Not every anime uses a theatrical release to tell parts of its story, but some of the most popular franchises do. To that end, anime movies like Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc (2025) and Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (2021) have successfully handpicked high-octane arcs from their source material and turned them into lucrative spectacles on the big screen.
Some also offer lasting cultural impact: Think of Hideaki Anno’s Rebuild of Evangelion film tetralogy, which reinterprets the core thesis of Neon Genesis Evangelion and maps a markedly different ending for its characters. Long-standing anime franchises like Naruto, One Piece, and Dragon Ball have also used the theatrical model to varying effect — while not all of these movies are deeply moving or impactful, they’ve done pretty well at the box office.
Then there’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle, which made over $70 million during its opening weekend. In hindsight, this is no surprise. Infinity Castle is the first in a trilogy of films to adapt the penultimate arc from Koyoharu Gotouge’s Demon Slayer manga, so it has the unique opportunity to leverage the action-heavy sequences of the manga for big-screen spectacle. While there’s a conversation to be had about anime movies often struggling to justify their existence, Infinity Castle makes excellent use of its format, especially on IMAX screens. For those who may have missed it in theaters, Infinity Castle is finally available to stream on Crunchyroll.
The Infinity Castle arc is a direct continuation of seasons 3 and 4 of Demon Slayer, which got their respective feature-length compilations with To the Swordsmith Village (2023) and To the Hashira Training (2024). Infinity Castle is a notable exception, as this trilogy of films is a movie-only offering, with no anime season re-cuts being turned into a multi-episode fifth season.
The Hashira Training arc ends with the members of the Demon Slayer Corps undergoing vigorous training to prepare for war against series antagonist Muzan Kibutsuji. The first Infinity Castle movie picks up right where the previous arc left off, with Muzan diving into the titular pocket dimension that sports warped directional gravity and a highly unusual structural layout. Tanjiro Kamado and the rest of the Demon Slayer Corps pursue him, splitting up to cover more ground as they each face deadly enemies.
The film sustains its mysteries by punctuating individual battles with flashbacks that allow us to understand the antagonists better. These compassion-first moments, which ground some seriously frenetic battles in this arc, are undoubtedly among the film’s many strengths. By affording dimensionality to the demons who are under Muzan’s control, Infinity Castle deliberately (and effectively) lingers on the tragic vulnerability that shapes these characters.
Admittedly, this arc is all about flashy battles. The Infinity Castle is a dizzying arena of illusions, designed to lead even the strongest demon slayers astray. These illusions are brilliantly brought to life by Ufotable’s characteristic blend of 2D and 3D animation, be it in the form of eerie lamplit rooms or shifting corridors that sometimes move on their own. Hallways fold into one another, and shoji-style panels mimicking trap doors remain scattered throughout.
Some demons, like Nakime, can cause people to fall downwards into the castle. That sudden loss of solid footing functions as a disorienting battle tactic. These visual details expectedly pop on the big screen, with theatrical sound systems lending to the immersion in ways that cannot be replicated at home. However, the astounding animation should still shine bright no matter what device you’re watching Infinity Castle on, highlighting the franchise’s strengths as a compelling battle shonen.
Those who haven’t had the opportunity to catch Infinity Castle on the big screen have good reason to stream this highly celebrated movie and catch up with the evolving story. That said, a rewatch with the theatrical experience as a frame of reference isn’t a bad idea either for die-hard fans — after all, strong character payoffs hold equal weight as the most memorable of fights. There’s also a sense of unease that comes with the beginning of this penultimate arc, ushering in a sense of somber finality that feels exciting in the best of ways.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
