Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle (2025)

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Infinity Castle (Japanese: 劇場版「鬼滅の刃」無限城編, Gekijō-ban 'Kimetsu no Yaiba' Mugen-jō-hen) is the electrifying 2025 Japanese animated action-adventure film trilogy that kicks off the climactic Infinity Castle arc from Koyoharu Gotouge's beloved manga, produced by Ufotable and Aniplex. The first film, subtitled Part 1: Akaza Returns, premiered in Japan on July 18, 2025, by Toho and Aniplex, with international releases following in August via Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures. Directed by Haruo Sotozaki and Hikaru Kondō, this 155-minute epic catapults the Demon Slayer Corps into Muzan Kibutsuji's labyrinthine fortress, where Tanjiro Kamado (voiced by Natsuki Hanae), Nezuko, and the Hashira confront the terrifying Upper Rank demons in a desperate, all-out war. With a staggering 8.7/10 IMDb rating and record-breaking ¥7.31 billion ($49.55 million) in its first four days—surpassing Mugen Train as Japan's fastest to ¥10 billion—this opener has shattered box office records, earning 5.16 million admissions and becoming the second-highest-grossing film of 2025 in Japan behind Detective Conan: One-eyed Flashback. The film's pulse-pounding spectacle shines in its breathtaking battles: Tanjiro's rematch with the ferocious Upper Rank 3, Akaza (Tomokazu Seki), unleashes water breathing forms in fluid, anime-inspired choreography, while the Hashira—Giyu Tomioka (Takahiro Sakurai) and Shinobu Kocho (Saori Hayami)—face off against Doma and other demons in a labyrinth of shifting rooms. A standout sequence is the Corps' infiltration, where Nezuko's (Akari Kitō) demon-human hybrid powers clash with Muzan's (Toshiyuki Morikawa) insidious traps, blending visceral swordplay with emotional stakes as alliances fracture. The voice cast, including Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Inosuke and Kengo Kawanishi as Muichiro, delivers raw intensity, amplified by Yuki Kajiura's soaring score and a promotional short narrated by Hōchū Ōtsuka as Sakonji Urokodaki, tying into MLB's 2025 Tokyo Dome event. Critics hail Ufotable's animation as 'a visual feast,' with IGN praising its 'epic scale,' though some note the trilogy's pacing rushes the manga's depth. Premiering amid global hype, Infinity Castle Part 1 marks the saga's explosive finale, its ¥1.64 billion opening day setting a Japanese record and fueling a 2025 theatrical compilation of the series. Co-produced in Japan with international flair, it cements Demon Slayer's phenomenon status, surpassing 5 million manga copies and inspiring fan events worldwide. For shounen fans or Jujutsu Kaisen devotees, it's a must-watch, delivering a war where slayers rage against the ultimate evil—just brace for the trilogy's heart-wrenching toll.