The cinematic adaptation of the Reze Arc from Tatsuki Fujimoto’s acclaimed manga, Chainsaw Man, has made a significant impact at the Japanese box office. As of December 30, the film has sold an impressive 6.55 million tickets, generating approximately 10.01 billion yen (around US$63.9 million) in its first 103 days of release. To express gratitude to the fans, Fujimoto created a special illustration.
© 2025 MAPPA/CHAINSAW MAN PROJECT ©Tatsuki Fujimoto/SHUEISHA
The film, which hit theaters on September 19, debuted at the top spot during its opening weekend, dethroning Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle – Akaza Sairai, which had held the number one position for nine consecutive weeks. In its first weekend, Chainsaw Man: The Movie – Reze Arc sold 807,000 tickets, amassing 1,251,178,500 yen (approximately US$8.46 million).
The film’s global reach extended beyond Japan, with SPE securing worldwide theatrical rights. In the U.S. and Canada, the movie premiered on October 24, a few days ahead of its initially scheduled release on October 29. Early screenings were available for Crunchyroll members on October 22, and RealD 3D screenings were also offered. The U.K. saw its release on October 29, while over 80 countries screened the film on September 24. By October, the film had garnered an estimated global earnings of US$68.3 million (about 10.2 billion yen). In North America, it earned an estimated US$17.25 million, topping the weekend box office in 3,003 theaters.
Sony Pictures Entertainment released the film digitally on December 9.
The narrative of the film revolves around Denji, who has become the Chainsaw Man, a boy with a devil’s heart, and is now part of Special Division 4’s devil hunters. After a date with Makima, the woman of his dreams, Denji seeks shelter from the rain and encounters Reze, a girl who works in a café.
Tatsuki Fujimoto, known for his work on Fire Punch, launched the Chainsaw Man manga in Weekly Shonen Jump in December 2018. The first part of the manga, the Kōan (Public Safety) arc, concluded in December 2020. The second part, titled Gakkō-hen (School Arc), began serialization on Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ service in July 2022. The manga has surpassed 30 million copies in circulation and has won the Best Manga award at The Harvey Awards for three consecutive years.
The manga has also seen stage adaptations, with the first play running from September to October 2023 in Tokyo and Kyoto. A second stage play, adapting the Reze Arc, is scheduled to run in Tokyo and Kyoto from July to August next year. Additionally, the manga’s Shikaku Arc (Assassins Arc) is set to receive an anime adaptation.
News Source: Animenewsnetwork.com
