What happens when MAPPA takes one of the most beloved manga arcs, puts it in a director’s hands, and lets it absolutely cook for 100 minutes? You get Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc — a film that didn’t just dominate the box office with $191.4 million worldwide, but also became the second highest-rated anime movie on MyAnimeList and scored a jaw-dropping 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. If you haven’t watched it yet, you’re already behind.
From Manga Arc to Box Office Phenomenon
Released in Japanese theaters on September 19, 2025 by Toho, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc was always going to be a big deal. The Reze Arc is widely considered one of the most emotional and action-packed storylines in Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga, introducing a character who would forever change how fans view the series. But nobody — not even MAPPA — expected the movie to stay in Japan’s box office Top 10 for 16 consecutive weekends.
Sixteen. That’s four months of people buying tickets week after week. For comparison, most anime films peak in their first two weeks and then fade. Reze Arc kept pulling audiences back, and that kind of sustained theatrical performance is almost unheard of in modern anime.
The Numbers That Explain the Hype
Let’s talk about the actual stats, because they’re genuinely insane:
- $191.4 million worldwide box office — making it one of the highest-grossing Japanese films of all time
- 96% Critics Score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 48 reviews
- 99% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes
- #2 Highest Rated anime movie on MyAnimeList overall
- 16 consecutive weekends in Japan’s Top 10 box office
- Nominated for Best Animation Film at the 49th Japan Academy Film Prize
When a film hits those numbers across both critical and audience metrics, you know something special happened. The Rotten Tomatoes debut was actually 100% Fresh on its initial 14 critic reviews — an opening score that almost no anime film achieves.
Why the Reze Arc Works So Well on the Big Screen
Directed by Tatsuya Yoshihara and written by Hiroshi Seko, the film adapts volumes 5 and 6 of Fujimoto’s manga. The story picks up after the Katana Man arc, with Denji navigating his complicated feelings for Makima while meeting Reze — a mysterious girl working at a local cafe. What follows is one of the most bittersweet romances in anime history, wrapped in MAPPA’s signature explosive animation.
The voice cast delivers standout performances across the board. Kikunosuke Toya brings raw vulnerability to Denji, while Tomori Kusunoki’s Reze is simultaneously charming and deeply unsettling — exactly as the character demands. Reina Ueda, Fairouz Ai, and Shogo Sakata round out an ensemble that makes every scene feel electric.
But the real MVP might be composer Kensuke Ushio. His score elevates the emotional beats from impactful to absolutely devastating. There’s a scene involving a swimming pool at night that, paired with Ushio’s soundtrack, has become one of the most discussed moments in recent anime history.
Streaming on Crunchyroll Changed the Game
After its theatrical run, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc finally arrived on Crunchyroll starting April 30, 2026. The streaming release opened the floodgates — fans who couldn’t catch it in theaters finally got their chance, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. Social media was flooded with reactions, memes, and emotional breakdowns for weeks.
The Crunchyroll release also confirmed that the film would be available globally through Sony Pictures Releasing, making it accessible to international audiences who had been waiting months for an official stream.
How It Compares to Other Recent Anime Films
The Reze Arc movie’s success puts it in rare company. When you look at the recent landscape of anime films — including entries from studios like Ufotable with Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle and various theatrical releases from the past year — Reze Arc stands out because it managed to excel in every category simultaneously:
- Box office performance that rivaled mainstream Hollywood animated features
- Critical acclaim that’s unusual for anime adaptations
- Audience engagement that generated weeks of sustained social media discussion
- Artistic recognition with a Japan Academy Film Prize nomination
It’s not often that a single anime film checks all four of those boxes. The Reze Arc movie did it in 100 minutes.
For more on how anime adaptations are reshaping the industry in 2026, check out our ranking of 10 Manga, Manhwa, and Manhua Adaptations Reshaping Anime in 2026.
What This Means for Chainsaw Man’s Future
With the Reze Arc movie proving that Chainsaw Man can deliver blockbuster-level theatrical experiences, expectations for future adaptations are through the roof. Fans are already speculating about which arc could come next — the Bomb Girl Arc, the Public Safety Arc, or something entirely unexpected from Fujimoto’s evolving manga.
MAPPA has proven they can handle this property at the highest level. Director Yoshihara’s vision, combined with Ushio’s music and a cast that clearly understands these characters, sets a new benchmark for anime film production. Whatever comes next for Chainsaw Man on the big screen, it now has an impossible standard to live up to.
If you’re curious about other anime that dominated the recent seasons, read our deep dive into how Jujutsu Kaisen Dominated Winter 2026 But Oshi no Ko Stole the Crown.
What Do You Think?
The Reze Arc movie is officially one of the most acclaimed anime films ever made — but does it deserve all the praise? Were you moved to tears by that pool scene, or did you think the pacing could have been tighter? And more importantly, what arc should MAPPA adapt next?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below. Whether you’re a die-hard Chainsaw Man fan or someone who just discovered the series through the movie, we want to hear your take. The Reze debate is far from over.
