Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle didn't just do well for an anime film — it beat Superman: Legacy and the Fantastic Four reboot at the US box office on opening weekend, on its way to $790.5 million worldwide. Mainstream critics who don't normally cover anime called the animation a genuine technical achievement, singling out the Rengoku arc's fight choreography as comparable to the best of live-action cinematography. Manga sales climbed to 150 million copies in the aftermath, and the merchandise push matched what you'd expect from a major franchise tentpole, not a niche import. This is the film that made executives outside the anime industry pay attention.