The Japanese animated blockbuster 'Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle' has taken the Korean box office by storm, maintaining its number one position for 13 consecutive days and selling over 3.4 million tickets as of Thursday. The film's remarkable success is being attributed to its innovative 4DX theater format, which provides audiences with a multisensory cinema experience that allows viewers to physically feel every sword clash and supernatural battle scene.
CJ CGV, South Korea's leading multiplex chain and parent company of 4DX developer CJ 4DPlex, announced that the anime achieved over 90 percent seat occupancy in local 4DX theaters during its opening weekend following the August 22 release. This unprecedented performance shattered the previous record held by 'Avatar: The Way of Water' in 2022, demonstrating the growing appeal of premium cinema formats among Korean moviegoers.
The 4DX technology represents CGV's proprietary system that transforms traditional movie-watching into an immersive, theme park-like experience. The format features moving seats that tilt and shake in sync with on-screen action, along with water sprays, wind effects, and strobe lights that create a fully integrated sensory experience. This premium format has become CGV's strategic advantage in attracting audiences willing to pay higher prices for enhanced cinema experiences.
The success of 'Demon Slayer' follows the impressive performance of 'F1,' which utilized the same 4DX format to achieve 4.5 million ticket sales in Korea since its June 25 release. These consecutive hits have established 2025 as a pivotal year for 4DX technology entering mainstream cinema culture, proving the format's commercial viability and audience appeal.
The 4DX technology particularly enhances the anime's intense fight sequences, creating unprecedented immersion for viewers. During Shinobu's confrontation with Doma, audiences experience subtle fragrance effects while cool air flows through the theater. Zenitsu's electric battle against Kaigaku features seats that rumble with thunder effects accompanied by lightning flashes. The climactic fight between Tanjiro and Giyu against Akaza delivers complete sensory overload, with chairs lurching during each impact, water misting during rain scenes, hot air blasting as flames rage on screen, and strobe lights perfectly synchronized with sword strikes.
Currently ranking as Korea's third-highest-grossing film of 2025, trailing only 'My Daughter is a Zombie' and 'F1,' the success of 'Demon Slayer' extends far beyond domestic borders. According to CGV, the film is averaging 80 percent occupancy rates in 4DX theaters worldwide, demonstrating the global appeal of both the content and the premium format.
International markets have responded enthusiastically to the 4DX presentation of 'Demon Slayer.' Malaysia, Vietnam, and Macao all recorded their highest opening weekend 4DX gross revenues of the year. Taiwan proved especially receptive, maintaining over 90 percent occupancy rates for the entire week following its August 15 opening, indicating sustained audience interest rather than just initial curiosity.
Even in Japan, the film's country of origin, the 4DX format demonstrated strong performance with 75 percent occupancy during preview screenings. Following this positive response, the film expanded to 4DX theaters nationwide on August 30, further validating the format's appeal across diverse cultural markets.
'The 4DX momentum that kicked off with F1 has now carried over to Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle. This proves there's serious demand for premium cinema formats,' CGV stated in their announcement. The company emphasized their commitment to continuing the development and promotion of premium formats, promising to provide moviegoers with unique experiences that cannot be replicated in other entertainment venues or home viewing environments.
