Anime has been gaining popularity in recent years, with titles like Jujutsu Kaisen and other shōnen hits drawing in crowds like never before. This year alone, theatrical events have brought in massive audiences around the world, turning the medium into a full-fledged box-office contender rather than a niche interest shared among small fan groups.
Alongside titles like Demon Slayer and My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen stands out as one of the most popular modern anime. From its first two seasons to its prequel film, the franchise has attracted increasing attention with each new release. Now, with the launch of Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution, it’s clear more than ever that another film will reach greater heights.
Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution Broke One of Demon Slayer’s Records
The theatrical rollout of Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution showed how much the franchise’s box-office numbers have grown since the premiere of Jujutsu Kaisen 0 in 2021. Opening-day earnings were impressive for the limited event release, with early previews contributing to the total gross, which reached $1.6 million on Thursday alone and an additional $4.9 million on opening day in North America.
The performance outshined even Demon Slayer’s To the Swordsmith Village special in 2023, which earned $4.2 million on its opening day in North America. Much like Execution, To the Swordsmith Village was a theatrical compilation of the final episodes of The Entertainment District Arc and the first episode of the Swordsmith Village Arc.
In total, the opening weekend of Demon Slayer’s To the Swordsmith Village earned $10.1 million. In comparison, Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution’s momentum carried through the weekend, with the special accumulating $10.2 million, edging past Demon Slayer’s numbers in 2023 and proving a strong turnout for the series.
For a release that compiles a recap of the Shibuya Incident with the first two episodes of the Culling Game arc, Jujutsu Kaisen’s success speaks volumes about how willing audiences are to gather in theaters for the franchise. Its earnings even drew notice due to the fact that it wasn’t too far off from Jujutsu Kaisen 0’s $8.7 million opening.
Jujutsu Kaisen 0 Had a Strong Box Office
When the first Jujutsu Kaisen film premiered in 2021, and later in North America in 2022, the film immediately established the franchise as a major theatrical contender in the entertainment industry. Its full run earned over $196 million worldwide, placing it among the most successful anime films to date, ranking 11th overall in highest-earning Japanese films.
While anticipation for Jujutsu Kaisen 0 was strong, and its worldwide grossing reflects that, the theatrical release of anime in 2021 and 2022 wasn’t as strong as it’s been in 2025. At the time, audiences were still warming up to large-scale anime releases in theaters, and the demand wasn’t nearly as high as it is today.
However, given that Jujutsu Kaisen 0 aired during the global pandemic, its release and success were solid evidence of a growing shift among audiences at the time, with the film helping push anime further into the global spotlight. Given that, at the time, anime’s momentum hadn’t remotely reached its peak, Jujutsu Kaisen achieved what few other anime films did.
If the film were released in 2025 rather than 2021 and 2022, Jujutsu Kaisen 0 would likely have reached even higher numbers and broken more records for the anime industry. That said, the anime series is far from over and, given recent success at the box office for Infinity Castle and Reze Arc, Jujutsu Kaisen may be eyeing another film.
A New Jujutsu Kaisen Film Could Dominate Worldwide Box Offices
A new feature-length Jujutsu Kaisen film would generate significant global turnout given the recent trends. Unlike the first film, there is a far more favorable turnout for anime films in theaters across multiple regions, meaning that any major anime title will very likely chart alongside mainstream blockbusters.
Along with the fact that interest in the series has grown substantially through its first and second seasons and prequel film, another Jujutsu Kaisen theatrical release would draw in both newer fans as well as those who have been loyal to the series since it first premiered in 2020.
Given the success of other series, Jujutsu Kaisen has immense potential for a strong opening day and weekend across the world. With interest in the medium growing following its success at the global box office, it’s possible for the series to even reach a level that shatters the records set this year.
With so many factors at play and the rising interest in anime worldwide, a new Jujutsu Kaisen film might just reach or perhaps surpass what Demon Slayer had achieved in 2025. While no milestone can be guaranteed, recent trends suggest that the franchise will achieve new heights if it commits to creating another feature-length film.
2025 Cemented Anime’s Place in Mainstream Entertainment
The success of films like Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1 and Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc has officially proved that anime can stand alongside Hollywood in the entertainment industry. With a massive global turnout, anime has only confirmed its box-office potential, paving the way for more theatrical releases in the future.
Both of these films shattered multiple records and set new standards and expectations within the anime industry. By achieving historic success, Infinity Castle and Reze Arc have cemented anime’s status among mainstream entertainment, with its momentum likely only to continue growing from here as more viewers take note.
With Jujutsu Kaisen’s third season premiering in January 2026, along with its successful theatrical event with Execution, the franchise is continuing to draw in attention. If the franchise were to release a feature-length film in the coming years, it could soar beyond what Jujutsu Kaisen 0 achieved and become the franchise’s defining installment.
- Release Date
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October 3, 2020
- Network
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TBS, MBS, CBC, Tulip Television, BSN, tys, NBC, HBC, RKK, i-Television, SBS, IBC, BSS, MRO, OBS, TUF, RSK, TUY, tbc, RKB, SBC, KUTV, RBC, UTY, RCC, MRT, atv, MBC
- Directors
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Ryohei Takeshita, Masataka Akai, Chie Nishizawa, Daisuke Tsukushi, Tomomi Kamiya, Kakushi Ifuku, Ken Takahashi
- Writers
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Hiroshi Seko
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Yuichi Nakamura
Satoru Gojo
