'Demon Slayer' slashes US box office in record opening weekend

Anime film becomes top foreign language debut in America, defying pandemic

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The Demon Slayer film, based on a popular manga and TV anime series, grossed over $21 million at U.S. theaters during its opening weekend, despite COVID-19 restrictions. © Koyoharu Gotoge/Shueisha, Aniplex, ufotable

MARRIAN ZHOU, Nikkei staff writer

April 28, 2021 04:35 JST

NEW YORK -- Choo choo, watch out for the Demon Slayer train.

"Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train," an anime film based on a popular manga series, raked in roughly $21.1 million during its opening weekend in the U.S. The feature film broke the country's box office record for biggest foreign language debut, according to distributors Funimation and Aniplex of America.