Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2020)
Movie · 2020 · Animation, Action, Fantasy · 1h 57m · R · Japanese
Curator score: 7.9/10 (378.7K ratings)
Tagline: With your blade, bring an end to the nightmare.
Tanjiro Kamado, joined with Inosuke Hashibira, a boy raised by boars who wears a boar's head, and Zenitsu Agatsuma, a scared boy who reveals his true power when he sleeps, boards the Infinity Train on a new mission with the Fire Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, to defeat a demon who has been tormenting the people and killing the demon slayers who oppose it!
Ratings:
- Curator score: 7.9/10
- IMDb: 8.2/10
- Letterboxd: 3.94/5
- Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
- Metacritic: 72
- TMDB: 8.2/10
Director: Haruo Sotozaki
Production: ufotable, Aniplex, Shueisha, TOHO
Cast: Natsuki Hanae, Akari Kito, Hiro Shimono, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Satoshi Hino, Takahiro Sakurai, Katsuyuki Konishi, Saori Hayami, Kenichi Suzumura, Tomokazu Seki, Tomokazu Sugita, Toshiyuki Morikawa, Rina Sato, Shin-ichiro Miki, Houko Kuwashima, Kaede Hondo, You Taichi, Konomi Kohara, Aoi Koga, Rikiya Koyama
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
Curator Review
Verdict: A big, emotionally direct action-fantasy that delivers both spectacle and a genuine gut-punch. It works best as a heightened, crowd-pleasing continuation of the series: flashy combat, vivid character beats, and a finale that lands hard.
Best for: anime fans who want cinematic-scale action; viewers who like heroic sacrifice and tearjerker endings; fans of supernatural battle stories with strong visual style; people already invested in the series
Skip if: you want a standalone film with minimal prior context; you dislike melodramatic emotion and earnest sentiment; you prefer restrained pacing over broad shonen intensity; subtitles and stylized anime performance are a barrier
Overview: Mugen Train is built to do two things very well: escalate the series’ visual ambition and make you care when it hurts. The train setting gives the movie a clean, propulsive structure, while the dreamlike first half adds a surreal edge before the story turns into a more familiar but highly polished demon-slaying showdown. It’s slick, muscular, and emotionally blunt in a way that suits the material.
Worth noting: What separates it from routine franchise filler is how confidently it pivots from spectacle to grief. The action is fast and vivid, but the film’s real power comes from its commitment to sacrifice, duty, and the cost of being a hero. It knows exactly when to slow down and let a character moment sting.
Bottom line: If you’re already on board with the series, this is one of its most satisfying big-screen chapters. If you’re not, the movie can still impress on craft and momentum, but it’s strongest as a continuation rather than an entry point. Either way, it earns its reputation as a crowd-pleaser with a bruised heart.
Top Letterboxd reviews:
- adambolt: Zenitsu having absolutely no contribution to this is very much in-character
- emmy klein: i used breathing techniques to not audibly sob at the end
- lottie 🪐: the polar express looks different here
- James (Schaffrillas): Season 1: Whoa this is a fun quirky demon slaying adventure! :D
This movie: 💀💀💀😭😭😭
- RJ Casey: "I dont care that you have tuberculosis"
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- Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (2021 · Animation, Action, Fantasy · 1h 45m · PG-13 · Curator 7.6/10 (374.5K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Crunchyroll, Netflix Standard with Ads)
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Topics: anime, action fantasy, supernatural, shonen, emotional, spectacle, dream sequence, train setting, heroic sacrifice, 2020s
https://watchlist.tannermartz.com/apple/movie/demon-slayer-kimetsu-no-yaiba-the-movie-mugen-train/635302
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2020)
Movie · 2020 · Animation, Action, Fantasy · 1h 57m · R · Japanese
Curator score: 7.9/10 (378.7K ratings)
With your blade, bring an end to the nightmare.
Overview Tanjiro Kamado, joined with Inosuke Hashibira, a boy raised by boars who wears a boar's head, and Zenitsu Agatsuma, a scared boy who reveals his true power when he sleeps, boards the Infinity Train on a new mission with the Fire Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, to defeat a demon who has been tormenting the people and killing the demon slayers who oppose it!
Ratings
Curator score: 7.9/10
IMDb: 8.2/10
Letterboxd: 3.94/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Metacritic: 72
TMDB: 8.2/10
Production ufotable, Aniplex, Shueisha, TOHO
Cast Natsuki Hanae, Akari Kito, Hiro Shimono, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Satoshi Hino, Takahiro Sakurai, Katsuyuki Konishi, Saori Hayami, Kenichi Suzumura, Tomokazu Seki, Tomokazu Sugita, Toshiyuki Morikawa, Rina Sato, Shin-ichiro Miki, Houko Kuwashima, Kaede Hondo, You Taichi, Konomi Kohara, Aoi Koga, Rikiya Koyama
Where to watch Crunchyroll
Curator Review
Verdict
A big, emotionally direct action-fantasy that delivers both spectacle and a genuine gut-punch. It works best as a heightened, crowd-pleasing continuation of the series: flashy combat, vivid character beats, and a finale that lands hard.
