The latest installment in the blockbuster anime franchise, "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle," has taken South Korea's box office by storm, generating 6.5 billion won in ticket sales within just one day of its theatrical release on Friday. The film has dramatically outperformed all other releases in 2025, commanding an overwhelming 68.1 percent of all movie tickets sold as of Sunday morning and establishing itself as the country's biggest cinematic phenomenon of the year.
The animated feature set multiple records on its opening day, attracting 540,000 viewers and surpassing previous 2025 benchmarks. This achievement easily eclipsed the former record holder "Zombie Daughter," which had drawn 430,087 viewers when it opened on July 30, as well as Tom Cruise's "Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning," which debuted with 423,889 admissions on May 17. By comparison, "Zombie Daughter," which had been leading the 2025 box office, earned only 1.1 billion won by the same point in its release cycle.
The film's remarkable success continues the franchise's winning streak following "Demon Slayer: Mugen Train," which became the fifth-highest-grossing Japanese animation film in South Korea and claimed the title of worldwide box office champion in 2020. According to the Korea Box-office Information System, the new release's dominance is evident in its market share, with the second-most popular film, "Lim Young-woong Im Hero 2," accounting for merely 7.5 percent of ticket sales.
Despite its commercial triumph, "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle" continues to face criticism that has shadowed the franchise since its debut. Some viewers have raised concerns about the protagonist's earrings, which they claim resemble Japan's rising sun flag, and have criticized the demon slayer corps for allegedly evoking imagery of Japanese wartime student soldiers. These critics argue that the film glorifies militarism, sparking ongoing debates about the content's cultural and historical implications.
However, these controversies have not dampened the enthusiasm of the franchise's substantial and loyal Korean fanbase. The persistent support demonstrates the complex relationship between popular culture and historical sensitivities in South Korea, where audiences continue to embrace the series despite these concerns.
Capitalizing on the massive popularity surrounding the film's release, organizers have planned an elaborate red-carpet event scheduled for August 30 at Yongsan in central Seoul. The star-studded affair will feature Japanese voice actors Natsuki Hanae, who voices protagonist Tanjiro Kamado, and Hiro Shimono, the voice behind Zenitsu Agatsuma. They will be joined by prominent Korean entertainment figures including K-pop girl group Fifty Fifty, singer Soyou, renowned dancers Honey J and Lip J, and former rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon-jae.
Major Korean theater chains are aggressively marketing exclusive merchandise to capitalize on the "Demon Slayer" phenomenon. Lotte Cinema is offering signature art cards featuring "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle" artwork, while CGV has introduced themed concessions including Hinokami Kagura popcorn, named after main protagonist Tanjiro Kamado's signature sun dance technique. CGV's merchandise lineup also includes character-themed reusable cups, fans, and acrylic keyrings. Meanwhile, Megabox is distributing collectible Nichirin Sword keyrings and original film tickets to members on a first-come, first-served basis.
Based on the phenomenally successful Japanese manga series "Demon Slayer," which has achieved a cumulative circulation of 220 million copies worldwide, the film follows the demon slayer corps as they infiltrate a vast, demon-infested castle in their quest to locate Muzan, the original progenitor of all demons. Throughout their perilous journey, the protagonists confront powerful adversaries, including high-ranking demons Douma and Akaza, whose connections to the demon slayers' tragic pasts create both intense combat sequences and emotionally compelling narrative threads.
Running for an impressive 155 minutes, "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle" delivers a visual spectacle that combines state-of-the-art animation techniques with relentless action sequences and a stirring musical score that resonates deeply with audiences. The film showcases extraordinary visual effects, particularly in its depiction of the demon castle, which appears to expand infinitely while teeming with supernatural creatures. These surreal spatial elements have drawn comparisons to the mind-bending environments found in Christopher Nolan's acclaimed films "Interstellar" and "Inception." The movie successfully balances high-octane action with the poignant backstories of both the demon slayers and the tragic humans who were transformed into demons, creating an emotional rollercoaster that delivers both adrenaline-pumping excitement and heartfelt storytelling.
