plan to roll out Infinity Castle internationally, starting in September, excluding Japan and select Asian territories, with a North American release slated for September 12.

‘Smurfs’ Struggles

• Paramount’s new Smurfs reboot delivered $11 million domestically and $25 million internationally for a combined $36 million global debut.
• With a reported production budget of nearly $58 million, the film’s slow start raises concerns over its profitability, despite the fact that several important international markets are still opening.
• Early critical reception has been largely negative, with reviewers citing a lack of originality and a decline in brand relevance.

Industry Implications

• The success of Demon Slayer reinforces anime’s status as a theatrical force. That said, domestic success in Japan has not always translated into profits abroad. Toho plans to roll out Infinity Castle internationally starting in September, with North American release slated for September 12.

• Paramount will now rely on international performance and ancillary revenues to bolster Smurfs as it faces an uphill battle for profitability with the domestic box office after a brutal opening weekend, poor critical reviews, and middling audience reactions.

Elio Limps Along

• Elio continued to underperform, grossing just $2 million in North America in its fifth weekend. It had the lowest per-theater average of any film in the top 10 domestically.
• Internationally, it made another $3.5 million, bringing the film’s total box office to just $129.8 million.
• Elio will certainly finish its box office run as Pixar’s lowest-grossing film with a normal release. Lightyear made $219 million before ending its run.