Best for
anime fans who want cinematic-scale action
viewers who like heroic sacrifice and tearjerker endings
fans of supernatural battle stories with strong visual style
people already invested in the series
Skip if
you want a standalone film with minimal prior context
you dislike melodramatic emotion and earnest sentiment
you prefer restrained pacing over broad shonen intensity
subtitles and stylized anime performance are a barrier
Overview
Mugen Train is built to do two things very well: escalate the series’ visual ambition and make you care when it hurts. The train setting gives the movie a clean, propulsive structure, while the dreamlike first half adds a surreal edge before the story turns into a more familiar but highly polished demon-slaying showdown. It’s slick, muscular, and emotionally blunt in a way that suits the material.
Worth noting
What separates it from routine franchise filler is how confidently it pivots from spectacle to grief. The action is fast and vivid, but the film’s real power comes from its commitment to sacrifice, duty, and the cost of being a hero. It knows exactly when to slow down and let a character moment sting.
Bottom line
If you’re already on board with the series, this is one of its most satisfying big-screen chapters. If you’re not, the movie can still impress on craft and momentum, but it’s strongest as a continuation rather than an entry point. Either way, it earns its reputation as a crowd-pleaser with a bruised heart.
Top Letterboxd reviews
adambolt (3★) · 2993 likes
Zenitsu having absolutely no contribution to this is very much in-character
emmy klein (5★) · 2548 likes
i used breathing techniques to not audibly sob at the end
lottie 🪐 (4.5★) · 2530 likes
the polar express looks different here
James (Schaffrillas) (4.5★) · 1307 likes
Season 1: Whoa this is a fun quirky demon slaying adventure! :D
This movie: 💀💀💀😭😭😭
RJ Casey (3.5★) · 1201 likes
"I dont care that you have tuberculosis"
Recommended similar titles
2001 · Animation, Family, Fantasy · 2h 5m · PG · Curator 9.8/10 (4.3M ratings) · Where to watch: Max
A richly imagined animated fantasy that balances wonder, danger, and emotional growth with mainstream appeal.
1997 · Adventure, Fantasy, Animation · 2h 14m · PG-13 · Curator 9.5/10 (2M ratings) · Where to watch: Max
Epic-scale conflict, mythic creatures, and a serious moral core make it a strong companion for viewers who like fantasy with weight.
2004 · Fantasy, Animation, Adventure · 1h 59m · PG · Curator 9.4/10 (2.8M ratings) · Where to watch: Max
For audiences drawn to vivid animation, magical movement, and a romanticized sense of adventure amid chaos.
2016 · Animation, Romance, Drama · 1h 46m · PG · Curator 9.2/10 (1.9M ratings) · Where to watch: Max
A polished, emotionally charged anime blockbuster with strong momentum and a big payoff.
2019 · Animation, Drama, Fantasy · 1h 52m · PG-13 · Curator 6.5/10 (340.9K ratings) · Where to watch: Max
Shares the glossy contemporary anime look and a mix of spectacle, romance, and melancholy.
2015 · Action, Adventure, Animation · 1h 59m · PG-13 · Curator 6.9/10 (101.2K ratings) · Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Max
A coming-of-age fantasy with action, heart, and a strong sense of mentorship and emotional stakes.
1984 · Adventure, Animation, Fantasy · 1h 57m · PG · Curator 9.1/10 (631.1K ratings) · Where to watch: Max
For viewers who enjoy heroic resolve, vivid worldbuilding, and a sincere sense of moral urgency.
2018 · Action, Science Fiction, Animation · 1h 41m · PG · Curator 7.2/10 (148.8K ratings) · Where to watch: Hulu, Crunchyroll
A theatrical anime battle film that prioritizes kinetic combat, character emotion, and crowd-pleasing escalation.
2021 · Animation, Action, Fantasy · 1h 45m · PG-13 · Curator 7.6/10 (374.5K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Crunchyroll, Netflix Standard with Ads
A modern supernatural action film with flashy fights, tragic backstory, and strong franchise energy.
1988 · Animation, Science Fiction, Action · 2h 4m · R · Curator 8.9/10 (989.6K ratings) · Where to watch: Crunchyroll
For fans of high-impact animation, apocalyptic intensity, and iconic visual bravura.
1995 · Action, Animation, Science Fiction · 1h 23m · NR · Curator 8.7/10 (568.8K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
A landmark animated feature that pairs technical precision with a moody, contemplative atmosphere.
2006 · Fantasy, Animation, Drama · 1h 38m · NR · Curator 7.4/10 (203K ratings) · Where to watch: Max
A more intimate anime option, but it shares the emotional clarity and youthful momentum.
Topics
anime, action fantasy, supernatural, shonen, emotional, spectacle, dream sequence, train setting, heroic sacrifice, 2020s
Open Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2020) on Curator TV