The wait is exhausting. Honestly, if you’re a fan of Tanjiro and the gang, you've probably spent more time refreshing news feeds than actually watching the show lately. After the Hashira Training Arc left everyone hanging on a literal cliffside—or rather, falling into a bottomless dimension—the question of when does the demon slayer movie release became the only thing anyone cared about.
Let’s get the big news out of the way first.
The Infinity Castle Movie 1: It's Already Out (Mostly)
If you’re looking for the first film in the massive trilogy, it hit theaters in Japan on July 18, 2025. North American fans finally got their hands on it on September 12, 2025. It basically took over the world. It broke records, made over $780 million, and proved that Ufotable hasn’t lost their touch when it comes to making swords look like moving oil paintings.
But if you missed that theatrical run, you’re probably wondering when you can watch it from your couch.
Crunchyroll has been pretty clear about this. They’ve stated the movie won’t be on streaming until sometime in 2026. They want people in theaters. It’s a business move, sure, but it’s also about the scale. You can't really appreciate the sheer chaos of Akaza’s return or the mind-bending geometry of the Infinity Castle on a phone screen.
When Does the Next Demon Slayer Movie Release?
This is where things get a bit messy. Speculation is everywhere.
For a minute there, a report from The Guardian had everyone panicking. They claimed Movie 2 wouldn't arrive until 2027 and Movie 3 would be held back until 2029. People lost it. Two years between films? In this economy?
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The 2027 Rumor vs. Reality
Thankfully, Crunchyroll stepped in to cool things down. Mitchel Berger, an executive at Crunchyroll, basically told everyone to take a breath. He clarified that those dates were "purely speculative." Ufotable and Aniplex haven't actually locked in the dates for the second and third parts yet.
Here is what we actually know:
- The project is a trilogy.
- Production is likely happening simultaneously for parts of these films.
- Ufotable usually moves faster than a four-year gap between movies.
Think back to the Fate/stay night [Heaven's Feel] trilogy. Those movies came out in 2017, 2019, and 2020. That’s a much tighter window. If Ufotable follows that pattern, we might see the second film in late 2026 or early 2027.
Wait.
What happened at Jump Festa 2026?
Jump Festa (which happened in December 2025) was supposed to be the big "aha!" moment. Natsuki Hanae (Tanjiro) and the rest of the main cast were there. Fans expected a trailer. We got some new art of Genya looking cool, but no hard release date for Movie 2.
The studio is being quiet. Very quiet.
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Why the Delay?
It isn't just about drawing pretty pictures. Director Hikaru Kondo recently talked about how intense the production has been. He mentioned being "cooped up" for weeks just trying to map out the flow of the battles.
The Infinity Castle arc is almost entirely combat. There’s no downtime. In the manga, it’s about 80 chapters of non-stop action. Converting that into three feature-length films (with the first one already running 2 hours and 35 minutes) is a logistical nightmare.
They aren't just making an anime; they're making three separate blockbusters.
The Streaming Situation
If you’re waiting for the first movie to hit Crunchyroll, keep an eye on the Spring 2026 window. Historically, these films take about 6 to 9 months to move from the big screen to the small one.
Digital purchases and rentals usually happen a bit earlier. If you’re willing to drop $20, you might see it on VOD (Video on Demand) by March or April 2026.
What to Expect in the Sequels
If you haven't read the manga, you're in for a rough time. In a good way.
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Movie 1 focused heavily on the initial drop into the castle and the showdown with Akaza. Movie 2 is widely expected to cover the Upper Moon 1 and 2 fights. If you thought the animation for the Upper Six fight in the Entertainment District was peak, you haven't seen anything yet.
The scale is just different.
The third movie? That’s almost certainly going to be the "Sunrise Countdown" arc. It’s the final stand. The end of the road.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
Since the official word on when does the demon slayer movie release for the second part is still "coming soon," here is how you can stay prepared:
- Watch the Oscars: The first Infinity Castle movie is officially eligible for the 2026 Academy Awards. If it wins or gets a nomination, expect a re-release in theaters, which might include a "sneak peek" at the next film.
- Follow the Official Japanese Twitter: @kimetsu_off is usually 15 minutes faster than any English news site. Even if you don't speak Japanese, the "202X" in a teaser image is universal.
- Check Crunchyroll in March: This is the most likely time for the first movie's streaming debut announcement.
Don't buy into the 2029 rumors just yet. Ufotable knows the hype is at an all-time high, and they aren't going to let it die out by waiting half a decade to finish the story. Stay patient, keep your Nichirin sword ready, and maybe re-watch the Hashira Training Arc one more time to catch the details you missed.
Keep your eyes on Anime Expo in July 2026 for the next major production update.