The world of anime is once again making waves at the domestic box office, as “Chainsaw Man — The Movie: Reze Arc” gears up for a strong opening weekend. This highly anticipated R-rated feature is projected to surpass fellow newcomers, including the Bruce Springsteen biopic, “Deliver Me From Nowhere,” and the Colleen Hoover adaptation, “Regretting You.”
“Chainsaw Man” kicked off its box office journey by generating an impressive $8.5 million from Friday and preview screenings across 3,003 locations. As a continuation of the beloved manga adaptation's first season, the film is on track for an estimated opening gross of $15.5 million. Fans can enjoy the movie in both subtitled and dubbed formats, with screenings available in Imax and other premium large format auditoriums that typically command higher ticket prices.
This release marks another significant achievement for Sony’s anime label, Crunchyroll, which previously recorded a historic $70.6 million opening for “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle” in September. Although “Chainsaw Man” may not reach those blockbuster heights, its ability to lead the box office over traditional Hollywood releases illustrates the evolving appetite for theatrical anime.
Critics have responded positively to “Chainsaw Man,” but the real testament to its success comes from audiences, as reflected in its “A” grade from CinemaScore. Typically, anime films see a front-loaded box office performance, with fans rushing to theaters during the opening weekend. While this weekend’s numbers are expected to be strong, “Chainsaw Man” has already accumulated an impressive $61 million in international grosses.
The race for second place is close, with “Regretting You” narrowly edging out the horror sequel “Black Phone 2.” Paramount’s “Regretting You” debuted with $5.2 million over Friday and previews, including special fan event screenings featuring a live cast Q&A. Directed by Josh Boone, this generational drama is now projecting an opening of $13 million, surpassing initial tracking estimates of $8 million to $10 million.
While not as dominant at the box office as “It Ends With Us,” the first Colleen Hoover adaptation released in August 2024, “Regretting You” still shows promise. That earlier film opened to $24 million and went on to gross $50 million against a modest $25 million production budget. In contrast, “Regretting You” had a higher production cost of $30 million, and reviews have been mixed, with a CinemaScore rating of “B,” compared to the “A-” earned by its predecessor.
Meanwhile, “Deliver Me From Nowhere,” featuring Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen, opened in fourth place with $3.5 million. This biopic is projected to reach a debut total of between $8 million and $12 million, although it will need to perform well to hit the higher end of forecasts. The film, directed by Scott Cooper, is also vying for awards consideration after successful festival premieres attended by Springsteen himself.
Despite its aspirations, “Deliver Me From Nowhere” faces tough competition, especially considering the lukewarm reviews compared to last year's “A Complete Unknown,” another music biopic that earned $11.6 million on its opening weekend. With a production budget of $55 million, the film will need to engage audiences effectively in the coming weeks, having received a CinemaScore grade of “B+.”
In the competition for box office dominance, Universal’s “Black Phone 2” added $3.7 million on Friday, positioning it for a second weekend total of approximately $12 million, representing a 56% drop from its opening. This horror sequel aims to push its domestic total to $48 million by Sunday, slightly outpacing its 2022 predecessor. Notably, it stands as the highest-grossing North American release of the year for Blumhouse.
Disney’s “Tron: Ares” is also in the mix, earning $1.3 million on Friday, marking a 48% decline from the previous week. Now in its third weekend, the film has earned only $59 million in North America, a disappointing figure given its substantial $180 million production budget. Additionally, Neon is releasing its horror mystery, “Shelby Oaks,” which opened in 1,823 locations, earning about $1.1 million on Friday and positioning itself for a seventh-place finish.
The box office landscape is increasingly being shaped by anime films and adaptations from popular literature, as evidenced by the strong opening of “Chainsaw Man.” With its impressive initial earnings and positive audience reception, the film not only solidifies its place in the market but also signals a broader shift in theatrical preferences. As competition grows, both established and new titles will need to innovate and engage audiences to succeed in the ever-evolving cinematic landscape.
