Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle’s Run Fuels Oscar Buzz

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle has transformed the late summer box office into a showcase for anime’s mainstream power, smashing records with over $616 million globally and stunning the North American market with a $118 million haul. The film’s unprecedented run led to Crunchyroll CEO Rahul Purini stating that the distributor will make a push in the industry for the anime to be nominated for the next Oscars. 

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle and Anime’s Oscar Prospects

The Infinity Castle phenomenon is redefining boundaries for Japanese cinema and anime; it’s now the seventh-highest-grossing movie worldwide for 2025, and the highest-grossing anime film of all time, outpacing even Mugen Train. In India, its INR 70 crore+ box office makes it the fifth highest-grossing foreign film of the year and the best-performing anime ever in the country.

In an interview with Hollywood Reporter, Rahul Purini credits the runaway success to the passionate, global fandom and a shift in perceptions of anime as niche. From the box office and in traditional Hollywood polling, Infinity Castle drew a broad, multiracial cross-section of moviegoers, disproving outdated myths about anime audiences. The movie secured an impressive turnout in Southeast Asia and North America, and its theatrical run is far from over. Purini expects the total to keep climbing as more territories come aboard.

Given its blockbuster status, Infinity Castle’s Oscar chances look increasingly realistic. The film’s lavish visuals, sweeping story, and emotional core put it in serious contention for Best Animated Feature, but discussion is building about a broader push, including a possible Best Picture bid, a territory where anime has never triumphed. The last time a Japanese anime made major Oscar noise, Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away took home Best Animated Feature in 2003; no anime has been a true Best Picture contender.

Infinity Castle’s record box office, critical momentum, and Sony’s global push could change that, setting a new precedent both for Japanese artistry and for the stature of anime as a leading cinematic force around the world.