Sony Pictures
‘Chainsaw Man’ Leads A New Era of Anime Box Office Domination
Anime is officially mainstream — and it’s rewriting Hollywood’s box office rules. As big-budget blockbusters struggle to find their footing, Japanese anime films are delivering hit after hit. The latest proof? Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc is on track to claim No. 1 this weekend, following in the footsteps of Demon Slayer, which topped the charts two weekends straight in September.
Released by Sony Pictures, Chainsaw Man raked in an impressive $3.4 million in Thursday previews alone, outperforming competitors like the Bruce Springsteen biopic and horror sequel Black Phone 2. Industry analysts now expect the film to land somewhere between $11 million and $15 million for the weekend — a major win during a month that has seen multiple Hollywood films underperform.
Anime Is Now a Theatrical Powerhouse
Sony Pictures has become the major studio championing anime in U.S. theaters, thanks in large part to its ownership of Crunchyroll. With anime viewership booming among Gen Z and younger millennials, the studio is doubling down where others stepped back. The crown jewel of this strategy is Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle, which has grossed: $131 million domestically and more than $588 million worldwide
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The film currently ranks as the 9th-highest-grossing global release of 2025, surpassing Marvel entries like Captain America: Brave New World and The Fantastic Four: First Steps — and it’s still playing in theaters.
With that level of fan enthusiasm, box office success feels inevitable.
Demon Slayer
Not Niche — Massive, Loyal, and Growing
Crunchyroll president Rahul Purini recently confirmed what Hollywood is now learning the hard way: “Anime fandom is no longer niche — it’s mainstream and gigantic.”
Sony says it sees only growth ahead, especially with the Demon Slayer movie planned as the first in a trilogy. Fans are eagerly awaiting release dates for chapters two and three.
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Hollywood’s Quiet Months, Anime’s Perfect Opportunity
The timing couldn’t be better. September and October have been rough for traditional studio tentpoles:
Tron: Ares projected losses: $130M+
One Battle After Another projected losses: $100M+
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Awards hopefuls like The Smashing Machine fizzled
While Hollywood takes on high-risk, high-cost gambles, anime delivers consistent returns at a fraction of the cost.
From packed Thursday screenings to cult-like fan loyalty, Chainsaw Man continues a trend that shows no sign of slowing down. As long as anime films deliver thrilling action, beloved storytelling, and community-driven hype, theaters might just rely on them to keep the box office alive.
