Demon Slayer: Theatres get a lease of life as anime goes mainstream

The unprecedented success ofthe Japanese animated dark fantasy film Demon Slayer: Kimetsuno Yaiba-Infinity Castle underscores India’s growing appetite for the genre, driven largely by Gen Z audiences.

- Lata Jha

The film has already crossed ₹65 crore in box-office collections in the country, leaving past anime successes, such as Suzume (₹10 crore) and Jujutsu Kaisen (₹9 crore), far behind.

Demon Slayer’s success proves that what was once a niche, subcultural interest has entered the mainstream—powered by sustained exposure and sharper marketing.

To be sure, Japanese anime has built a loyal TV fan base in India since the early 2000s.

Devang Sampat, managing director of Cinepolis India, said the traction comes from years of steady fandom growth, anime content on over-the-top platforms, social-media buzz, and community-driven engagement. When such titles reach cinemas, fans treat them as a shared cultural event, which explains the strong response, Sampat added.