The highly anticipated Chainsaw Man The Movie: The Reze Arc has dominated the Japanese box office for four consecutive weeks, surpassing Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning in revenue. This success highlights the growing influence of anime films worldwide, especially as Chainsaw Man prepares for its North American release later this year.
Chainsaw Man Outperforms Tom Cruise in Japan
Chainsaw Man The Movie has earned approximately $4.5 million USD during its fourth weekend, bringing its total box office haul in Japan to over $38.5 million USD. This impressive figure places Denji’s debut film ahead of the Tom Cruise-led Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which earned $35.5 million USD in the Japanese market. Although Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle continues to dominate the North American box office, Chainsaw Man is making significant waves and is set to hit theaters in North America on October 24th. While it may not surpass Demon Slayer’s box office numbers abroad, the movie’s reception confirms its strong appeal.
Anime Titles Compete Fiercely at the Box Office
In its fourth week of release, Chainsaw Man faced stiff competition from other anime and live-action films. The live-action adaptation of 5 Centimeters Per Second secured second place, followed by Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, which remains popular despite being released over three months ago. New releases like Tron: Ares struggled to make a major impact, debuting in fifth place during their opening weekend. This ongoing rivalry among anime titles demonstrates the rising demand and international attention that this entertainment medium continues to earn.
Uncertain Future for Chainsaw Man Anime
The trajectory of Chainsaw Man beyond this film remains undefined, with no official confirmation of a second television season. During Anime Expo earlier this year, Manabu Otsuka, President of the animation studio MAPPA, expressed uncertainty about the series’ continuation. He revealed that the studio plans to evaluate upcoming story arcs on a case-by-case basis to decide if they are better suited for film or television adaptations.
We don’t know if this is going to be the trend moving forward, that we don’t know. I think what we are going to do, like with did with Reze, is look at the next story and decide from there. If the next arc works better as a film or if it works better as a television season, we’ll decide on that, but we haven’t reached that decision as of yet.
— Manabu Otsuka, MAPPA President
Impact on the Anime Industry and Global Audiences
Chainsaw Man’s unexpected success over a Hollywood blockbuster in Japan symbolizes the shifting preferences of audiences and the worldwide expansion of anime culture. With notable titles like Demon Slayer continuing to perform well and new films generating excitement, anime’s theatrical presence is stronger than ever. The release of Chainsaw Man in Western theaters later this fall will show whether the momentum can carry internationally.
This development also adds pressure on studios like MAPPA to strategically plan their adaptations, particularly in deciding whether to continue stories on television or with cinematic releases. As anime grows into an increasingly influential global entertainment force, these choices will impact both industry trends and fan experiences.
