The question for the longest time had been one of when, not if, the milestone would be reached, and it has finally happened: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba The Movie Mugen Train has surpassed 40 billion yen at the Japanese box office!
Since the movie’s release in Japanese theaters all the way back in October 2020, Mugen Train has broken records in Japan and around the world, even becoming the first non-Hollywood film to reach number 1 in the list of highest-grossing films in a calendar year by making more money than any film released in 2020. The film has long-since broken Spirited Away’s reign as the highest-grossing Japanese film of all time, but with 40 billion yen in box office returns over six months, Demon Slayer: Mugen Train is now far out of sight of any other film.
With Japan’s low inflation being considered and the now-9 billion yen lead Demon Slayer has over any film at the Japanese box office, the question remains when (or if) any film will come close to overtaking Mugen Train’s 40 billion yen return. And that isn’t all. This news came as the film continues to perform well in the US, with a further $2 million being taken in this past weekend, which lifts Mugen Train’s current gross to 51.7 billion yen ($474,828,138). And this is with the film still yet to release in certain territories like the UK, and still comfortably sitting in Japan’s box office top 10 ranking (8th last weekend).
Even if COVID-19 has had a major impact on worldwide box office takings that would result in Mugen Train’s impressive returns struggling to crack the top 10 in a typical year, the impressive results for the film shouldn’t be understated. And with a second season on the horizon, the Demon Slayer (Mugen) Train just keeps on chugging.