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LOS ANGELES (AP) \u2014 \u201cDemon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba \u2013 Infinity Castle\u201d<\/a> carved out a place in box office history this weekend as the Japanese anime film sliced straight to No. 1 \u2014 outpacing the horror sequel \u201cThe Conjuring: Last Rites.”<\/a><\/p>\n The Sony-owned Crunchyroll release shattered expectations with a mighty $70 million debut in North America, according to Sunday estimates from Comscore. That haul marks the biggest domestic opening ever for an anime film, surpassing \u201cPok\u00e9mon: The First Movie,\u201d which opened with $31 million in 1999.<\/p>\n The film extended its meteoric run, scoring the biggest anime opening of all time with a $132.1 million weekend, according to Comscore. Crunchyroll and Sony rolled it out across North America and 49 international markets, pushing the global total to $177.8 million.<\/p>\n The latest movie is the first in a three-film trilogy that brings the hit Shonen saga to its climactic showdown. The story follows Tanjiro Kamado, a kind-hearted boy who takes up swordsmanship after his family is slaughtered and his sister, Nezuko, is turned into a demon. Together, they fight a supernatural underworld of monstrous foes while clinging to what\u2019s left of their humanity.<\/p>\n The \u201cInfinity Castle\u201d opener hails from renowned studio Ufotable, whose lavish visuals and breakneck fight sequences have helped make the franchise a global sensation and juggernaut.<\/p>\n The film\u2019s domination also points to a September rebound after a sluggish August. Warner Bros.’ \u201cThe Conjuring: Last Rites,\u201d<\/a> which opened to $83 million last weekend, slipped to second with $26 million.<\/p>\n The horror sequel has now scared up $131 million domestically.<\/p>\n Focus Features\u2019 \u201cDownton Abbey: The Grand Finale\u201d<\/a> opened in third with $18.1 million. Set in the 1930s, the film finds Lady Mary embroiled in a public scandal as the Crawleys confront financial strain and the looming threat of social disgrace. While the aristocratic family adapts to change, the household staff prepares for a new chapter with the next generation leading Downton into the future.<\/p>\n In fourth place, Lionsgate\u2019s \u201cThe Long Walk\u201d debuted with $11.5 million. It was directed by Francis Lawrence, the adaptation of Stephen King\u2019s first-written novel is a thriller that asks a chilling question: \u201cHow far would you go to survive?\u201d<\/p>\n Pixar\u2019s \u201cToy Story (30th Anniversary)\u201d brought Buzz, Woody and the gang back to the big screen, opening in fifth with $3.5 million across 2,375 theaters. Warner Bros.\u2019 \u201cWeapons\u201d<\/a> followed in sixth with $2.75 million, while Disney\u2019s filmed musical \u201cHamilton\u201d landed seventh with $2.2 million. \u201cFreakier Friday\u201d<\/a> claimed eighth with $2.1 million.<\/p>\n