Chainsaw Man Tops American Cinema Earnings in Debut Weekend
Did Sony done it again? Coming after the box office performance of the hit anime Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, which grossed more than $600 million at the box office, the new movie Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc has officially crossed the $100M milestone internationally, attaining a international earnings of over $108 million this weekend. This feature beat out Black Phone 2 ($12.9M) in its sophomore frame in cinemas, as well as the music documentary Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere featuring the talented Jeremy Allen White ($9M).
Impressive U.S. and Global Performance
The work of Tatsuya Yoshihara, the film is a direct continuation of the debut season of the Chainsaw Man series. It grossed $18.2M in the U.S. after a strong $5.2M Saturday earnings and $4.5M Sunday take. Internationally, the animated by MAPPA movie added $14.7M across 46 international territories, bringing its global earnings to over $60 million via Sony (over $43 million abroad, $18.2M stateside). Official totals are still pending from Sony its official box office total.
Benchmarks to Other Blockbuster Anime Movies
Promotional firm an industry expert noted in prior discussions, drawing parallels between the movie's expected results to the popular film Jujutsu Kaisen 0, which earned $34M in the U.S. and Canada in 2022 and started with a comparable $18M domestically. Reze Arc’s opening frame is in line with that marker, while its $108 million global gross currently tracks a bit short of that movie's $166.6M final run. Even if it doesn't seem possible Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc will earn the numbers of blockbuster the enormous hit Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, it remains a major victory for the studio.
Promotional Strategies Drive Performance
The studio and its partner the anime streaming service Crunchyroll have successfully utilized fan engagement to propel their leadership at the cinema for anime films. The movie's promotional efforts launched at Anime Expo Los Angeles in summer with a MAPPA panel, exclusive activations, and photo opportunities with Pochita, then continued with a notable appearance at NYCC showcasing behind-the-scenes footage, lotteries for fans, and additional MAPPA panels. Moreover, organizers held an exclusive fan screening for moviegoers and content creators as well after the final day of the gathering.
What’s Next
2025 is a major time for animated films, and for Sony, which has another feature-length anime releasing in the coming months in Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution in the month of November.
