Japanese anime is experiencing a box office boom, with Chainsaw Man continuing the momentum set by Demon Slayer, even as many Hollywood blockbusters underperform.
Within just two months, anime has delivered two massive theatrical hits. According to Box Office Mojo, October saw sluggish box office returns despite major Hollywood releases like Tron: Ares and One Battle After Another. In contrast, Japanese animated films vastly exceeded expectations. Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc grossed $141 million as of November 7.
Adapted from Tatsuki Fujimoto’s popular manga, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc follows the 2022 anime series. It tells the story of Denji, a devil hunter repaying his late father’s debts. After nearly dying during a mission, Denji is saved by his devil dog Pochita and becomes the unstoppable “Chainsaw Man.” The movie introduces Reze, a mysterious girl who brings both love and tragedy, leading Denji into the most brutal battle of his life.
In South Korea, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc has dominated the box office for consecutive weeks. Korean media have dubbed it “the counterattack of Japanese anime,” as it outshines local productions released during the same period.
Previously, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle broke records with $670 million in global revenue, becoming the highest-grossing Japanese film of all time. What astonished experts is that audiences needed to watch all 63 episodes of the series—more than 24 hours of content—to fully understand the film’s plot.
Japanese anime has been gaining theatrical traction in Ireland, across Europe, and in the United States. Forbes reports that this anime boom is not coincidental. The COVID-19 pandemic drove people toward streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Crunchyroll, which quickly began licensing classic anime series and funding new productions.
Netflix revealed that 50% of its users watch Japanese anime. According to Yuji Yamano, the company’s head of content licensing in the region, anime viewership has tripled in the last five years. “Anime has always been loved, but the real surge came after we brought it to Netflix,” he said.
With subtitles in over 33 languages, anime is now easily accessible worldwide—especially in the U.S., where fans previously had to rely on VHS or fan-subtitled DVDs.
Another key factor behind anime’s global popularity is its lower production cost compared to Hollywood. For example, F1 cost around $250 million to make and earned $630 million, whereas Demon Slayer had an estimated budget of just $20 million and grossed $660 million.
The Japanese government now considers anime and related sectors—films, games, manga, and music—as core industries. The “Cool Japan” strategy aims to triple overseas revenue, targeting $131.4 billion by 2033.
Recently, the Association of Japanese Animations (AJA) reported a 14.8% growth in anime industry revenue, reaching a record $25 billion in 2024, as presented at TIFFCOM, the content market event of the Tokyo International Film Festival.
The report shows that international markets now account for 56% of total anime revenue—$14.25 billion—while the domestic market lags behind at 44% or $10.97 billion. Lead author Masahiko Hasegawa remarked, “Revenue from overseas now far surpasses that of the domestic market—and the gap is widening.” Revenue streams include theatrical distribution, streaming rights, merchandise, and film-related event hosting.
“Anime is no longer just a storytelling medium—it has become a global cultural economy,” Hasegawa concluded.
Sources: VNE