UPDATED: It was only a matter of time, and what a time it is. After making record-breaking waves in Japan this summer, and rolling out in staggered fashion elsewhere, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle finally reached a big suite of overseas markets, and the U.S., this weekend via Sony/Crunchyroll.
The latter are reporting a new high for the biggest anime opening of all time with a $132.1M global weekend. That breaks down to $70M in North America, plus $29M from Latin America, $17.4M from Europe, $6M from Middle East, $5.2M from India and $3.2M from Australia as well as some smaller markets.
Note that Sony does not have Korea, Taiwan or China. In Korea, Infinity Castle is already at $34.7M through today, and is the No. 3 movie of the year in the market.
We saw a phenomenon with Demon Slayer: Mugen Train in 2021, and this continuation just drives home how popular the genre has become.
Breaking down the results via Sony, Latin America scored the No. 1 anime opening of all time in multiple markets including Mexico ($9.8M), Brazil ($4.4M), Peru ($2.8M), Central America ($2.4M), Argentina ($2.2M), and Chile ($2.2M).
In Europe and the Middle East, key markets that opened as the top anime film ever include: UK ($4.6M), Spain ($3.7M), Italy ($3.M), Saudi Arabia ($2.8M) and the UAE ($1.4M).
Elsewhere, India launched to $5.2M for the biggest opening weekend of any anime or animation film. Australia kicked off with $3.2M, the highest opening for an anime movie.
In Japan, this is a Toho/Aniplex release from Ufotable. By last weekend’s count, it had already exceeded $282M in the home market and a handful of others. With Sony’s reported take this frame, that would lift the movie above $450M, per comScore. The Imax global is $58.5M to date.
The Top 5 for Sony/Crunchyroll markets overseas are: Hong Kong ($11.7M), Indonesia ($7.2M), Thailand ($7M), Malaysia ($6.5M) and Philippines ($6.4M). Many of those are all-time bests for anime.
Still to come are French-speaking and German-speaking markets next weekend.
After last weekend’s divine opening, New Line/Warner Bros’ The Conjuring: Last Rites added a big $60.5M in 76 markets during the sophomore session. The international running cume has crossed the $200M mark at $201.8M. Global is $332.9M through Sunday.
New starts this frame included France and Belgium as the top openings ever for the franchise, while the Middle East launched as the biggest opening weekend ever for a horror title.
Overall, holds were strong. Among Latin America markets, Last Rites has already become the biggest industry horror movie in Peru, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Uruguay. Asia also leaned in with Last Rites the No. 1 movie again in Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia.
Last Rites’ Top 5 offshore markets are: Mexico ($21.2M), UK ($16.6M), Brazil ($13.4M), India ($10.4M) and Germany ($10.3M).
Japan is still to open, on October 17.
Universal/Focus’ return/goodbye to Highclere Castle has stuck a chord with audiences. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale released in just 31 international box office markets and grossed $12.3M; above the last entry in the feature series, Downton Abbey: A New Era, and in line with Ticket to Paradise at the same point. The global start was $30.4M.
Natch, the UK was the biggest Downton market this weekend at a clear No.1 and with $6.3M; it outgrossed the three-day opening weekend of Downton Abbey: A New Era in just its first two days of release.
France has a terrific $1.4M bow across 423 screens at No.2 in the market, behind fellow opener Conjuring: Last Rites. The performance is above Downton Abbey: A New Era and Ticket to Paradise at the same point, and play is seen in commercial and arthouse cinemas.
In Australia, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale added $1.2M in its opening weekend, across 314 screens at No.3 in the market, behind Demon Slayer and The Conjuring: Last Rites. An opening of this level is in line with Downton Abbey: A New Era. Reviews in the market have been overwhelmingly positive.
The Netherlands achieved the highest opening weekend of the franchise, as well as the biggest day in the franchise’s history on Saturday. The weekend grossed $900K, above both Downton Abbey and Downton Abbey: A New Era and in line with Ticket to Paradise.
Italy grossed $500K in its opening weekend across 350 screens at No.4 in the market, behind Demon Slayer, Conjuring: Last Rites and Materialists. Performance is above Downton Abbey: A New Era at the same point.
Next markets ahead include Germany, Mexico, Spain and Japan.
MISC UPDATED CUMES/NOTABLE
The Bad Guys 2 (UNI): $4.9M intl weekend (77 markets); $120.3M intl cume/$199.6M global
The Roses (DIS): $3.5M intl weekend (45 markets); $26.6M intl cume/$41M global
F1 (WB): $2.1M intl weekend (63 markets); $434M intl cume/$623.3M global
Materialists (SNY): $2M intl weekend (52 markets); $64.8M intl cume/$101.3M global
Weapons (WB): $1.8M intl weekend (69 markets); $112.1M intl cume/$259.6M global
Jurassic World Rebirth (UNI): $1.5M intl weekend (83 markets); $524.4M intl cume/$863.8M global
The Naked Gun (PAR): $1.5M intl weekend (38 markets); $48.4M intl cume/$101M global
Smurfs (PAR): $982K intl weekend (43 markets); $87.7M intl cume/$118.8M global
How to Train Your Dragon (UNI): $692K intl weekend (83 markets); $370.8M intl cume/$633.7M global