Top Anime Films: Chainsaw Man Leads, 5 cm/s Holds Second Spot

The Current State of Anime Films: Chainsaw Man Leads the Pack

The anime film landscape is buzzing with excitement as several highly anticipated movies continue to make waves at the box office. Among them, “Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc” has emerged as a standout performer, maintaining its position at the top of the Japanese box office charts for the fifth consecutive weekend. The film, based on the popular manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, has captivated audiences with its intense narrative and striking visuals.

Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc

From October 17 to 19, “Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc” sold an impressive 375,000 tickets, generating 581,975,100 yen (approximately US$3.81 million). This brings the film’s total ticket sales to 4.26 million and its cumulative earnings to 6,514,023,700 yen (about US$42.7 million). The movie’s opening weekend was equally spectacular, with 807,000 tickets sold and 1,251,178,500 yen (about US$8.46 million) in revenue.

Sony Pictures Entertainment has secured worldwide theatrical rights for the film, which will hit theaters in the United States on October 24. Early screenings for Crunchyroll members are scheduled for October 22, and the film will also open in the United Kingdom on October 29. It has already begun screening in over 80 countries since September 24.

Reina Ueda brings the character Reze to life in this cinematic adaptation, adding depth and emotion to the story.

5 Centimeters Per Second: Live-Action Adaptation

The live-action adaptation of Makoto Shinkai’s beloved anime “5 Centimeters per Second” has also been a significant draw, holding the second spot in its second weekend. The film sold 198,000 tickets and earned 283,036,400 yen (about US$1.85 million) from Friday to Sunday, bringing its total sales to 710,000 tickets and 1,006,136,700 yen (about US$6.59 million).

The movie opened in Japan on October 10 and features Hokuto Matsumura from SixTONES, known for his role in “Suzume,” as the lead. The film is produced by Spoon and distributed by TOHO, with Yoshiyuki Okuyama at the helm as director and Ayako Suzuki handling the script. Ayatake Ezaki composed the music, and Kenshi Yonezu performs the theme song “1991.”

The original anime, which opened in Japan in 2007, is split into three segments and was directed, written, and storyboarded by Shinkai himself. The music for the anime was composed by Tenmon.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle

“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle – Akaza Sairai,” the first film in the “Demon Slayer” trilogy, remains a powerhouse at the box office, securing the third spot in its 14th weekend. The film sold 157,000 tickets, earning 254,810,300 yen (about US$1.67 million) from Friday to Sunday. Its total ticket sales now stand at 25.33 million, with cumulative earnings of 36,774,447,900 yen (about US$241 million).

The film had previously sold 23,042,671 tickets, earning 33,056,606,000 yen (about US$224 million) as of September 15, making it the second highest-earning film of all time at the Japanese box office, surpassing Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli’s “Spirited Away.”

Globally, the film has earned an estimated US$555 million, making it the highest-earning anime film of all time worldwide and the highest-earning Japanese film of all time globally. The previous record holder, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train,” earned 40.75 billion yen (about US$277 million) in Japan and surpassed “Spirited Away” in December 2020.

Haruo Sotozaki directs the anime at ufotable, which also handles the screenplay. Aimer performs the song “Taiyō ga Noboranai Sekai” (“A World Where the Sun Never Rises”), while LiSA sings “Zankoku no Yoru ni Kagayake” (“Shine in the Cruel Night”).

The Exit 8

The live-action film adaptation of KOTAKE CREATE’s infinite-loop horror game “The Exit 8” (8-Ban Deguchi) dropped from the seventh to the eighth spot in its eighth weekend. The film earned 68,881,500 yen (about US$451,400) from Friday to Sunday, bringing its cumulative total to 4,899,067,900 yen (about US$32.10 million).

The film opened in Japan on August 29 and ranked second in its opening weekend, selling 672,000 tickets and earning 960,867,600 yen (about US$6.46 million) in its first three days. This performance marked the highest-earning opening three days for a live-action film in Japan for 2025.

North American film distribution company NEON, known for distributing Oscar-winning films like “Parasite” and “Anora,” will release the film in North America in early 2026. The film stars Kazunari Ninomiya, who has appeared in live-action adaptations of “Letters from Iwo Jima,” “Gantz,” “Assassination Classroom,” and “Ooku,” in his first collaboration with writer-director Genki Kawamura, known for producing “your name.” and “Fireworks, Should We See it from the Side or the Bottom?”

Aikatsu! x PriPara THE MOVIE -Deai no Kiseki!-

The “dream project” collaboration film between the “Aikatsu!” and “PriPara” idol franchises, “Aikatsu! x PriPara THE MOVIE -The Miracle of Encounters!-,” dropped from the sixth to the ninth spot in its second weekend. The film earned 69,707,122 yen (about US$456,800) from Friday to Sunday, bringing its total earnings to 250,466,004 yen (about US$1.64 million).

The film opened on October 10, marking the 10th anniversary of both franchises, which launched in 2014. Takahiro Ōkawa directed the film at BN Pictures, with Michihiro Tsuchiya writing the scenario and Hiroko Yaguchi and Shōji Hara designing the characters. Bandai Namco Pictures and Avex Pictures are distributing the film.

Chinmoku no Kantai Hokkyoku-kai dai kaisen

“The Silent Service: The Battle of the Arctic Ocean,” the sequel film to the live-action project of Kaiji Kawaguchi’s manga “The Silent Service,” dropped from the eighth to the tenth spot in its fourth weekend. The film opened on September 26, selling 195,000 tickets and earning 282,233,100 yen (about US$1.90 million) in its first three days.

Kōhei Yoshino directed the film, with a script by Hikaru Takai and music composed by Yoshihiro Ike. Ado performs the theme song “Kaze to Watashi no Monogatari” (The Tale of The Wind and I). The first film opened in Japan in September 2023, selling 274,000 tickets and earning 370,136,800 yen (about US$2.46 million) in its first three days.

The story follows Shiro Kaieda, who is appointed the captain of Japan’s first nuclear submarine, jointly built by Japan and the United States in top secret. The narrative explores themes of nuclear war, international politics, and world peace as Kaieda and his 76 crew members go rogue.

The anime film industry continues to thrive, with a diverse range of titles captivating audiences and setting new records. As these films continue their runs, fans eagerly anticipate what the future holds for their favorite series and new releases.

News Source: Animenewsnetwork.com