The hit theatrical film Chainsaw Man: The Movie – Reze Arc has topped Japan’s box office for four straight weeks, surpassing 5 billion yen (approximately 32.9 million USD) in revenue. Judging from recent trends in Japan’s box office performance, the possibility of the film exceeding 10 billion yen (65.8 million USD) is becoming increasingly realistic.

When compared to major 2024 anime hits such as THE FIRST SLAM DUNK (which reached the 10-billion-yen mark in 72 days) and Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle (which achieved the same milestone in 75 days), Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc appears to be following a similar trajectory. Toho, which initially set a goal of 5 billion yen, has already seen the film surpass that figure in record time.

One contributing factor to its success is the growing trend among devoted fans who watch the same film multiple times. However, Chainsaw Man’s strong reception also owes much to the change in director from the TV anime version. Ahead of the theatrical release, a special compilation edition condensing the TV series into roughly three hours was streamed in Japan. This digest film was directed by Tatsuya Yoshihara, who also directed Reze Arc.

The re-edited compilation served as an accessible entry point for newcomers to the series while reinterpreting the original story with striking cinematic quality. Yoshihara’s fresh direction quickly went viral on social media, earning acclaim for elevating the series to new creative heights.

Adding to the film’s cultural momentum, Kenshi Yonezu’s opening theme “IRIS OUT” became the fastest song in Japan to surpass 100 million views, further fueling the nationwide buzz.

While surpassing 10 billion yen requires drawing audiences beyond the core fanbase, Chainsaw Man – Reze Arc continues to attract general moviegoers as well. With its strong performance and expanding audience reach, it may soon join the ranks of Japan’s modern 10-billion-yen anime blockbusters.

Based on Tatsuki Fujimoto’s hit manga serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since December 2018, Chainsaw Man follows Denji, a young devil hunter living in poverty while repaying his late father’s debts. After merging with his chainsaw devil companion Pochita, Denji is resurrected as the half-devil hero “Chainsaw Man” and begins hunting devils in a brutal world.

The manga, known for its shocking twists and mysteries, has surpassed 30 million copies in circulation and was ranked No.1 in the Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2021 male category. The first part, “Public Safety Arc,” concluded in December 2020, with the second part launching on Shonen Jump+ in July 2022. The TV anime aired from October to December 2022 and has also been adapted into a stage play.

The Reze Arc film serves as a direct continuation of the anime’s finale, depicting Denji’s fateful encounter with a mysterious girl named Reze and the unpredictable turn of events that follow.

■Box Office Performance of Chainsaw Man: The Movie Reze Arc
Day 1: 272,000 viewers / 420 million yen ($2.8M)
3 days: 807,000 viewers / 1.251 billion yen ($8.2M)
4 days: 986,000 viewers / 1.52 billion yen ($10.0M)
6 days: 1.35 million viewers / 2 billion yen ($13.2M)
10 days: 1.96 million viewers / 2.9 billion yen ($19.1M)
11 days: 2 million viewers / 3 billion yen ($19.7M)
17 days: 2.88 million viewers / 4.3 billion yen ($28.3M)
24 days: 3.55 million viewers / 5.4 billion yen ($35.5M)
(Exchange rate: 1 USD = 151.94 JPY)