Demon Slayer’s Infinity Castle arc has been building up for quite a while now, and fans know it’s not going to hold back. Tanjiro and the Hashiras are about to face Muzan in his own shifting fortress, a place where every hallway can become a trap. The fights are going to be vicious, the stakes sky-high, and as the anime continues to keep its track record, the animation will be nothing short of breathtaking. This is the kind of showdown people will be talking about long after it ends.
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The problem? We still have to wait for it. And waiting is rough. So instead of just replaying the old episodes, you can line up some anime movies that hit the same notes — big action, strong emotion, and worlds you can get lost in. This list has ten picks that’ll keep the fire burning until Infinity Castle finally lands. Some are intense battles, others lean on heart and atmosphere, but all of them will give you something worth the watch.
10) Demon Slayer: Mugen Train
In this record-breaking movie, Tanjiro and his friends hop aboard the Mugen Train right after Season 1 ends, chasing rumors of a powerful demon behind a series of vanishings. They’re joined by Rengoku, one of the top-ranked Hashira, who quickly becomes the heart of the mission. What starts as a ride to investigate turns into a high-stakes battle inside their dreams, pushing them all to the edge. It’s been the quintessential Demon Slayer movie experience, becoming the highest-grossing anime movie ever, and tells a story in a perfectly concise manner while remaining engaging and novel for fans attending, unlike the compilation films that have come since then.
The best thing about the movie isn’t just the fluid animation the franchise is famous for. It’s the emotional weight. Rengoku’s presence adds serious gravity, and when the train goes off the rails, both literally and emotionally, you feel every hit. There’s no filler here. Every moment counts, building toward a gut-punch finale that still lingers long after the credits roll. For Demon Slayer fans, this isn’t just a side story. It’s essential viewing. The events in Mugen Train ripple straight into the next arcs, especially Entertainment District and Infinity Castle. If you’re planning a rewatch or catching up before the climax, this is where the emotional groundwork is laid. Miss it, and you’re missing the soul of the series.
9) Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King
You don’t need to watch all 170 episodes of Black Clover to enjoy this one. Sword of the Wizard King throws you straight into the action, with Asta and the Magic Knights going head-to-head against four former Wizard Kings who’ve somehow come back swinging. Each of them packs a terrifying set of powers, and they’re not here for a friendly reunion.
What works so well is the pacing. From the moment the first villain appears, the movie doesn’t let up. You get magic battles flying at you from all sides, sharp animation, and Asta doing what he does best: defying odds and yelling his lungs out. There’s not much downtime, but that’s exactly what makes it click for fans of fast-paced anime like Demon Slayer. Even though it’s a side story, it lands hard. You get emotional payoffs, brutal fight choreography, and that same underdog grit that makes Tanjiro easy to root for. So if you’re in the mood for flashy powers, magical chaos, and a clean 90-minute power trip, this one scratches the itch without needing a full-series recap.
8) Jujutsu Kaisen 0
Before Yuji Itadori and Sukuna took the spotlight, there was Yuta Okkotsu, and his story hits just as hard. Jujutsu Kaisen 0 follows Yuta as he’s pulled into Jujutsu High after being haunted by the cursed spirit of his childhood friend. What starts as a personal curse turns into a full-blown war against a dangerous sorcerer, with the entire school caught in the crossfire.
This movie balances emotional trauma with relentless combat. Every major fight scene has weight, and the animation barely takes a breath between spells, sword clashes, and cursed techniques. Even if you’re not deep into the series, the movie stands on its own with a clear arc and satisfying payoff. For fans of Demon Slayer, this one checks every box. Supernatural powers, cursed spirits, emotional scars, and one clean, self-contained blast of dark shonen energy. No slow burn, just straight into the chaos.
7) Ni No Kuni
Yū and Haru are two high school friends who get pulled into a fantasy world after their classmate Kotona is attacked. Once inside, they meet a princess who looks just like her and realize saving both worlds won’t be easy. Magic, swords, and big choices shape their journey through this beautiful, dangerous place.
This one hits different because it mixes a real-world problem with a magical escape. Yū, who uses a wheelchair in real life, can walk in the fantasy world, which quietly hits hard. The story isn’t nonstop action like Demon Slayer, but the emotions land, and the world feels alive. If you want something with heart, a cool setting, and a bit of magic drama, this one’s worth a look.
