Demon Slayer Dominates Japan’s 2025 Box Office With Record-Breaking Film
Bunka Tsūshinsha has released its top 10 highest-earning domestic and foreign films in Japan for 2025, according to a report from the Japanese entertainment news website Cinema Today.
The data, current as of December and partially estimated, shows a massive year for the domestic film industry, largely driven by animation.
The domestic box office was decisively led by Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle – Part 1: Akaza Returns, which amassed a staggering 38.71 billion yen, translating to approximately US$247 million, as of December 28.
The list of the top ten highest-grossing domestic films showcased a strong showing for anime, accounting for five of the spots.
Following the Demon Slayer film were Kokuho (National Treasure) at 18.35 billion yen (about US$117 million) and Meitantei Conan: Sekigan no Flashback (Detective Conan: One-eyed Flashback) with 14.7 billion yen (about US$93.8 million).
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc earned 9.95 billion yen as of December 28, a figure confirmed to have crossed 10.01 billion yen (about US$63.9 million) by December 31.
Other entries included Cells at Work! (6.35 billion yen/US$40.5 million), Gekijōban TOKYO MER ~Hashiru Kinkyū Kyūmei-shitsu~ Nankai Mission, a live-action manga adaptation, earning 5.27 billion yen (about US$33.6 million), Exit 8, a live-action film based on a horror game, at 5.1 billion yen (about US$32.5 million), Eiga Doraemon: Nobita no Esekai Monogatari (Doraemon: Nobita’s Art World Tales) at 4.6 billion yen (about US$29.3 million), Film Grand Maison Paris, grossing 4.2 billion yen (about US$26.8 million), and Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning- at 3.59 billion yen (about US$22.9 million).
The performance of the Demon Slayer film indicates a massive surge in box office success compared to the previous year.
Last year’s top-earning domestic film, Case Closed: The Million-dollar Pentagram (Detective Conan: Hyakuman Doru no Michishirube), brought in 15.8 billion yen (about US$102 million at the time).
Meanwhile, the Top 10 Highest-Grossing Foreign Films in Japan for 2025 were led by the action blockbuster Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning, which grossed 5.27 billion yen (about US$33.6 million).
Disney’s Moana 2 followed closely with 5.17 billion yen (about US$33.01 million).
Jurassic World Rebirth was third at 4.9 billion yen (about US$31.2 million), followed by A Minecraft Movie with 3.95 billion yen (about US$25.2 million) and Wicked at 3.54 billion yen (about US$22.6 million).
The foreign list was completed by Lilo & Stitch (3.39 billion yen/US$21.6 million), Mufasa: The Lion King (2.25 billion yen/US$14.3 million), F1 the Movie (2.12 billion yen/US$13.5 million), Conclave (1.15 billion yen/US$7.3 million), and Captain America: Brave New World (1.14 billion yen/US$7.2 million).
This year’s foreign champion narrowly missed the earnings of last year’s top international film, Inside Out 2, which earned 5.36 billion yen (about US$34.7 million at the time).
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