This image released by 20th Century Studios shows Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen in a scene from "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere." (20th Century Studios via AP)
The unstoppable rise of anime at the box office continues. Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc has stormed past Hollywood competition to claim the top spot in North America this weekend.
The film — a cinematic adaptation of the hit manga and anime series — earned an estimated $17.25 million across the U.S. and Canada, according to Comscore. That puts it ahead of both the horror sequel Black Phone 2 and the Bruce Springsteen biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere.
Anime Dominates Theaters Again
The victory marks another milestone for anime in Western cinemas. Less than two months ago, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle opened to a record-breaking $70 million, setting a new benchmark for the genre.
Like Demon Slayer, Chainsaw Man was released by Sony-owned Crunchyroll, which continues to lead anime’s global expansion in theaters. The film has already amassed $108 million worldwide, showing just how strong fan demand remains for Japanese animation on the big screen.
What Makes ‘Chainsaw Man’ a Hit
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc tells the story of a demon hunter who can transform his arms and head into chainsaws. Adapted from Tatsuki Fujimoto’s acclaimed manga, the movie mixes high-octane action with an emotional, unexpected love story.
Critics have praised it for balancing brutal battles with moments of vulnerability — a blend that earned it an A CinemaScore from audiences. The standalone storyline also makes it accessible to newcomers who haven’t watched the anime series, which first aired in 2022.
Box Office Shake-Up
While Chainsaw Man took the top spot, Black Phone 2 — starring Ethan Hawke and Mason Thames — dropped to No. 2, pulling in $13 million in its second weekend. The horror sequel has now earned nearly $50 million domestically and over $80 million worldwide, proving the genre’s continued appeal.
New romantic dramedy Regretting You, based on a novel by Colleen Hoover and featuring Dave Franco, Alison Williams, and Scott Eastwood, debuted at No. 3 with $12.85 million.
Meanwhile, the much-anticipated Springsteen biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere landed at No. 4, collecting $9.1 million. The film stars The Bear actor Jeremy Allen White as the legendary rocker, tracing the creation of his 1982 album Nebraska. Springsteen was directly involved in the film’s production. Despite strong performances, the film received a B+ CinemaScore — solid but not enough to overtake the anime juggernaut.
Disney’s sci-fi reboot Tron: Ares rounded out the top five with $4.9 million, according to studio estimates.
The Weekend’s Top 10
- Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc, $17.3 million
- Black Phone 2, $13 million
- Regretting You, $12.9 million
- Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, $9.1 million
- Tron: Ares, $4.9 million
- Good Fortune, $3.1 million
- Shelby Oaks, $2.4 million
- One Battle After Another, $2.3 million
- Roofman, $2 million
- ParaNorman (Remastered), $991,910
With strong audience reviews and growing international momentum, Chainsaw Man has proven that anime’s grip on the global box office is now mainstream.
