Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train has officially become the highest-grossing film in Japanese box office history.
Demon Slayer currently sits at 32.47 billion yen ($313.9 million) as of Dec. 27, officially overtaking the record held by Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away. Spirited Away previously held the Japanese box office crown with 31.68 billion yen, which included a rerelease in June.
Demon Slayer has been smashing box office records ever since its release. It currently holds the largest opening weekend gross in Japanese theaters, as well as the IMAX box office record in Japan. Several factors play into this surge of popularity, including Japanese cinemas fully reopening after a brief shutdown due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. With many films being pushed back to 2021 due to COVID-19, Demon Slayer also faced little competition in theaters. Several Japanese businesses have also reported a surge in sales after striking Demon Slayer-themed licensing deals.
Based on the manga of the same name by Koyoharu Gotōge, Demon Slayer focuses on a boy named Tanjiro, who joins the Demon Slayer Corps after his village is destroyed by demons. The anime has become a pop culture sensation, with the Mugen Train film set during Season 1 of the show. Mugen Train follows Tanjiro and his fellow demon slayers as they investigate the possibility of a demon passenger on a train. Gotōge wrote and illustrated a special one-shot manga that ties into the events of Mugen Train.
Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train arrives in the U.S. in 2021.
Source: THR, The Japan Times