Demon Slayer Dominated the Box Office, But a New Anime Movie Is Threatening the Throne

For the past few years, one thing has remained constant: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaibahas been the anime industry’s most profitable franchise. Since its TV debut in 2019, Demon Slayer has only grown in popularity, making the leap to the big screen in 2020 with Mugen Train. Despite releasing during the pandemic, when theater attendance was low, Mugen Train became a global phenomenon and one of the highest-grossing anime films of all time. The series is now gearing up for a new film trilogy, Infinity Castle, which will bring Tanjiro and the Demon Slayer Corps’ story to a close.

However, Demon Slayer’s reign as Japan’s top anime may soon be coming to an end.Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning- opened in Japanese theaters on January 17, 2025, and immediately dominated the box office. It debuted at number one and has remained the top-grossing film for four consecutive weeks. What’s even more surprising is that Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning- wasn’t originally intended for theaters—it’s a reworked version of the first few episodes of the upcoming Gundam GQuuuuuuX TV series, set to premiere later this year. Yet, despite its small-screen origins, Gundam GQuuuuuuX is already proving to be a major force in the anime movie industry.

Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning- Takes Japan by Storm

Box Office Battle: Gundam vs. Demon Slayer

Demon Slayer swordsmith village arc finale with Genya Mitsuri Nezuko Tanjiro and Muichiro in a split screen pattern — Demon-Slayer-swordsmith-village-arc-finale with Genya Mitsuri Nezuko Tanjiro and Muichiro

According to a recent report published by Japanese entertainment site Oricon,Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning- has attracted 1.38 million viewers and surpassed 2.2 billion yen (approximately $14 million) in box office revenue since its release in January.

By contrast, the 2023 film Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village completed its theatrical run with 3.1 billion yen in revenue (approximately $20 million) and drew around 2.26 million viewers. Like Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning-, the Demon Slayer movie was a compilation film, combining TV footage with a preview of the third season. So far, Demon Slayer remains the top-grossing title, but Gundam GQuuuuuuX is just getting started.

2025 Will Be the Year of Gundam’s Resurgence

A Classic Franchise Is Aiming for the Top

Beyond box office numbers, Gundam GQuuuuuuX has also sparked renewed interest in the Gundam franchise. Sales of Gundam plastic models (Gunpla) have surged since the film’s release, with retailers struggling to keep up with demand. This growing enthusiasm suggests that Gundam GQuuuuuuX is not just a temporary success but a potential turning point for the long-running franchise’s mainstream popularity.

Neon Genesis Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno’s involvement in Gundam GQuuuuuuX as a co-writer has helped reinvigorate the franchise, earning it widespread critical acclaim and strong audience reception. At the same time, Demon Slayer is preparing to close its saga with the Infinity Castle trilogy, leaving a void in the industry’s top ranks. Whether Gundam GQuuuuuuX will rise to fill that space remains uncertain, but its resurgence proves that classic franchises can still evolve and thrive.