Cinemas around the world are struggling to survive, but cinemagoers in Japan have smashed box office records. Despite COVID-19 social distancing rules, the animated film 'Demon Slayer: Mugen Train' has just seen (by far) the biggest box office weekend in Japan's history. The movie also had the biggest opening weekend anywhere in the world. The movie debuted only in Japan but it more than doubled the previous record. Ticket sales last weekend were more than those of all other countries combined. Japanese cinemas made a huge $44 million on ticket sales.
The movie Demon Slayer is based on a smash-hit manga - a Japanese-style comic book. The story is set in early 20th-century Japan. The hero is a young man who joins a group of warriors to get revenge on a group of demons that killed his family and cursed his sister. It is the latest anime and manga to become a phenomenon in Japanese popular culture. The 22-volume manga sold over 100 million copies. It is one of the most successful manga ever. A Japan expert said: "This particular title cuts across generations. Even people over 50...really like Demon Slayer."