Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle is currently caught between massive success and international politics. In the world of anime, big movies usually follow a set path from theaters to other platforms. However, this trilogy is breaking those rules, and it’s focusing on a re-run before we can see it on our phones.
Many forums are currently debating whether the franchise is being milked or if these delays are just a part of modern high-quality animation. Much like how the Hashira wait for the perfect moment to strike, the companies are also waiting for the perfect market conditions. From box office soft bans to a massive production schedule, here is what is actually happening behind the scenes in early 2026.
Demon Slayer: The Soft Ban and the Stalled Billion
While it is true that the first Demon Slayer movie is close to a billion dollars, it has hit a major roadblock in China. In late 2025, IMDB report says that the Chinese regulators denied the film a key extension, which effectively ended its run in that country after it earned about $96 million. Many suggest this was a soft ban tied to political tensions between Japan and China. Without that massive audience, hitting the $1 billion milestone has become much harder.
Currently, the film sits at roughly $795.7 million. The upcoming March 6, 2026, re-release in ScreenX is seen by fans as a way to make up for that lost ground. Distributors hope that this visual upgrade will push the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle total higher, even if the Chinese market remains closed for now.
Demon Slayer: Ufotables Long-Term Juggling Act
There has been a lot of talk about the studio, Ufotable, being too busy to finish the trilogy. It is true that they are working on the Genshin Impact anime, but industry reports from February 2026 confirm this is a long-term project that has been in the works for years. While I don’t think that it is necessarily delaying Tanjiro’s story, it does mean the studio is using its resources very carefully.
The Demon Slayer team is known for taking their time to make sure every frame looks like a masterpiece. This slow and steady approach is why we haven’t seen a release date for Part 2 yet. While some fans worried that the projects were fighting for attention, the studio’s recent highlight reel confirmed that both Genshin Impact and the next Demon Slayer movie are progressing simultaneously.
Demon Slayer Streaming Mystery: No Date in Sight
One of the biggest points of frustration for the community is the lack of a digital release date. Unlike older movies that hit apps quickly, Crunchyroll had officially confirmed that the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle film remained exclusive to theaters throughout 2025. With the new March 2026 theatrical run set, a streaming release is likely still many months away.
It is a rare move for a streaming company to keep its biggest hit off its own app for this long. Some fans compare this to how Mugen Train was handled, but on an even longer timeline. For now, if you want to see the Demon Slayer corps in action, the theater is still the only way. This theaters-only strategy is becoming the new normal for blockbusters that want to reach legendary status.
Demon Slayer: A Global Test of Patience
In the end, the wait for the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle trilogy is a test of patience for fans around the world. Recently, there is a shift where anime and massive Hollywood franchises are treated the same. This means longer waits, more theatrical re-releases, and complex international deals that can change in an instant.
As we look toward the rest of 2026, the focus remains on whether the ScreenX gamble will pay off. Whether you are a fan of the manga or just love the animation, the story of the Demon Slayer finale is proving to be just as dramatic off-screen as it is on-screen.
UPDATE (Feb 21): Tickets for the March 6 ScreenX run are now officially live in North America. This theatrical push might become the final move to bridge the $200M gap caused by the China ban.
Check Diwas Budhathoki’s recent take on: 5 Manhwas With The Most Ruthless MCs (2026)