13M North American debut sets record for local language films; India ranks 5th-best IMAX opening with $880K (₹7 crore)
New York, 16th September 2025 – IMAX Corporation (NYSE: IMAX) announced that Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – Infinity Castle delivered a powerful $20 million global weekend, headlined by a $13 million opening in North America, representing 19% of the film’s total domestic debut. The strong performance marked the biggest IMAX North American opening ever for a local language release, pushing IMAX to a record-breaking $316 million in local language box office in 2025 — far surpassing the previous $243 million record set in 2023.
Expanding beyond Japan and Asia, the anime blockbuster opened this weekend across more than 600 IMAX screens in North America, Latin America, Europe, India, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East. To date, the film has earned $58.5 million in IMAX globally across 70+ markets, making it the highest-grossing Japanese release of all time in IMAX.
India emerged as a standout market, ranking 5th best worldwide, with over $880,000 (₹7 crore) earned during its IMAX opening weekend. Other record-breaking markets included Spain, Turkey, Nigeria, Mexico, Chile, and Colombia, which all delivered their biggest IMAX opening weekends ever.
> “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle further demonstrates that local language is the strongest emerging growth driver of the global box office, and IMAX — as the only global platform for cinema — is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this trend,” said Rich Gelfond, CEO of IMAX. “Anime has built a passionate global following across cultures, and this thriving genre is part of why IMAX has already delivered its biggest year ever for local language box office just nine months into 2025.”
Since its initial Japanese release on July 18, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle has become the highest-grossing IMAX local language film ever released outside China. With Infinity Castle and Ne Zha 2 leading the charge, local language releases now account for 35% of IMAX’s total box office year-to-date.
The film will continue to screen across the IMAX global network in the coming weeks.
About IMAX Corporation
IMAX is a leader in entertainment technology, combining proprietary software, architecture, and equipment to create extraordinary cinematic experiences. With 1,821 IMAX systems operating across 89 countries and territories, IMAX is one of the most important global platforms for theatrical event releases. Headquartered in New York, Toronto, and Los Angeles, IMAX also maintains offices in London, Dublin, Tokyo, and Shanghai. Shares of IMAX China Holding, Inc., a subsidiary of IMAX Corporation, trade on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the code “1970”.
