The supernatural action-comedy anime Dan Da Dan is making waves with its second season. The theatrical screening of the first three episodes of Season 2, titled Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye, has earned an estimated US$5 million in the United States, showcasing the series’ growing popularity and dedicated fanbase.
Theatrical Run Success
Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye hit North American theaters on June 6, 2025, courtesy of GKIDS. The film screened in 1,085 theaters during its opening weekend and ranked #8 at the U.S. box office, earning an impressive US$3,096,000. The breakdown of the opening weekend earnings is as follows:
- Friday: US$1,508,000 (including US$532,000 from Thursday previews)
- Saturday: US$938,000
- Sunday: US$650,000
In its second week, the film continued to perform well, ranking #13 at the U.S. box office and bringing its total earnings to an estimated US$5,065,415. Despite a decrease in the number of theaters to 830, Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye still managed to gross:
- Friday: US$192,294
- Saturday: US$265,880
- Sunday: US$215,000
This strong performance positions Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye ahead of other popular anime films such as Solo Leveling: ReAwakening (US$3.35 million), Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom (US$1.65 million), and Blue Lock: Episode Nagi (US$1.85 million). Only a few anime films have surpassed its earnings, including Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage! (US$3.66 million) and My Hero Academia: You’re Next (US$5.04 million).
Global Theatrical Release
Prior to its North American release, Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye premiered in Asia on May 30, 2025, through Muse, and in Europe on June 7, 2025, through ADN. The global theatrical rollout covered over 50 countries and regions, demonstrating the widespread appeal of the series.
Anime Series Details
Dan Da Dan is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yukinobu Tatsu. It has been serialized in Shueisha’s Shōnen Jump+ app and website since April 2021. The anime television series adaptation, produced by Science Saru, aired from October to December 2024.
Plot
The series follows Momo Ayase, a high school girl who believes in ghosts but not aliens, and Ken Takakura, nicknamed “Okarun,” who believes in aliens but not ghosts. They make a bet to prove each other wrong by visiting locations associated with the supernatural and extraterrestrial. Momo is abducted by aliens, unlocking her psychic abilities, while Okarun is possessed by a spirit. Together, they combat supernatural entities while navigating their evolving romantic tension.
Season 2
The second season of Dan Da Dan is set to premiere on television on July 3, 2025, airing on MBS and TBS in the “Super Animeism Turbo” programming block. Crunchyroll and Netflix will stream the series worldwide. Fūga Yamashiro and Abel Góngora are co-directing the season, with Mutsumi Tamura joining the cast as Evil Eye. The opening theme song is “Kakumei Dōchū” performed by Aina The End, and the ending theme song is “Doukashiteru” performed by WurtS.
Critical Reception
The first season of Dan Da Dan received positive reviews, with an approval rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 14 reviews and an average rating of 8.8/10. The site’s critics consensus reads, “Gorgeously animated and bringing a big heart to go along with its bonkers imagination, Dan Da Dan comes roaring out of the gate as an exceptional Shōnen anime.”
Production
Science SARU produces the anime, with Fūga Yamashiro as the director. Hiroshi Seko writes the scripts, Naoyuki Onda designs the characters, Yoshimichi Kameda designs the aliens and supernatural entities, and Kensuke Ushio composes the music.
Streaming
The first season of Dan Da Dan is available for streaming on Netflix and Crunchyroll.
Significance of Success
The box office success of Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye highlights the growing popularity of anime in international markets. It demonstrates that anime films can perform well in theaters, even when they consist of early episodes of a series that will soon be available on streaming platforms. This success could pave the way for more anime series to release theatrical premieres, further expanding the reach and impact of the medium.
Dan Da Dan‘s unique blend of supernatural action, comedy, and romance has resonated with audiences, and the strong performance of Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye is a testament to the series’ quality and dedicated fanbase. As Season 2 approaches, fans can anticipate more thrilling adventures and paranormal mysteries from Momo and Okarun.
