Well, it’s official: the Demon Slayer: Mugen Train anime film is slashing through all the records. Or at least, almost all of them.
Funimation and Aniplex announced that the Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train anime film is now the second highest grossing anime film in US box office history. And I mean, all of US box office history. As of the night of May 21, 2021; this anime film managed to earn $43,956,487 since its debut in NA theaters on April 23, 2021, edging out Pokemon: The Movie 2000 out of the spot it’d held for just over 21 years.
Remember that this is on top of Demon Slayer: Mugen Train‘s other records slashed. Just in North America, the anime film was already the number one foreign language debut in US box office history. This anime film is the highest grossing anime and Japanese film (live action or animated) of all time in its home nation of Japan. Seriously, with a $368 million USD gross, you can tell this is true.
Demon Slayer: Mugen Train ~ Not Quite Number One?
So with all these mentions of Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, you might be wondering what the number one anime film in US box office history? Well, the answer might surprise you. Apparently, the number one spot goes to: Pokemon: The First Movie. Yes, really.
Pokemon: The First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back earned a grand total of $85,744,662 in the US box office when you adjust for inflation. So, yes. Despite making nearly $44 million USD, Tanjiro and co. are still well short of this mark. The anime film would have to earn spectacularly more than it already is to beat Mewtwo here. Although, this is Demon Slayer we’re talking about, so it’s not an impossible task.
Conclusion
According to Funimation and Aniplex, Demon Slayer: Mugen Train is now the number two highest grossing anime film in US box office history. It’s not enough to beat the current holder of the title, but Tanjiro and co. are getting there. Now all they need to do is to practice their breathing a bit more.
Source: Funimation, Anime News Network