6) Princess Mononoke
Ashitaka, a young warrior cursed by a demon, heads west to find a cure. He ends up caught in a brutal fight between nature spirits and humans who are tearing the forest apart for iron. In the middle of it all is San, a wild girl raised by wolves who’s ready to die protecting the forest.
This isn’t a typical swords-and-spells fantasy. It’s messy, quiet at times, and loaded with meaning. The action is raw, the world feels huge and real, and the animation still holds up today. If Demon Slayer pulled you in with its beauty and emotional weight, Princess Mononoke will absolutely stick with you. It’s slower but heavier, more of a war film than an action flick. And it doesn’t hand you answers, it makes you feel them.
5) Bleach: Hell Verse
When Ichigo’s sister gets dragged into Hell, he doesn’t hesitate. He dives headfirst into the underworld, backed by a few allies, and faces some of the most brutal enemies he’s ever seen. Hell doesn’t just test his strength, it forces him to unleash a darker, more dangerous side of himself.
Even if you’re not deep into Bleach, this movie stands strong on its own. The pacing never lets up, the action is wild, and the visual design of Hell is unlike anything else in shonen anime. Plus, it taps into themes Demon Slayer fans love, like protecting loved ones and fighting past your own limits.
4) One Piece Film: Red
While not the same stakes at hand per se, One Piece’s most recent feature-length movie features a similar premise to Demon Slayer’s Infinity Castle film, down to its characters locked in an inescapable state, in this case being a dream in which they must defeat the featured villain to escape. Where the similarities dissipate is the music-heavy vibe, enhanced to the 9th degree with the addition of Ado, who plays Shanks’ daughter, Uta.
While this can easily be dismissed as a side story in One Piece, which surprisingly has low density of filler in its 1100+ chapter epic, the presence of Shanks himself motivates all viewers to watch until the end if entirely to see any new footage. In fact, Shanks was added to the end of Wano because of this film and the excitement it generated. Much like Demon Slayer movies, this anime’s latest releases at theaters is an event among fans, and is a pretty solid experience in and of itself.
3) Howl’s Moving Castle
Sophie’s just a regular girl working at a hat shop until a curse turns her into an old lady overnight. With nowhere else to go, she stumbles into the strange, magical world of Howl, a reclusive wizard with a moving castle that literally walks across the land. Inside, there’s fire spirits, teleporting doors, and a war brewing outside, but somehow all of it feels oddly personal.
Unlike your usual battle-heavy anime, this one takes a softer route. The magic feels lived-in, the stakes build gradually, and the visuals are stunning. While there’s not much swordplay, the emotional tension and quiet strength in Sophie’s journey hit just as hard. Plus, the connection between her and Howl adds just the right touch of mystery. If you’re a Demon Slayer fan needing a breather from the bloodshed, this slower, gentler ride through fantasy might just be what you need.
2) Children of the Sea
Ruka’s summer takes a strange turn when she’s kicked out of school and ends up at the aquarium where her dad works. There, she meets two boys, Umi and Sora, who were raised by sea creatures and seem to have a supernatural link to the ocean. Around the world, bizarre things start happening: whales vanish, fish swarm toward Japan, and the sea feels like it’s calling. As she spends more time with them, Ruka starts seeing visions that feel cosmic, like she’s part of something way bigger than herself.
This movie isn’t your typical action-packed fantasy. It leans hard into surrealism, biology, and emotion. The animation hits with that watercolor vibe, and Joe Hisaishi’s score gives everything a dreamlike rhythm. You won’t get every answer, but that’s the point. It’s a visual trip that’s more about feeling than clarity.
1) Fate/stay night: Heaven’s Feel Trilogy
In a city where magic and mystery run deep, the Holy Grail War calls seven mages to battle for a single wish. Shirou Emiya never asked to be part of it, but when the girl he cares about, Sakura, starts acting strangely, things spiral fast. What begins as a secret war turns into something far more personal, as dark forces rise and old truths surface. While any one of these movies would be great anime films to view while waiting for Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, it’s truly best to enjoy their collective story.
This trilogy takes the Fate universe into darker territory. There’s no holding back. Characters change, rules break, and every fight leaves a mark. The animation goes all out, but it’s the emotional toll that sticks. As Sakura’s story unfolds, it hits harder than anything the series has done before. If you’re into Demon Slayer for its intense arcs and tragic turns, this has the same energy, just with more curses and twisted magic.
Which one of these movies have you watched? Let us know in the comments below!
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