“Demon Slayer” Fires Final Battle in North America

According to figures released by Exhibitor Relations on September 14, the latest installment of the popular animated series "Demon Slayer" dominated the North American box office in its first week of release with 70 million USD, marking the highest opening weekend revenue of all time for an anime film in this market.

“ Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - Infinity Castle: Part 1 ” is the opening part of the trilogy of movies that concludes the entire story of "Demon Slayer."

The film takes the audience to the final battle between the pillars and the Twelve Demon Moons inside the giant labyrinth - the headquarters of the demon lord Muzan Kibutsuji.

Before taking theaters in the US and Canada by storm, the film also took its home country by storm, becoming the third highest-grossing film of all time in Japan.

The film brings the audience an impressive experience with eye-catching images and elaborately staged fighting scenes. The lighting design, maze architecture and the use of water, fire and lightning in the battles make each frame like a vivid painting.

David A. Gross, an analyst at Franchise Entertainment Research, said that Crunchyroll, a platform owned by Sony, has been pushing Japanese anime further into the mainstream in the US, and he said the film’s North American box office performance was “mind-blowing.”

Coming in second is another exorcism-themed film, “The Conjuring: Last Rites ,” with $26.1 million, after an impressive debut last weekend with $84 million.

The film follows the Warrens as they investigate the most haunting case of their exorcism career, known as the “Smurl Haunting.”

Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics (55% on Rotten Tomatoes), the return of psychics Ed and Lorraine Warren (played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) still received strong support from audiences.

Third place went to Focus Features’ “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” which earned $18.1 million in its first three days. This is the final installment (for now) in the series about an aristocratic British family and their maids in a changing world at the turn of the 20th century.

“This is an excellent debut for the third installment in a dramatic series,” said Mr. Gross.

Top grossing movies at North American theaters last week:

1. “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba -- Infinity Castle: Part 1” – 70 million USD

2. “The Conjuring: Last Rites” – 26.1 million USD

3. “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale ” – 18.1 million USD

4. “Lionsgate's "The Long WalkThe Grand Finale” – 11.5 million USD

5. “Toy Story” - $3.5 million

6. “Weapons” - $2.7 million

7. “Hamilton” - $2.2 million

8. “Freakier Friday” - 2.1 million USD

9. “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues” - 1.7 million USD

10. “The Sound of Music (60th Anniversary)” - 1.5 million USD./.