Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc Tops Box Office Amid World Series Distractions

HOLLYWOOD, CA — Sony and Crunchyroll‘s latest anime release, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc, grossed $17.2 million in its opening weekend after taking in $5.2 million on Saturday. The film is now tied with the World Series, where the Toronto Blue Jays faced the Los Angeles Dodgers.

With a global gross of $108 million, 40% of which came from its Japan release in September, Reze Arc showcases the strong appeal of anime films. Sony and Crunchyroll launched the marketing campaign during Anime Expo Los Angeles in July, featuring a panel hosted by MAPPA, the film’s producer, along with on-site activations including photographer opportunities with the film’s mascot, Pochita.

Recent promotional events included a MAPPA panel at New York Comic-Con, which presented exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and a fan screening raffle. Additionally, influencer screenings took place at Alamo Drafthouse in Downtown LA, attended by over 80 anime creators. The widespread social media presence, reported to be several hundred million views, has built significant buzz.

As for the rest of the box office, Universal/Blumhouse’s Black Phone 2 earned $13 million in its second weekend, edging out the opening of Paramount’s Regretting You, which made $12.85 million.

In its debut weekend, Regretting You drew in audiences with 83% female attendees. Meanwhile, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, released by 20th Century Studios, garnered only $9.1 million, slightly below expectations.

The importance of releasing during heavyweight competitive weekends has prompted industry discussion, especially for titles intended for older demographics, as evidenced by Regretting You benefiting from presenting female-driven narratives. In stark contrast, Springsteen, an arthouse film about the rock legend’s life during a significant period of creativity, was not as successful, leading to speculation about its release timing.

Overall box office totals fell short of last year’s numbers but noted a slight uptick from the previous weekend. As the industry pivots through fall movie seasons filled with competitive offerings, the emerging success of Chainsaw Man highlights a promising future for anime adaptations in theaters.