Fans flocked to theaters Friday, generating more than $40 million in combined ticket sales as a new “Demon Slayer” film opened atop the box office and a final chapter of the “Downton Abbey” franchise took the No. 2 spot, according to industry data compiled by The Numbers.
"Demon Slayer: Kimesu no Yaiba Infinity Castle" earned an estimated $33 million on its opening day, easily assuming the top position. The animated feature is the first installment in a planned trilogy based on Koyoharu Gotouge’s best-selling manga and the popular anime series.
"Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale" brought in about $8.85 million during its first full day in theaters, taking the No. 2 slot. Billed as the last chapter in the British period drama franchise, the film did not match the roughly $14 million that the original 2019 "Downton Abbey" picture generated on its first day.
Ranking third was the horror sequel "The Conjuring: Last Rites," which added approximately $8.4 million to its total on Friday. The film stars Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga reprising their roles as paranormal investigators; after eight days in release it has earned more than $113 million domestically.
Also charting on Friday, Disney’s re-release of "Toy Story," returned to theaters 30 years after its original 1995 debut and sold about $1.1 million in tickets. The indie drama "Weapons," in its sixth Friday of release, added roughly $850,000 and rounded out the top five.
The Friday totals are early indicators for studios and industry analysts tracking weekend performance. Opening-day receipts often provide a barometer for a film's initial commercial momentum, though weekend grosses and subsequent weekday trends further define a release’s box office trajectory. The Numbers provided the day-one figures.