Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc Impresses at U.S. Box Office
The Japanese anime film Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc has debuted strongly in the U.S., bringing in an estimated $17.3 million from 3,003 theaters, surpassing projections and marking another success for the genre. The film is based on a popular manga, receiving an exceptional 96 percent critics score and a 99 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, along with an A CinemaScore and five stars on PostTrak.
International Success
Internationally, the film garnered an additional $18.8 million from 54 markets, totaling $90.7 million overseas and $108 million worldwide—an impressive milestone for anime films. The distribution is managed by Sony and Crunchyroll domestically and in certain international markets, accounting for $60.4 million of the global earnings. This R-rated movie, produced by MAPPA, is adapted from the successful manga-turned-anime series available for streaming in the U.S. on Disney+, Crunchyroll, and other platforms.
Plot Overview
Chainsaw Man follows Denji (voiced by Kikunosuke Toya), a teen demon hunter betrayed and killed by the yakuza. After his cherished chainsaw-dog Pochita (Shiori Izawa) sacrifices itself, Denji is resurrected with the ability to morph his body into chainsaws. Combining elements of violence and teenage romance, the story escalates with the enigmatic Reze’s arrival, leading to chaotic battles that threaten to destroy Tokyo as their love story takes a dark twist.
Critical Reception
Directed by Tatsuya Yoshihara, this adaptation is based on Tatsuki Fujimoto’s original narrative, with a screenplay penned by Hiroshi Seko. Critics from THR suggest that manga and anime fans will likely find satisfaction, despite some minor narrative disputes.
Competitors at the Box Office
Before its opening, Chainsaw Man was anticipated to compete fiercely with Blumhouse and Universal’s Black Phone 2, expected to debut between $11 million and $12 million. However, the anime film quickly outperformed expectations, drawing a predominantly male audience, with 75 percent of ticket buyers being male and over 50 percent under 25 years old. The film notably attracted an ethnically diverse crowd, particularly among Asian viewers, who represented 20 percent of the audience.
Other Films in Competition
Black Phone 2 had a close call with Regretting You, adapted from a Colleen Hoover book, but ultimately moved ahead with a slight edge, as the official box office results are yet to be finalized. Black Phone 2 dropped just 52 percent, earning $13 million domestically for a total of $49.1 million, while its international earnings reached $80.4 million. On the other hand, Regretting You opened to an estimated $12.9 million in the U.S. and $22.9 million globally, benefiting from a significant female audience.
Upcoming Releases and Audience Insights
Other notable releases included Disney’s Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, which underperformed with $9.1 million domestically. Designed for an older demographic, it still managed solid audience scores. At the specialty box office, Neon introduced Shelby Oaks, which collected $2.4 million, marking a notable debut for a horror film. Also, the awards contender Bugonia reported a strong opening average across select locations.
