The US weekend box office saw fierce competition with anime, horror, and biopics battling for dominance — but it was Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc that emerged as the undisputed winner. The film powered through the weekend with a stunning $15 million debut, leaving Regretting You, Black Phone 2, and Deliver Me From Nowhere trailing behind.
The R-rated anime film, distributed by Crunchyroll, expanded the world of the popular Chainsaw Man manga, bringing high-energy action and emotional depth to the big screen. With an impressive $8.5 million Friday opening across 3,003 theaters, the film’s IMAX and premium screenings gave it an additional boost.
Backed by glowing audience reactions and a strong “A” CinemaScore, the anime’s domestic success mirrors its overseas performance, where it has already collected over $61 million. This proves yet again that Japanese anime has become a consistent box office force in the US.
In second place, Paramount’s Regretting You, adapted from Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, achieved a $13 million weekend despite mixed critical reception. Directed by Josh Boone and starring McKenna Grace, Mason Thames, and Allison Williams, the film resonated particularly with young adult audiences.
Black Phone 2, the horror sequel from Universal Pictures, maintained solid momentum with $12 million in its second week, bringing its domestic total to $48 million. The sequel’s success marks a welcome recovery for Blumhouse after a string of underperforming releases.
Meanwhile, Deliver Me From Nowhere, starring Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen, took fourth place with $3.5 million on Friday. Despite mixed reviews, the biopic’s emotional depth and festival buzz suggest potential longevity in theaters.
Rounding out the top five, Disney’s Tron: Ares added $1.3 million on Friday, bringing its domestic total to $59 million. However, the sci-fi sequel’s performance remains underwhelming given its $180 million production cost.
Overall, this weekend showcased the growing influence of anime cinema and the resilience of diverse storytelling genres at the global box office.