New film is outperforming Sinners on Rotten Tomatoes - you may not have heard of it

Monsters, goblins and ghouls are making a comeback; television shows such as Netflix's Wednesday and blockbuster films like Sinners have proven that themes of the supernatural are highly popular. Just in time for the spooky season is a new gory action movie that has proven to be a major hit with audiences - but it's not what you expect.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle scored an impressive 98% on Rotten Tomatoes for its audience rating, compared to Michael B Jordan's Sinners with 97% (at the time of writing). Given how widely acclaimed Sinners is by both audiences and critics alike, it's surprising to see its audience score surpassed by an anime. However, both films have received a 97% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, but time will tell if the supernatural anime will continue to rank favourably on the review site.

However, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Infinity Castle, which was released September 12, has set new records at the anime box office, surpassing even major Hollywood releases.

According to Screen Daily, the anime reached $450.4 million internationally, while the horror movie The Conjuring received an estimated $332.9 million at the box office and the beloved Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale landed $30.4m.

What is Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle about?

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle continues the story of Tanjiro and his comrades in a desperate battle against the Demon King, Muzan Kibutsuji. These demons, who were once human, are fearless, cruel, incredibly strong and can only be killed once beheaded. It's the ultimate battle between humans and those who betrayed humanity.

The film cannot be watched without viewing the prior series, but the movie is recommonded for its action, gore, beautiful animation, world-building, and complex characters. There is a common misconception that anime is for children, but the story can only be appreciated by mature minds - there is a reason why it is such a popular animation.

Critics reaction

Agustín Pérez from Emol.com commented: "Those who make it to the theatre will be met with a visual spectacle of astronomical scale, intense battles, and more story than many expected." Chris Sawin, a writer from Bounding Into Comics, shared: "Infinity Castle is one of the most action-packed and gorgeously animated films of the year.

"The film has an absorbing story, vastly interesting characters, and a finale that closes one exciting chapter while teasing the next and possibly bloodier one."

Kenneth Seward Jr. from But Why Tho? A Geek Community admitted: "The film features gorgeous animation, a strong cast, and some of the best action scenes the series has ever produced. Unfortunately, some of these highlights are marred by their condensed plot and poor pacing."

Fans reaction

One person wrote: "Absolute cinema! From the animation, to the pacing, to the storytelling, the backstory alignment for the characters that really add emphasis to the movie and the emotional impact of the scenes are incredible. Can't wait for the next one!"

A second person beamed: "Nonstop thrill ride! If you're a fan, this is an absolute must see movie and in the theatre. Plenty of jaw-dropping moments and cheers.

"Planning to go back and see it again. Not thrilled we have to wait two years for the next installment but if it's anything like this one, it'll be worth the wait."

Why is Rotten Tomatoes acknowledged?

For more than 25 years, Rotten Tomatoes has been a trusted destination for movie and TV recommendations. Through its Tomatometer, it brings together authentic reviews from both critics and fans, along with clear, easy-to-digest roundups to help audiences decide what to watch.

If a film or TV show receives at least 60% positive reviews, it is considered Fresh, and a red tomato is displayed, but when it's fewer than 60%, it is considered Rotten and a green splat is shown.