Crunchyroll is still leveling up, bro.
Sony’s anime streaming platform has reportedly reached 21 million subscribers in 2025, climbing from 17 million in 2024. That is a serious jump, and it shows what most anime fans already know: anime is no longer some niche corner of entertainment. It is mainstream, global, and getting harder for big studios to ignore.
But the interesting part is not just Crunchyroll’s growth. It is what that growth means for Sony Pictures — and why the good news comes with one pretty big caveat.
Crunchyroll is becoming one of Sony’s strongest anime weapons
Sony owns Crunchyroll, so every new subscription matters beyond just the streaming app itself. According to the report, Crunchyroll’s subscriber base hit 21 million in 2025, up by four million compared to the previous year.
That is a big sign that dedicated anime streaming still has power, even in a world where Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video and other platforms are fighting for everyone’s monthly budget.
Crunchyroll also benefited from Sony’s anime cinema push. Sony distributed Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, and the film has brought in over US$354 million so far. The report notes that this makes it the biggest anime film of all time.
For Malaysian and SEA anime fans, that part is important. Demon Slayer is exactly the kind of franchise that proves anime can pull casual viewers into cinemas, not just hardcore manga readers. When a huge anime film gets proper theatrical treatment, local fans are more likely to organise group screenings, hunt for premium formats, and treat it like a real event instead of “just another anime movie”.
The catch: anime cannot carry everything alone
Here is where the story gets less clean.
Even with Crunchyroll growing and Demon Slayer performing like a monster, Sony Pictures’ overall sales were described as flat, with the company making a little under US$10 billion for the year.
The report points to a few reasons. Sony faced issues linked to the closure of its virtual effects unit, Pixomondo, and theatrical revenue outside anime was weaker overall. So while anime is clearly helping, it is not magically solving every problem in Sony’s wider entertainment business.
That is the big reality check. Anime is powerful, but even a hit like Demon Slayer cannot cover every weak spot in a massive studio operation.
Netflix is still the giant in the room
Crunchyroll may be the specialist, but Netflix remains the mainstream monster.
The report notes that most anime viewers are still watching through Netflix, which makes sense. Netflix has hundreds of millions of subscribers worldwide, and for many Malaysian households, it is already the default streaming app. People might not subscribe specifically for anime, but if Sakamoto Days, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run, or other big titles are sitting there, they will watch.
That is Crunchyroll’s challenge in SEA too. Hardcore fans know Crunchyroll as the anime hub, but casual viewers often go where their family plan already exists. If Crunchyroll wants to grow further in Malaysia and the region, it needs more than just a huge catalogue. It needs better visibility, stronger local marketing, competitive pricing, and enough must-watch exclusives to make fans say, “Okay lah, this one worth another subscription.”
Anime cinema is the next battleground
One smart move from Crunchyroll is its push into theatrical anime events. In North America, the platform has been bringing both new and classic anime films to cinemas, including special one-night style screenings such as Crunchyroll Anime Nights Sneak Peek.
That model could be very interesting for SEA if executed properly. Malaysian anime fans already show up for big cinema releases when the title is strong enough. Limited fan screenings, early previews, and event-style anime nights could work well here, especially around major franchises or festival seasons.
Crunchyroll’s 21 million subscriber milestone is impressive, no doubt. But the bigger story is that anime is now valuable enough to affect Sony’s whole entertainment strategy — even if it still cannot fix every business problem.
For fans in Malaysia, the takeaway is simple: anime’s global growth means more competition, more theatrical releases, and hopefully more official access in our region. Now the real fight is whether Crunchyroll can stay the anime specialist while Netflix keeps pulling casual fans into its orbit.
Source: ComicBook Anime