Demon Slayer: Mugen Train is already making very large waves in its home nation of Japan, but now, it’s beginning to reach that same status in the West. The US anime box office is a big ladder to climb, and it’s an impressive feat that Demon Slayer: Mugen Train has managed to hit #2 in such a short space of time – it first hit screens in Japan last October. It’s already #1 in the East, surpassing the legendary Spirited Away by Studio Ghibli and it’s looking to match that success in the West as well. It recently surpassed the 2000 Pokemon movie that was on $43,758,684, although that figure is adjusted for inflation, as modern records tend to do. As it stands right now though, Demon Slayer: Mugen Train has grossed $43,956,487, vaulting Pokemon into the #2 spot.
Funimation announced the achievement via their Twitter account. We loved Demon Slayer: Mugen Train in our review, saying it is “on the path to be counted among the legendary movies of all time”, and judging by Demon Slayer’s box office figures, other people certainly share our praise.
This train makes no stops! #MugenTrain is officially the 2nd highest grossing anime film in U.S. box office history. ✌️
?https://t.co/uKSHWTvNTs @DemonSlayerUSA @aniplexUSA pic.twitter.com/orvVHSAJcL
— Funimation (@Funimation) May 22, 2021
Funnily enough, #2 still puts it behind a Pokemon movie in the all-time box office chart. Demon Slayer: Mugen Train is still a way off the #1 spot that is currently held by 1998’s Pokemon: The First Movie (alternatively titled Mewtwo Strikes Back, at just over $85m (adjusted for inflation). At a gap of around $41 million, it’s a long way to go, with Mugen Train needing to nearly double its box office revenue to make it to that 1998 Pokemon movie. It was projected to be only the second anime film to finish the weekend at #1 for that period, after (guess who?) Pokemon: The First Movie.
