'Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Arc' Tops 2025 Box Office, First Anime to Achieve Phenomenal Feat

The sensational hit of the year, 'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train Arc,' has officially claimed the top spot at the 2025 South Korean box office as of Saturday, November 22nd.

As of 00:00 AM on November 22nd, the film recorded a cumulative audience of 5,638,737 viewers, surpassing 'Zombie Daughter' (5,637,455 viewers) and securing its position as the highest-grossing film of 2025 in South Korea.

This achievement marks a historic milestone, as it's the first time an animated film has topped the annual box office charts. Previously, only live-action foreign films like 'Avatar' (2010), 'Transformers 3' (2011), and 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' (2021) had held this distinction, making this achievement even more significant.

The film's success can be attributed in part to its strong performance in premium formats, with approximately 19% of its audience, or 1.06 million viewers, opting for 4DX, IMAX, and Dolby Cinema screenings. Positive reviews highlighting the exceptional animation quality and overwhelming action sequences from the outset have fueled a surge in repeat viewings (N-cha 관람). Furthermore, various fan-oriented events, including weekly merchandise giveaways and special screenings for fans and supporters, have maintained high seat occupancy rates even 14 weeks after its release.

Globally, 'Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Arc' has also achieved remarkable success. Its 4DX global box office has surpassed $29.3 million, making it the highest-grossing 4DX film of the year. This also stands as the highest-grossing 4DX Japanese animation worldwide and ranks eighth among all 4DX films globally. A consistent global average seat occupancy rate of 51% further underscores its enduring appeal.

Meanwhile, in Japan, the film had garnered 26.04 million viewers and ¥37.9 billion in revenue by November 16th, closely trailing 'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train' (¥40.7 billion) for the top two spots. Since its release in China on the 14th, it has already surpassed ¥100 million on its opening day and reached ¥300 million within three days, continuing the legacy of the Mugen Arc. Worldwide, the film has earned ¥106.3 billion, making it the first Japanese film in history to surpass ¥100 billion at the global box office.

'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train Arc,' depicting the first chapter of the final battle between the Demon Slayer Corps and the Upper Rank Demons at the Demon's stronghold, Mugen Castle, is currently playing to rave reviews in theaters nationwide.

Korean netizens are expressing their excitement, with comments like 'The quality is so good, it could reach 10 million viewers!', 'Repeat viewings are a must! I'm going again for the merchandise,' and 'I hope they continue releasing movies in the series.'