A seismic shift is taking place in cinemas across North America as the animated juggernaut Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc sliced its way to the top of the box office with an estimated opening weekend haul of $17.25 million, marking a milestone for anime releases in the U.S. and Canada. This performance not only dethroned major live-action contenders from Disney and Universal but also underscored the growing mainstream relevance of anime in global entertainment. The film’s total global box office has already crossed the $100 million mark, reinforcing the strength of animated features beyond traditional borders.
What makes this success especially noteworthy is Chainsaw Man’s achievement in a competitive weekend that also featured the horror sequel The Black Phone 2 and the biopic Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere. The horror title remained a force, but its second-weekend tally of around $13 million paled in comparison to the anime newcomer. Traditionally, horror thrives in this seasonal window, but the anime entry flipped expectations and audiences responded accordingly. Meanwhile the Springsteen biopic posted approximately $9 million in its debut, indicating that while live-action dramas still have their place, pulses tend to quicken when animation or horror enters the arena with power.
Looking at the bigger picture, October’s overall box office has seen a slight decline compared with last year, yet the year-to-date totals for 2025 remain ahead of the same period in 2024. In other words, while fewer tickets may have been sold this month, the cumulative momentum for the year persists. For studios and distributors, this signals two important takeaways: one, genre fare especially anime and horror is continuing to punch above its weight; and two, the holiday season lineup now holds even greater significance in driving the late-year rebound.
Why is anime succeeding in the theatrical space now in a way that seemed improbable just a few years ago? First, the fan bases for popular anime series are increasingly active, social-media savvy and eager to experience big-screen events. Second, films like Chainsaw Man benefit from premium formats IMAX, 3D, and high end audio systems that boost ticket values and create an immersive experience that simply can’t be replicated at home. Third, the thematic blend of action, romance and supernatural elements in this film offers a broad appeal, reaching beyond hardcore anime fans to a more general movie-going audience.
As for horror, the genre remains a reliable box office engine thanks to its lower production costs and strong appeal to younger demographics. The Black Phone 2’s respectable showing reinforces that even in a soft month, fright films continue to draw. But when horror competes head-to-head with a strong anime entry, the landscape becomes more volatile and open to surprises.
For content creators, app developers and entertainment marketers watching these trends, here are a few strategic read-outs: consider building campaigns around global fan communities (especially anime). Leverage pre-release buzz for event-viewings or theater tie-ins. For horror, accentuate the seasonal alignment October and early November remain key windows. And for the broader entertainment ecosystem, this moment underscores the ongoing disruption of traditional release models: international IP (intellectual property) is moving into the mainstream, theatrical is still meaningful, and genre films are sharper tools than ever in capturing attention.
In short, the box office is sending a clear message: animation and horror are not niche anymore they are front-and-center. With Chainsaw Man leading the charge and The Black Phone 2 holding ground, studios, marketers and digital strategists should take note. The pull of fandom, premium formats and genre storytelling is stronger than ever.
