Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution First Reactions Say It Outshines Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle

MAPPA swung for the fences with Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution, and judging by the fan meltdown, they connected. It is technically a compilation movie, but it is playing like an event. Naturally, the question popped up: did it outdo Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle? Short answer: depends on what you value. Let me break it down.

What the movie actually is (and when you can see it)

Execution is a big-screen recap of the Shibuya Arc from Season 2, stitched together with a brand-new tease of Season 3 Episode 1 - Part 1 of the Culling Games. It opened in Japan on November 7, 2025, and hits U.S. theaters on December 5, 2025.

• It compresses the Shibuya Arc into a feature-length package.
• It ends with a new fight tease for Season 3: Yuji vs Choso vs Naoya.
• No opening or ending sequences; it flows like a proper movie, not a TV clip reel.
• Release dates: Japan - November 7, 2025; U.S. theaters - December 5, 2025.

Why fans are losing it

The vibe from theaters is basically: this thing cooks. People are raving about the direction, the camera choices, and the color work. Every cut feels deliberate, and the action reads cleanly even when it gets ridiculous. That Season 3 teaser fight? It goes hard. I mean unnecessarily hard, in a good way.

Even the very production-nerd detail of ditching OP/ED sequences is getting love because it keeps the momentum up. A lot of viewers are calling it one of MAPPA's best-looking projects to date. Some are even saying it outclasses the Chainsaw Man movie on sheer action.

"You absolutely must see this in theaters - it is breathtaking."

That kind of buzz is why you are seeing people say Execution might top the highest highs of JJK Season 2. At the very least, it sets an absurdly high bar for how Season 3 opens.

So, is it actually better than Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle?

On pure storytelling, you could make the case Execution lands harder. The material they chose to highlight is brutal and focused, and the new tease sells what is next. But in terms of reach and broad audience pull, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is still the heavyweight. What that movie has already accomplished is not going to be easy for any anime franchise to clear any time soon. So: JJK may win the 'story' argument; Demon Slayer still wins 'most people saw it and talked about it'.

Season 3: dates, arcs, and the matchup everyone is waiting for

MAPPA also locked in the date: Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 premieres in Japan on January 8, 2026. The next stretch covers Itadori's Extermination, Perfect Preparation, and the start of the Culling Games. Stakes go up, the fights get mean, and yes, the long-teased Yuji vs Yuta clash is on the horizon. If Execution is the warm-up, the main event is about to be loud.

Where to catch up

All released Jujutsu Kaisen episodes are streaming on Crunchyroll. If you want to read ahead, the manga is available digitally on Viz Media.