‘Demon Slayer’ Nears Box Office Crown, Posing Threat to Korean Films

The highest-grossing film of the year, 'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training' (hereinafter referred to as 'Demon Slayer'), is on the cusp of claiming the top spot at the box office.

According to data from the Korean Film Council's integrated network, 'Demon Slayer' recorded a cumulative audience of 5,603,315 as of the 10th, making it the highest-grossing Japanese film ever released in Korea.

The film had already signaled its box office prowess by surpassing 920,000 pre-sale tickets before its official release, the highest for the year. It continued to set new records, reaching 1 million viewers in just two days, 3 million within 10 days, and 4 million within 18 days, maintaining a strong box office run.

On the 79th day of its release, 'Demon Slayer' overtook 'Suzume' (5,589,861 viewers) to become the number one highest-grossing Japanese film and anime in Korea. It is now closely chasing the record of 'Exhuma' (5,636,018 viewers), the current top film at the box office this year.

With a cumulative revenue of 60,448,139,060 KRW, 'Demon Slayer' has already secured the title of the highest-earning imported film of the year, significantly ahead of the second-placed film. The race for the overall box office number one is now within reach.

While its long-term success is a boon for theaters, 'Demon Slayer' presents a significant challenge to Korean films.

An industry insider commented, "Japanese anime, with its established fanbase, offers a strong basis for box office success. Coupled with word-of-mouth, repeat viewings, and the influx of general audiences, it's optimized for sustained popularity."

However, this success is a cause for concern for competing Korean films. The insider added, "As audience preferences diversify, Korean cinema needs to adapt and evolve swiftly to keep pace."

With foreign films already occupying half of the top 10 spots on the 2025 box office chart, 'Demon Slayer's relentless performance intensifies the sense of crisis for Korean cinema. Continuous merchandise events and encore screenings are further bolstering its staying power.

All eyes are on whether 'Demon Slayer' will achieve the double crown of highest revenue and overall box office number one.

Korean netizens are expressing astonishment at 'Demon Slayer's box office milestones, with comments like "Demon Slayer is on another level!", "I noticed the theaters were packed every time I went", and "Please have more merchandise events!".