After classic anime series like One Piece and Dragon Ball, the success of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba was a complete surprise.
After making history in the manga format, Koyoharu Gotouge‘s work continues to grow in theaters. To the point that it has come near the first Pokémon movie.
Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mugen Train had become the highest grossing foreign film in its premiere at the US box office. And this is despite that it is under the R-rated film classification.
We now know that only Pokémon The First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back has prevented the Kimetsu no Yaiba movie from being crowned the largest animation premiere in the US. However, there are clear reasons that works against the film about Tanjiro and company.
During its premiere, Pokémon The First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back ended up generating just over 31 million dollars at the US box office, while Kimetsu no Yaiba: The Infinite Train has raked in 21.1 million dollars.
However, the big difference is due to the age classification, and due to the current condition of COVID-19. Kimetsu no Yaiba: The Infinite Train has been released in just over 1600 cinemas for now. By contrast, Pokémon The First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back went on to release in 3,043 theaters .
Thus the reasons why “Kimetsu no Yaiba: The Infinite Train” has not achieved even more in its premiere in the USA becomes clear. It is mainly due to the fact that the availability in theaters has not allowed it.
Similarly, it is logical to imagine that as time goes by, more and more cinemas choose to host the broadcast of what is being a phenomenon on the big screen on a global scale. Although at the same time it is difficult to foresee that so many will open theatres like for “Pokémon The First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back”.
