Sony Pictures Entertainment generated $2.3 billion in revenues for the second quarter, off a slight 2% versus the same period last year, while profits were down 25% to $93 million and adjusted OIBDA (Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization) was -16% at $183 million.
The year-on-year decreases in the three-month quarter which ended on September 30 are largely due to the fact that 2024’s Q2 included the success of It Ends with Us. However, there was significant offset from the theatrical distribution of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle which Crunchyroll and Sony released globally, including 62 international markets outside Japan and select Asian hubs.
Demon Slayer opened in North America on September 12 and has a Sony gross of over $347 million worldwide to date (of that, $312 million is through the end of Q2).
Also impacted by Demon Slayer, sales in the Music segment rose to 542.4 billion yen ($3.5 billion), a 21% increase. Operating income was up 28% to 115.4 billion yen ($748 million). That’s mainly thanks to the contribution from the blockbuster property as well as higher streaming revenue in recorded music and publishing. Sony Music Entertainment Japan owns Aniplex which produces the Demon Slayer movies and other anime content.
Overall, reporting earnings from Tokyo this morning, Sony Corp said the media and electronics giant’s revenues were up 5% year-on-year in the quarter, to 3.108 trillion yen ($20.1 billion). Operating income rose 10% to 429 billion yen ($2.8 billion).
The full-year forecast through March 2026 has been revised upwards by 3% to 12 trillion yen ($77.8 billion) of revenues, while the operating profit projection was increased 8% to 1.43 trillion yen ($9.27 billion) owing partly to an expected hike in music and a decrease in the estimated amount of the impact from U.S. tariffs. The full-year operating income forecast for the Pictures division remains unchanged from August (125 billion yen/$810 million), while Music profits are now eyed at 385 billion yen/$2.5 billion.
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