On November 14th, the film *Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie - Infinity Castle Chapter 1 - Akaza's Revenge* officially premiered in mainland China. This marks the first time the wildly popular *Demon Slayer* anime series has been presented to mainland audiences in the form of a film. The film garnered significant praise overseas for its "international aesthetic" and "spectacular fight scenes," currently holding an 8.5 rating on IMDb, a 98% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and an 8.8 rating on Douban. On the Maoyan ticketing platform, it has over 740,000 "want to see" votes, and its total pre-sale box office in mainland China (including midnight screenings) has exceeded 180 million yuan, breaking the record for pre-sale box office for imported animated films in Chinese film history. It is a highly anticipated blockbuster for November.
Release poster
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Infinity Castle is the final chapter of the series. The first chapter, Akaza's second attack, tells the story of Tanjiro, the protagonist, who, along with the Pillars and other members of the Demon Slayer Corps, falls into the Infinity Castle and engages in a final battle against the demons.
Before its release in mainland China, the film had already broken box office records worldwide, accumulating over 79.79 million admissions and a total box office of approximately $682 million, making it the highest-grossing Japanese film of all time worldwide and a contender for the top five highest-grossing film globally by 2025. Its immense popularity in the Chinese mainland market is expected to propel its global box office to even greater heights.
According to statistics, the film had approximately 8,370 midnight screenings on November 14th, grossing 18.5 million yuan, second only to "Slam Dunk" (21.37 million yuan), setting a new record for the second-highest midnight screenings for an imported animated film. On its opening day, the film accounted for 48.2% of all screenings, and its box office revenue exceeded 70% of the total. By 5 pm, the box office had surpassed 118 million yuan, making it the only film to gross over 100 million yuan during the National Day holiday in the past three years.
Box office figures as of 5 PM on November 14, 2025.
This week, the film held its premiere at the Shanghai Film City SHO. Director Haruo Sotozaki, director of photography and production supervisor Yuichi Terao, as well as the main Chinese voice actors Xingchao (Tanjiro Kamado), Huang Zhenji (Inosuke Hashibira), Kame-chan (Shinobu Kocho), and Lu Yang (Agasa) all made an appearance to share the touching stories behind the scenes of this classic film with movie fans in Shanghai.
At the premiere, director Haruo Sotozaki said that creating the ever-changing Infinity Castle setting and the explosive battle scenes presented many challenges to the film. "I hope that through this theatrical version, we can present to everyone the magnificent scenes of how Tanjiro and his companions fight in the Infinity Castle space."
Today's release poster and custom-signed illustrations by the cast and crew
The Demon Slayer series, with its delicate emotional portrayals and thrilling battle narratives, consistently weaves together the core themes of "protection" and "redemption." It possesses both the exhilarating tension of a shonen manga and the gentle undertones of Japanese aesthetics, making it a phenomenal work that transcends age groups. The characters are vividly portrayed: Tanjiro's gentle resilience, Nezuko's pure protection, and the contrasting growth of Zenitsu and Inosuke. Each character carries their own pain and obsessions, yet together they radiate the brilliance of humanity, allowing viewers to empathize and feel the weight of family, friendship, and responsibility.
The Chinese voice actors also shared their interpretations of the characters with fans. Xingchao, the voice actor for Tanjiro, said, "What impressed me most about this character is his incredibly strong empathy and compassion. At the same time, the character himself is kind, pure, upright, resilient, willing to take responsibility, and never gives up easily. All of these qualities deeply moved me."
Premiere
As the main antagonist of the film, Akaza's "return appearance" further enriched his "ghostly" character. Voice actor Lu Yang analyzed the character, saying, "Even after he became a ghost, he continued to pursue the highest level of martial arts. He himself may not even know that his core driving force was that he wanted to protect the person he wanted to protect the most. This is also the biggest reason why he made that choice in the end. This character really touched me."
In this episode, the most heartbreaking character is undoubtedly Shinobu Kocho, the "Insect Pillar." After a fierce battle with Upper Moon Two, she sacrifices herself to achieve a victory that seemed impossible. Kame-chan, the voice actress for Shinobu, offers a profound interpretation of the character: "The gentleness she usually displays contrasts sharply with her inner self, a contrast stemming from her painful past. Her posture during this battle also demonstrates her resolute determination."
With the film's release, a wave of "Demon Slayer" fever is about to sweep across cinemas and shopping districts nationwide. From November 13th to 17th, the film will launch a "Beijing City Tour Carnival Week." During the event, three locations—the main entrance of the Shell Theater in Chaoyang Park, the South Area of Sanlitun Taikoo Li, and THE BOX Chaowai Youth Power Center—will simultaneously host a variety of activities including installation photo opportunities, fun games, and stamp collection prizes. There will also be shuttle bus stops, themed pop-up stores, and gashapon machines, offering multiple perks to immerse fans in the world of "Demon Slayer."
