‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle’

Based on a huge Friday haul of $33 million, including $11.4 million in previews, the pic is on course to score the top opening ever for an anime title at the North American box office with a weekend haul of anywhere from $56 million to $65 million (Sony is staying on the conservative side and sticking with the lower figure).

Reviews are positive for the film and early audiences adore it, with moviegoer survey firm CinemaScore polling a robust “A” grade. But stateside grosses are also just the latest success for the anime epic. “Infinity Castle” has already earned more than $279 million globally, including more than $200 million in its native Japan. There, it still ranks as the No. 1 release eight weeks into release. It has become the country’s third-highest-grossing release of all time.