“Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc” has slashed its way to the top of the U.S. box office, debuting at number one with an estimated $17.2 million to $17.3 million during its opening weekend of October 24-26, 2025. The highly anticipated anime film, distributed by Sony’s Crunchyroll, significantly outperformed initial projections and marks another major victory for Japanese animation in the North American market.
The film, which officially premiered in U.S. theaters on October 24 after early Crunchyroll member screenings on October 23, swiftly captivated audiences and critics alike, earning an impressive “A” CinemaScore and widespread positive reviews.
Anime’s Continued Ascendancy in North America
The success of “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc” underscores a growing trend of anime films making a significant impact on the U.S. box office. This marks the third time in recent months that an anime feature has claimed the top spot, following the record-breaking performance of “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle”. Before this year, “Pokémon: The First Movie” was the only anime film to achieve a #1 ranking at the U.S. weekend box office, over a quarter-century ago.
The film’s strong opening surpassed competitors, including new releases “Regretting You” and “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere,” which landed in third and fourth place respectively. Analysts note that “Chainsaw Man” defied expectations, with initial forecasts ranging from $7 million to $10 million, only to surge past even updated projections.
Box Office Performance and Audience Demographics
“Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc” opened across 3,003 North American screens, achieving a per-screen average of $5,744. A substantial 63% of its U.S. box office total came from premium formats such as IMAX and 3D, indicating a strong preference for enhanced viewing experiences among fans. The AMC Empire theater in New York City alone contributed an impressive $72,000 to the film’s earnings.
The audience for “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc” was predominantly male, accounting for 75% of viewers, with half of the audience under the age of 25. This demographic breakdown highlights the film’s strong appeal to younger, male anime enthusiasts who are eager to experience their favorite franchises on the big screen.
Global Impact and Critical Reception
Globally, “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc” has already amassed a worldwide total of $108 million since its initial release. The film first premiered in Japan on September 19, 2025, and held the number one spot at the Japanese box office for an impressive five consecutive weekends, selling 4.69 million tickets and earning approximately $46.9 million (7.17 billion yen) over 38 days. Its international rollout by Crunchyroll through Sony Pictures Releasing spanned from September 24 (select Asian markets) to a worldwide release by October 24, 2025.
Produced by MAPPA, the film serves as a direct sequel to the acclaimed “Chainsaw Man” anime television series, adapting events from the original manga’s fifth and sixth volumes. It has garnered positive reviews for its animation, action sequences, and compelling story. Critics have praised the film’s ability to deliver a compelling and hauntingly beautiful romance, accompanied by one of the year’s best movie soundtracks, despite some action sequences feeling less experimental than the first season.
