In modern anime, there is hardly a title as sensational as Demon Slayer, a shonen series that has been beating all records of popularity ever since its anime debut in 2019. With last year’s release of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie, the first in the upcoming cinematic trilogy that will conclude this legendary saga, the franchise has become even more overwhelmingly popular.
After its incredibly successful theatrical run last year, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle has announced its comeback not just to Japanese theaters, but globally. Starting March 6, the movie will re-release in North America for a limited time, with the United Kingdom screenings following on March 7. While it might be excellent news for fans who missed seeing the film on the big screen in 2025, most fans aren’t as excited about Infinity Castle’s return as expected.
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle’s Theatrical Re-Release Hits Cinemas Spring 2026
The theatrical release of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle took over Japan on July 18, 2025, and, to this day, the movie is still available in Japanese theaters. Its international theatrical run by Sony Pictures under Crunchyroll began shortly after, hitting dozens of countries worldwide and arriving in the United States theaters on September 12, bringing $70 million on just the opening weekend.
A few days ago, it was announced that Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle will be coming back to North America for a limited time, and, in a select few places, in a completely new format. Outside the typical screenings, select locations will feature the movie on SCREENX, allowing for a panoramic cinematic experience on 270-degree wall-projected screens. This, however, is still not as impressive as the Japan-exclusive IMAX version with an extended 1.43:1 aspect ratio – a first for any anime movie in history.
Both the Japanese version with English subtitles and the English dub versions will be available, and the tickets went on sale on February 20, 2026. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is the first chapter in the protagonists’ final battle against their night-dwelling, deadly adversaries. Trapped inside Muzan Kibutsuji’s Infinity Castle, the Demon Slayer Corps and Hashira are separated within the enemy’s lair. Tanjiro and the rest of the Demon Slayer Corps are forced to engage in life-or-death confrontations against Muzan’s top-ranking demons, with the decisive showdown looming before them.
The Infinity Castle arc will be adapted into a trilogy, with the first movie being only the beginning of the ambitious, heartbreaking finale. Part 2 will likely be released in 2027, while the final movie’s release date will presumably be sometime in 2029. However, neither of the films has yet received official release dates, and, given their scope, fans might have to wait even longer for the conclusion of anime’s biggest modern-day epic.
Demon Slayer’s New Movie Comeback Further Delays Infinity Castle’s Streaming Release
For fans who are looking forward to experiencing Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle on the big screen once again, as well as for those who missed the movie’s original release, the news of Demon Slayer’s theatrical comeback is, undeniably, a good one. However, the overall reception of Infinity Castle hitting the theaters once more has been mixed at best – and for a good reason.
Viewing the movie in a whole new format will undeniably take the already spectacular experience to a whole new level. Yet, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle’s extended theatrical run also means that it will take even longer for the film to become available on physical media and streaming. The presumed date of February for Infinity Castle’s Blu-ray and DVD release in Japan has been pushed even further back due to it taking over theaters again, and the option to watch the film on streaming platforms like Crunchyroll will likely not be available for a long while.
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle will not be coming to digital stores and streaming services as long as it stays in theaters. And, until it has its physical media release in Japan, it’s not gonna become available on streaming platforms for global audiences. While Infinity Castle is not the first anime movie to make fans wait this long for its debut on platforms outside of theaters, fans’ frustration regarding this situation is completely justified, especially considering that not everyone has the option to watch Infinity Castle on the big screen.
Fans might get an update on the franchise’s future – a physical media release date, news about the upcoming entry in the trilogy, or both – during the upcoming AnimeJapan 2026 convention. The event will take place in Tokyo from March 28 to March 31, and will likely have some new announcements in store for Demon Slayer fans. However, even in the best-case scenario, fans shouldn’t expect Infinity Castle to hit streaming platforms until Summer.
Infinity Castle’s Unprecedented Success Doesn’t Make the Streaming Delay Any Less Frustrating
The decision to extend Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle’s theatrical exclusivity is an understandable one. The movie has been an immense success both domestically and globally, so it makes sense for the producers and distributors to continuously incentivize viewers to see it in theaters, all for the sake of the film generating even more revenue. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle has already beaten numerous records, grossing over $797.3 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing anime film of all time, followed by its own predecessor, Demon Slayer: Mugen Train.
In the United States alone, Infinity Castle made more than $120 million – the highest-grossing international film in US history. On top of that, the movie has also become the most successful R-rated animated film and the seventh highest-grossing movie of 2025. The Demon Slayer franchise as a whole has been continuously breaking international records for anime movies, showcasing just how much interest global audiences have in the medium.
It’s no surprise that Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle’s creators want to maximize profits from their most successful franchise, and the same fate of extended theatrical runs likely awaits both of the upcoming Demon Slayer movies. However, this chase for profit leaves many fans incapable of experiencing the movie for months, and those fans can only hope that more anime films don’t follow in Demon Slayer’s footsteps as the trend for giving successful franchises theatrical entries continues to rise.
