Chainsaw Man Triumphs at Box Office with $17 Million Debut While Springsteen Struggles with $9 Million Opening
In a significant victory for anime, “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc” has debuted at the box office with an impressive $17.2 million from 3,003 theaters across North America. This marks the second consecutive triumph for Crunchyroll, following the success of “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle,” which achieved a record-breaking $70 million opening in September.
Box Office Performance Overview
“Chainsaw Man” not only topped the charts but also surpassed expectations. It outperformed notable competitors including Disney’s “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere,” which earned $9.1 million in its opening weekend. It also outpaced “Regretting You,” a film adapted from Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel, that garnered $12.8 million and secured the third position.
Box Office Rankings
- 1. Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc: $17.2 million
- 2. Black Phone 2: $13 million
- 3. Regretting You: $12.8 million
- 4. Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere: $9.1 million
“Black Phone 2” experienced a decline of 52% from its previous weekend, bringing its total North American earnings to $48 million and worldwide to $80.4 million.
Audience Demographics and Reception
“Chainsaw Man” is primarily attracting a male audience, with nearly 75% of theatergoers being male and 50% under 25 years old. The film received an “A” grade on CinemaScore, indicating strong approval among viewers. Additionally, it is available in both subtitled and dubbed formats and is being shown in premium large formats, including IMAX.
Global Success and Future Outlook
Despite the initial box office struggles for the horror genre this year, “Chainsaw Man” has already amassed $108 million globally, thanks to its successful international roll-out. David A. Gross, a consultant for Franchise Entertainment Research, highlighted the growing popularity of anime, stating it has become a “worldwide phenomenon.”
In contrast, “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere” fell short of its projections, earning just $7 million internationally and a total of $16.1 million worldwide against a budget of $55 million. This film received a “B+” rating on CinemaScore and 61% on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating mixed reviews.
Looking Ahead
The box office overall is down 22% compared to the same weekend last year. Year-to-date revenue remains 4% higher than the previous year, yet still lags about 20% behind pre-pandemic levels. As the industry anticipates upcoming releases like “Wicked: For Good” and “Zootopia 2,” there is hope for improved box office performance during the holiday season.
