2025 will be remembered as the year anime cemented its place as a box office force. Three anime films alone—Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc, and Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback—grossed over $1.04 billion combined.
The Numbers
Demon Slayer led with approximately $780 million, followed by Chainsaw Man at $175 million and Detective Conan at $166 million. These figures place anime alongside Hollywood's biggest franchises in terms of earning potential.
Diverse Success
What's notable is the diversity of these successes. From action spectacles to mystery films, different types of anime found theatrical audiences. This suggests broad appetite rather than dependence on a single formula.
Investment Returns
With Chainsaw Man grossing $175 million on a $4 million budget, the return on investment for anime films can be extraordinary. This efficiency will surely attract more investment into anime theatrical releases.
2026 Outlook
With major releases already announced for 2026, including the continuation of the Demon Slayer trilogy and new films from beloved franchises, the theatrical anime market shows no signs of slowing.