Hollywood’s Already Learning the Wrong Lessons From Demon Slayer’s Success

by

The anime film *Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle* is a massive box office success, becoming the highest-grossing anime film ever. However, some in Hollywood seem to be misinterpreting why it’s done so well. Following the huge success of *Mugen Train* a few years ago, this new *Demon Slayer* movie has surpassed it in popularity and revenue, solidifying the franchise’s position as a major entertainment property.

I’ve been watching the success of *Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle* here in the US, and it’s really something. It feels like a turning point for anime films at the box office. It just proves how popular anime has become with fans over the last few years. But it’s a bit concerning to hear, from sources like DanielRPK, that a live-action adaptation is already being quickly developed – it seems like Hollywood might be missing the point of what makes the anime so special.

Demon Slayer Live-Action Adaptation in the Works With Netflix?

A new report from DanielRPK suggests Netflix is quickly moving forward with a live-action version of *Demon Slayer*. Details are scarce right now, but this project seems to be taking a different approach than the recent success of the new movie. While Netflix has seen success with live-action adaptations like *One Piece* and *Avatar: The Last Airbender*, other projects like *Yu Yu Hakusho* and *Death Note* haven’t performed as well. However, that isn’t the biggest issue at the moment.

Over the past few years, we’ve seen a growing number of anime series being adapted into live-action films and shows, reflecting anime’s increasing popularity around the world. Big franchises like *Naruto* and *My Hero Academia* are finally getting live-action adaptations, but it’s been a long road. Early, poorly received attempts, such as *Dragon Ball Evolution*, created a negative impression in Hollywood, and it’s taken years of effort for anime to achieve box office success.

Anime’s popularity has exploded recently, and *Demon Slayer* benefited greatly from this shift. Streaming services and the increased time people spent at home during the COVID-19 pandemic introduced a lot more viewers to anime, and *Demon Slayer* became the first anime to truly go viral during that time. The show’s audience has continued to grow with each new season, and fans have shown their support by going to see the movie in theaters, leading to the success we’re currently witnessing. It appears this cycle of growth is happening again.

Anime Fans Don’t Watch Live-Action Shows

The success of *Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle* really shows how much people enjoy anime. However, some believe the franchise itself is the source of all the money, which isn’t quite right. While franchises like *One Piece* have thrived over many years thanks to a long-established fanbase, *Demon Slayer*’s popularity is more focused on the anime itself, and its appeal largely comes from a younger audience. It doesn’t have the same decades-long built-in fanbase to rely on.

Just because someone enjoys the *Demon Slayer* anime doesn’t automatically mean they’ll like a live-action version. Adapting popular anime and manga like this often misses the point: fans love the animated versions of characters like Tanjiro Kamado. It’s difficult for actors to capture the same personality and energy that comes from the animation. Honestly, the incredible quality of the animation is a major reason why people love *Demon Slayer* so much.

Creating a live-action version wouldn’t capture what makes *Demon Slayer* special. While it *could* be done, it would remove the very thing fans adore about the series and the reason it’s been so successful in theaters. *Demon Slayer*’s success isn’t just about making money; it’s about anime thriving in cinemas. If you remove the anime element, it risks becoming just another easily forgotten movie or TV show.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/anime/news/demon-slayers-box-office-success-proves-anime-is-bigger-than-ever-in-the-u-s/embed/#

Read More

2025-09-24 17:40