Following the massive success of Demon Slayer earlier this fall, another anime powerhouse has taken over American cinemas. Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc debuted at number one on the North American box office, earning an estimated $17.3 million in its opening weekend. This marks another major victory for Japanese anime, proving its widespread global appeal is stronger than ever.
A Weekend Box Office Upset
The debut of Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc was a notable box office surprise. It outperformed expectations to secure the top position, beating out other new releases like the Bruce Springsteen biopic Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, which opened in fourth place with $9.1 million. The film also held off last week’s winner, the horror sequel Black Phone 2, which took second place with $13 million.
The film’s success was driven by a strong turnout from younger and male audiences. Reports indicate that 75% of ticket buyers were male, and more than half were under the age of 25. The film also attracted an ethnically diverse audience, over-indexing with Asian moviegoers.
The Story Behind the Hit Film
Produced by the acclaimed studio MAPPA, Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc is a direct sequel to the first season of the hit anime series. The dark fantasy story follows Denji, a teenage demon hunter who is killed only to be reborn with the power to transform parts of his body into chainsaws after his devil-dog Pochita sacrifices himself.
The movie adapts the popular “Reze” arc from the original manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto. The plot centers on Denji’s complex relationship with a mysterious cafe worker named Reze, which begins as a romantic interest but quickly spirals into a violent conflict that threatens to destroy Tokyo. The film is directed by Tatsuya Yoshihara and features a screenplay by Hiroshi Seko.
A Growing Global Phenomenon
The North American debut is just one part of the film’s worldwide success. Even before opening in the U.S., Chainsaw Man had already earned $90.7 million internationally. Its global total has now reached $108 million.
The film has been a major hit in other territories as well. In South Korea, it led the box office for a second consecutive weekend, and in Japan, it recently ended the five-week reign of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle to claim the number one spot. Analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research noted, “It’s not just Asia. Anime is doing well everywhere now, including in Europe and Latin America. This is a worldwide phenomenon.”
Demon Slayer Paved the Way
The success of Chainsaw Man comes on the heels of another record-breaking anime film. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle debuted in the U.S. in September with a massive $70.6 million opening weekend. That film set a new record for the highest-grossing debut for an anime film in the United States, surpassing the long-standing record held by Pokémon: The First Movie since 1999.
Demon Slayer has gone on to earn a staggering $666.8 million globally to date, demonstrating the immense box office power of anime features. The back-to-back triumphs of these two films highlight a sustained and growing demand for anime content in Western markets.
Critical and Audience Approval
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc has been met with positive reviews from both critics and audiences. The film boasts an exceptional 96% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, coupled with a nearly perfect 99% audience score. It also earned an A CinemaScore from opening night viewers, a rare feat that indicates strong word-of-mouth potential.
The film’s ability to blend intense action with a bittersweet romantic storyline has been praised as a key to its appeal. The movie is rated R for its violent content, which aligns with the dark fantasy tone of the source material.
The Future of Anime in Cinemas
The consecutive successes of Demon Slayer and Chainsaw Man solidify anime as a permanent and powerful force in the global box office landscape. Major studios like Sony and Crunchyroll are continuing to invest heavily in bringing these films to international audiences with wide theatrical releases, including in premium formats like IMAX.
With such strong commercial performance and fan support, the pipeline for high-quality anime adaptations for the big screen shows no signs of slowing down. The sustained popularity of the genre suggests that what was once a niche market has firmly entered the mainstream.
Also Read: Chainsaw Man Movie Director Change Sparks Fan Debate and Fresh Start
