“Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc,” a Japanese anime from Crunchyroll and Sony, took first place at the box office this weekend, grossing an estimated $17.25 million, according to Comscore.
The R-rated film, based on Tatsuki Fujimoto's popular manga, follows teenage demon hunter Denji, who is betrayed and killed by the yakuza while trying to pay off debts he inherited from his parents. His beloved chainsaw dog Pochita makes a deal and sacrifices his life, merging with Denji, who is revived with the ability to turn his body parts into chainsaws.
Chainsaw Man, already a worldwide hit, is a blow to Disney's 20th Century biopic. “Springsteen: Deliver Me Out of Nowhere.” starring Jeremy Allen White, which finished in a disappointing fourth place with an estimate of $9.1 million.
Based on Warren Zanes' 2023 book of the same name, the film follows Springsteen's life and career through the creative process during the making of his 1982 acoustic album Nebraska.
The Times described the film as a “thoughtful exploration of a creative process” that fizzles out by the end, “plunging aimlessly into Springsteen's doldrums and never really getting back on its feet.”
The horror sequel comes out in the second week. “Black Phone 2” finished in second place, earning an estimated $13 million over the weekend, giving the Universal/Blumhouse film a domestic total of $49.1 million.
Rounding out third place is Paramount's romantic drama “Regret About You,” the latest adaptation from novelist Colleen Hoover (“It Ends with Us”). Starring Allison Williams and Dave Franco, it is estimated to be worth $12.5 million domestically.
