NEW YORK, Sep 10 (News On Japan) - A “Demon Slayer” craze is sweeping the United States. Advance screenings of the theatrical feature “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — Infinity Castle Arc, Chapter 1: Akaza Returns” have been held at multiple cinemas in New York, drawing enthusiastic crowds.
At theaters in Manhattan, fans eager for the release gathered well ahead of showtime. The U.S. early screenings began on September 9, and before the 7 p.m. showing some attendees arrived in full cosplay as characters such as Kamado Tanjiro.
Limited-edition goods were snapped up immediately. Fans showed off a cup shaped like a sword and scabbard—which sold out quickly—and a specially designed square popcorn container, heightening the excitement.
Audience members said, “On a scale of 1 to 10, I’m 1,000% excited!” and “I jumped up and down in my room when I got the ticket.”
According to a U.S. ticketing site, first-day sales of advance tickets in August set the highest presale total on record for an animated feature.
Viewers leaving the theater offered glowing reactions, saying, “It was worth the wait. I can’t wait for the next installment—fantastic,” and “I cried three times; that tells you how good it is.”
In Japan, the film has drawn more than 22 million admissions in the 52 days since release, with box office revenue exceeding 31.4 billion yen. The strong momentum appears likely to carry over to overseas markets.
Source: FNN
