Box Office Breakdown: ‘Chainsaw Man’ Shatters Expectations with $17 Million Debut, While ‘Springsteen’ Falls Flat at $9 Million

Another win for anime!

“Chainsaw Man The Movie: Reze Arc” just topped the box office, bringing in $17.2 million from 3,003 theaters in North America. This is Crunchyroll’s second big success this year. Last month, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle” made waves with a jaw-dropping $70 million debut.

“Chainsaw Man” beat out some tough competition too. It outperformed Disney’s musical biopic “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere,” the romantic drama “Regretting You,” and last weekend’s champion, horror flick “Black Phone 2.”

“Regretting You” opened in third place, earning $12.8 million from 3,393 venues. “Deliver Me From Nowhere” sunk to No. 4, making just $9.1 million from 3,460 locations. Meanwhile, “Black Phone 2” fell to second place, raking in $13 million but sliding 52% from its debut. So far, the horror sequel has collected $48 million in North America and $80.4 million globally, providing a much-needed boost for Blumhouse this year.

“Chainsaw Man” is based on a popular manga and offers both subtitled and dubbed versions. It even shows in premium formats like IMAX, which attract audiences willing to pay more. The film received an “A” grade from CinemaScore exit polls, indicating strong audience approval. Around 75% of viewers were male, with half being under 25. While anime films often see big drops in following weeks, “Chainsaw Man” has already secured $70 million internationally.

David A. Gross, a film industry consultant, highlights the global rise of anime. He notes, “This is a worldwide phenomenon.”

Despite this success, the overall box office is down 20% compared to the same weekend last year. Year-to-date revenue is up 4% compared to 2023, but it still lags about 20% behind pre-pandemic levels, according to Comscore data. Attendance is expected to pick up with holiday releases like “Wicked: For Good,” “Zootopia 2,” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash.”

“Springsteen” started slow at the international box office, earning $7 million and bringing its total to $16.1 million. With a production cost of $55 million, it has to keep performing well to break even. Critics weren’t too kind, leading to a “B+” grade on CinemaScore and a 61% Rotten Tomatoes average.

The film offers a different take on the biopic genre. Instead of showcasing Springsteen’s rise, it focuses on his 1982 acoustic album “Nebraska.” Gross points out that this film lacks the controversial angles seen in other musical biopics like “Bohemian Rhapsody” or “Rocketman.”

“Regretting You” also had a decent overseas start, pulling in $10 million for a total of $22.85 million. Based on a novel by Colleen Hoover, the film features Allison Williams and Mckenna Grace as a mother and daughter coping with a tragic accident. If it continues to perform well, Hoover’s name could become synonymous with box office success, following the breakout hit “It Ends With Us” which made $344 million globally.

Completing the top five was Disney’s “Tron: Ares” which grossed $4.7 million in its third weekend, bringing its domestic total to $63 million against a hefty $180 million budget.

New addition “Shelby Oaks” offers a supernatural twist, debuting at No. 7 with $2.3 million. The film follows a YouTuber’s fictional disappearance in an abandoned town. It received a “C+” grade on CinemaScore, which isn’t an encouraging sign for its word-of-mouth outreach.

On a smaller scale, “Bugonia,” featuring Emma Stone, made $690,000 from 17 locations, averaging a strong $40,588 per venue. The film’s commercial success will be tested as it expands nationwide next weekend.

Anime and biographical films are shaping this weekend’s landscape at the theater. As audiences continue to seek fresh, engaging stories, the box office is witnessing a vibrant shift.



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Chainsaw Man,Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere