Solo Leveling Gains Ground on Demon Slayer as New Anime Threatens Its Box Office Lead

Solo Leveling’s rapid rise threatens Demon Slayer’s streaming rank, while a new Gundam film challenges its box office lead. Can Demon Slayer hold its position?

The Rise of Solo Leveling on Streaming Platforms

Solo Leveling has rapidly climbed the anime streaming charts, emerging as a formidable competitor to long-standing favorites. Fans of the dark fantasy series are confident that it will soon surpass the legendary One Piece in Crunchyroll ratings, despite the latter’s decades-long dominance. However, before setting its sights on Eiichiro Oda’s masterpiece, Solo Leveling first needs to dethrone Demon Slayer, which currently holds the #2 rank on the streaming giant’s library.

Recently, Solo Leveling overtook Jujutsu Kaisen, claiming the third spot on Crunchyroll with an impressive 503,600 ratings. In contrast, Jujutsu Kaisen now sits at 491,400, reflecting a shift in audience preferences. At the top, One Piece maintains its lead with 583,700 ratings, while Demon Slayer follows closely with 575,700. With less than a 70,000 rating gap between Solo Leveling and Demon Slayer, it seems only a matter of time before the rankings change.

Demon Slayer Faces a Box Office Challenger

While Solo Leveling continues to dominate streaming platforms, Demon Slayer’s grip on the Japanese box office is also being threatened. A fresh installment in a classic anime franchise has quickly gained momentum, challenging the supremacy of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village, a compilation film that achieved remarkable success.

The newly released Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning- made its theatrical debut in Japan on January 17, 2025. According to Screen Rant, the film skyrocketed to the top of the domestic box office and held its position for four consecutive weeks. Oricon recently reported that the movie has amassed over 2.2 billion yen (approximately $14 million) and attracted 1.38 million viewers since its release.

Can Demon Slayer Hold Its Box Office Crown?

Demon Slayer’s 2023 film, Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village, managed to draw 2.26 million viewers, resulting in a revenue of 3.1 billion yen (approximately $20 million). While both Demon Slayer and Gundam’s latest offerings fall under the category of compilation films, the battle for dominance in the box office remains intense. The resurgence of the Gundam franchise poses a significant challenge to Demon Slayer’s position.

Despite its continued success in streaming and theatrical releases, the growing competition raises questions about Demon Slayer’s ability to maintain its stronghold. If Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning- sustains its momentum, it could potentially surpass To the Swordsmith Village in total earnings and viewership.

What’s Next for Anime’s Biggest Contenders?

As the anime industry evolves, the competition among major franchises intensifies. Solo Leveling’s rapid rise on streaming platforms suggests that fans are eager for fresh narratives, while the Gundam franchise’s renewed box office success highlights the enduring appeal of classic anime series. Meanwhile, Demon Slayer’s upcoming Infinity Castle film trilogy is expected to reignite interest and maintain the franchise’s dominance.

Whether Solo Leveling will dethrone Demon Slayer on streaming platforms or if Mobile Suit Gundam will overtake it at the box office remains to be seen. However, one thing is clear—anime fans are in for an exciting battle for supremacy in both digital and theatrical landscapes.

(Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available data and is subject to change. For the latest updates, please refer to official sources.)

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