How Chainsaw Man Is Becoming a Billion-Yen Anime Movie Phenomenon in Japan
Japanese pop culture news edited by Patrick Macias
The Chainsaw Man movie dominates Japan’s box office as fans rally behind new Reze Arc film
Female audiences and first-time viewers are driving new momentum for the franchise
Strong music tie-ins and social media strategy fuel long-term staying power
Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc Aims for ¥10 Billion (US$65.5 Million)
The theatrical anime film Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc continues its explosive success in Japan, climbing toward a possible ¥10 billion (US$65.5 million) in box office revenue. Over the October 10–12 weekend, it ranked No. 1 for the fourth consecutive week, bringing total earnings to ¥5.4 billion (US$35.4 million) and drawing 3.55 million moviegoers.
Based on Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump, the film marks the first theatrical entry in the Chainsaw Man series produced by MAPPA. Unlike many shonen action titles, its audience has expanded beyond the male demographic thanks to emotional storytelling, character depth, and a strong social media presence.
Fastest-Growing Jump Film of 2025
The film opened with ¥1.25 billion (US$8.2 million) and 807,000 attendees, then hit ¥3 billion (US$19.7 million) in just 11 days. By day 17, it reached ¥4.3 billion (US$28.2 million), maintaining a rare pace where weekly growth remains steady instead of declining. Analysts are comparing its trajectory to Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (¥13.8 billion, US$90.3 million) and Haikyu!! The Movie: Battle at the Garbage Dump (¥11.64 billion, US$76 million). While Reze Arc started smaller, its weekly gains are stronger than expected, suggesting it could surpass ¥10 billion by December.
A Smarter Approach to Casual Audiences
To reach viewers new to Chainsaw Man, MAPPA released a 3.5-hour recap film summarizing the TV anime, followed by a 10-minute YouTube digest. This made it easy for casual audiences to catch up before watching the new feature. The result has been a surge in online buzz from both female fans and first-time viewers.
Theme song “IRIS OUT” by Kenshi Yonezu and ending song “JANE DOE” by Yonezu and Hikaru Utada became major hits, with their related videos reaching over two million views each. Official discussion videos featuring Fujimoto, Yonezu, and Utada deepened fan engagement across music and anime communities. The collaboration between film and music created a unique cross-media appeal, pulling in general audiences who may not follow anime closely.
Beyond Core Fans
As “anime-only” viewers become more common, the production team leaned into this trend with accessible recap content, social media clips, and coordinated artist campaigns. This blend of accessibility, high production quality, and cultural synergy has made Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc Japan’s most promising blockbuster of the fall season. If momentum continues, the movie will join Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Haikyu!! in the ¥10 billion elite, marking a new milestone for MAPPA and the expanding reach of modern shonen storytelling.
