Chainsaw Man Leads Domestic Cinema Earnings in Opening Weekend
Has Sony achieved another hit? Following the success of the hit anime Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, which brought in more than $600 million globally, the latest Chainsaw Man film has reached beyond the $100 million milestone globally, reaching a international earnings of $108M this weekend. The film beat out the horror sequel Black Phone 2 (almost $13 million) in its sophomore frame in theaters, as well as the film Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere starring the talented Jeremy Allen White (nine million dollars).
Impressive Domestic and Global Results
Helmed by Tatsuya Yoshihara, the feature is a direct continuation of the initial season of Chainsaw Man. It grossed over $18 million in the U.S. after a powerful $5.2 million Saturday box office and $4.5 million Sunday. Overseas, the produced by MAPPA film grossed $14.7 million across 46 global regions, resulting in a global sum of over $60 million under Sony ($43.1M international, $18.2 million stateside). The studio has not yet revealed its complete box office tally.
Parallels to Other Blockbuster Anime Movies
Anime marketing agency an industry expert had earlier commented, drawing parallels between the film’s projected performance to the popular film Jujutsu Kaisen 0, which grossed thirty-four million dollars in the domestic market in the year 2022 and debuted with a comparable $18M in the U.S.. The new film's debut weekend matches that marker, while its hundred-and-eight-million-dollar international sum presently stands a bit short of the earlier film's $166.6 million overall box office. Even if it doesn't seem possible this Chainsaw Man film will earn the numbers of smash success the record-breaking Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, this is still a huge win for Sony.
Fan Engagement Strategies Fuel Performance
The studio and its partner the anime streaming service Crunchyroll have effectively leveraged fan engagement to propel their supremacy at the animated movie market. This film's marketing campaign kicked off at the Anime Expo in LA in July with a discussion featuring MAPPA, special events, and photo opportunities with Pochita, followed by a significant involvement at the New York Comic Con including never-before-seen content, audience giveaways, and additional MAPPA panels. Additionally, there was an private showing for enthusiasts for the public and influencers alike after the final day of the gathering.
What’s Next
2025 is a significant period for Japanese animation, and for the company, which has one more feature-length anime releasing in the coming months in Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution in late this year.
