New Demon Slayer Anime Movie Reveal Spells Bad News for Streaming

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It’s looking less and less likely that Infinity Castle will be available on streaming services in 2026, based on recent news about the film.

Starting February 6th, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1 will be shown in select IMAX theaters with an expanded aspect ratio. This makes it the first Japanese anime film to receive this special IMAX treatment. The new release will use IMAX’s unique 1.43:1 aspect ratio, meaning certain scenes will be taller than usual, filling more of the screen. A new trailer has been released demonstrating these visual changes.

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Anime Movie Streaming Release Will Likely Be Delayed

The newest update is a big moment for Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, but the movie continuing to play in theaters could disappoint fans hoping to watch it online. This is because it will probably delay the date when the movie becomes available for streaming. However, keeping the film in theaters is a good financial decision for those who made it, as they’ll earn much more money from ticket sales than they would from streaming.

The official English-language X (formerly Twitter) account for Demon Slayer posted a curious message last November, asking fans to see the film “exclusively in theaters in 2026.” Although the post was taken down, it’s turned out to be accurate for audiences in Japan.

I’m so excited! The IMAX version of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is getting early screenings at the Grand Cinema Sunshine Ikebukuro in Tokyo and 109 Cinemas Osaka Expo City, and we’re going to get to see the ‘Akaza Returns’ arc like never before with incredible visual depth! Plus, the production committee is giving away a limited-edition A5-sized IMAX Visual Illustration Board to the first 100,000 people who go – you definitely won’t want to miss out!

The first Infinity Castle movie premiered in Japan on July 18, 2025, and quickly became a major success in Japanese cinema. By January 2026, it had earned over 39.08 billion yen (about $247 million) domestically. While incredibly popular, it hasn’t surpassed the record set by the previous film, Mugen Train, and currently ranks as the second-highest-grossing movie in Japan.

The movie Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle premiered in North America on September 12, 2025, and continued its impressive success in other countries. It earned around US$134.5 million, making it the highest-grossing international film ever released in the region. The film also set a new record for opening weekend numbers, bringing in US$70 million.

You know, even though Infinity Castle totally blew up at the box office worldwide, awards season wasn’t quite as kind. It did get a Golden Globe nomination, which was awesome, but KPop Demon Hunters from Sony Pictures Animation and Netflix ended up taking home the prize instead.

More disappointing news arrived with the announcement of the Academy Awards nominations. Unfortunately, Demon Slayer wasn’t nominated for Best Animated Feature, with KPop Demon Hunters and other films taking those spots instead.

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2026-01-23 06:16