For years, Dragon Ball and Pokémon have ruled worldwide anime box office charts with seemingly unshakable dominance, yet 2025 has brought a new breakout king to the big screen with Chainsaw Man. The franchise’s latest film, Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arcis defying expectations and rewriting the record books at a shocking pace.
Despite a slower-than-expected start, the movie has rapidly surged to become one of the most successful anime releases in US history. The Reze Arc is not just performing well, according to @Luiz_Fernando_J on X, it is eclipsing legendary titles that once seemed untouchable. And that momentum has turned Chainsaw Man into a genuine cinematic phenomenon.
Dragon Ball Dethroned in Record Time
Reze Arc has already surpassed Dragon Ball Super: Broly’s US total of $30.7 million, and it only took a little over two weeks to do it. Dragon Ball held its spot near the top of the chart for nearly a decade, making this shift a major moment in anime history. Now sitting at around $30.8M stateside, Chainsaw Man has cracked the Top 10 highest-grossing anime films in the country.
Even more impressive, the movie’s weekend drop-off is stronger than other recent major anime releases. Its roughly 66% decline is better than the sharp dips seen by Jujutsu Kaisen 0 and competitive with Demon Slayer’s blockbuster performance. That strong hold proves the film is not just driven by hype, but that audiences are coming back for more.
Analysts now expect its US total to land between $40 million and $45 million. For a series without the global generational pull of Dragon Ball, that upward trajectory is a massive shock to the industry.
Pokémon Records Fall and Global Dominance Rises
Chainsaw Man is not stopping with Dragon Ballbecause it is also taking swings at Pokémon. Globally, Reze Arc has crossed $139 million, surpassing Pokémon: The Movie 2000 and entering the Top 20 highest-grossing anime films worldwide. For a franchise only three years into mainstream anime adaptation, that is historic.
The movie is thriving far beyond the US, with more than $100 million earned internationally and particularly strong numbers in Japan. It recently broke into the country’s Top 100 highest-grossing films of all time and continues to perform well week after week. That long-term interest hints that the series is growing into a true global powerhouse.
Strong audience reception is fueling this surge. The film earned an “A” CinemaScore and high critical praise, signaling that Chainsaw Man’s stylish brutality and emotional storytelling are resonating beyond its manga fanbase. Its success builds on Sony and Crunchyroll’s expanding track record of anime movie hits, following Demon Slayer’s record-shattering run.
Chainsaw Man has transformed from a cult favorite into a revelatory pop-culture force. Reze’s cinematic debut marks a new era where bold, edgy storytelling can not only compete with but surpass the biggest anime titans ever created. If this momentum continues, Chainsaw Man will not just break records, it could redefine the future of theatrical anime worldwide.
- Release Date
- September 19, 2025
- Director
- Tatsuya Yoshihara
- Writers
- Hiroshi Seko
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Kikunosuke Toya
Denny (voice)
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