Crunchyroll and Sony on Anime Films' Global Theatrical Rise

Anime’s transformation from a niche TV offering to a thriving theatrical force was a central discussion during a panel featuring executives from Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment at the 2026 Cannes Marché du Film. The panel was titled Cinema, Storytelling, and the Rise of Global Anime.

Crunchyroll’s Executive Vice President of Global Commerce and Theatrical, Mitchel Berger, and Sanford Panitch, President of Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group, attended the panel. The discussions centered around anime films’ rise as a cinema experience that impacted audience habits and generated box-office successes.

The trend is reflected in recent box-office results. Sony Pictures and Crunchyroll’s distribution partnership helped bring titles such as Demon Slayer: Mugen Train and Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle to global audiences.

Infinity Castle grossed more than $740 million USD worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing Japanese film in history. Films including Suzume, Jujutsu Kaisen 0, and Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle posted strong international theatrical performances beyond Japan.

Theatrical Anime is Becoming a Global Event Business

“True global IP has never been created by a streaming service,” stated Panitch in his arguments while referencing anime’s theatrical success. He highlighted Chainsaw Man’s success and international rollout, even though it did not have an established franchise pipeline.

Anime’s theatrical release has been largely limited to Japan, with only franchise films getting global distribution. The post-pandemic success of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie: Mugen Train changed the ideology.

“We proved coming out of the pandemic with Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, we can activate that fan base and get them back into cinema,” said Berger while discussing how anime films helped create a coming generation of theatergoers.

During the discussion, Berger said anime films succeed because audiences want to experience major releases collectively in theaters. He pointed to the success of screenings, events, and episode releases.

To convert box office momentum into a regular habit, Crunchyroll also launched Anime Nights, a monthly theatrical program, in October 2025. Since 2017, GKIDS has hosted the annual Ghibli Fest, an event-style anime film release.

Anime as a Global Entertainment Medium

According to Berger and Panitch, anime has evolved into a creative medium capable of bringing stories from diverse sources including manga and web novels to video games and original projects. Berger stressed adaptations like Solo Leveling (Korean webtoon), Ghost of Tsuchima (game), and Radiant (French manga), which were not based on any Japanese work.

Berger stated that stories come from across the world, and he thinks “you can take those and then tell them all through the medium that is anime.” Crunchyroll president Rahul Purini has also echoed a similar sentiment and said he intends to focus on narratives taken out of Japan that resonate with a global audience.

A key argument from the panel was Sony and Crunchyroll’s works to show how streaming services and cinemas can operate as complementary platforms rather than rivals. Panitch argued that “You can watch stuff on our streaming service Crunchyroll,” and have a specific experience, while the theatrical screenings offer a different, complementary experience.

The discussion reflects a broader shift in how anime is positioned within the entertainment industry. Many new anime adaptations are hosting screening events to engage more audiences and generate additional revenue. Upcoming releases like Kagurabachi and the likes are also getting theater premieres before their streaming releases.

Crunchyroll is hosting more than 20 programming blocks across Anime Expo to premiere episodes from upcoming releases, including Gachikuta season 2.