Anime once again reigns supreme at the domestic box office. “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc” roared into theaters this weekend, slicing through the competition with a powerful $8.5 million opening day. The R-rated anime film easily outpaced newcomers like “Deliver Me From Nowhere,” the Bruce Springsteen biopic, and the Colleen Hoover adaptation “Regretting You.”
‘Chainsaw Man’ Movie Slashes Through Competition
According to early estimates, “Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc” is expected to finish its opening weekend with around $15.5 million, playing in 3,003 theaters nationwide. Available in both dubbed and subtitled formats, the film also gained an advantage from IMAX and premium large-format screenings, which offer higher ticket prices and attract die-hard fans.
The movie continues the story from the first season of the hit manga adaptation and marks another success for Sony’s Crunchyroll, the studio’s thriving anime label. Earlier this year, Crunchyroll celebrated a massive $70.6 million debut with “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle.”
While “Chainsaw Man” won’t reach that same blockbuster level, its strong opening proves how anime has solidified its presence in U.S. theaters. The film currently boasts an impressive “A” CinemaScore and has already earned $61 million in overseas markets, signaling global popularity.
‘Regretting You’ Holds Second Place in Tight Box Office Race
In a close battle for second, Paramount’s “Regretting You” narrowly edged out “Black Phone 2.” The generational drama, directed by Josh Boone and produced by Constantin Films, brought in $5.2 million on Friday including preview screenings and special fan events featuring live cast Q&As.
“Regretting You” is now projected for a $13 million opening weekend, outperforming earlier predictions of $8–10 million. The film stars Mckenna Grace, Mason Thames, Allison Williams, and Dave Franco and marks the beginning of a new wave of Colleen Hoover book adaptations, with “Verity” and “Reminders of Him” already in development.
However, critics haven’t been as kind this time. The film received a “B” CinemaScore, lower than the “A–” earned by “It Ends With Us” last year. That movie, starring Blake Lively, opened to a huge $50 million debut against a modest $25 million budget. By contrast, “Regretting You” cost $30 million to produce, making profitability a tougher climb.
Springsteen Biopic ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere’ Opens in Fourth
Landing in fourth place, “Deliver Me From Nowhere”—starring Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen—earned $3.5 million on its opening day from 3,460 locations. The PG-13 biopic, from 20th Century Studios, is tracking for a modest $8–12 million weekend, though it may fall short of the higher end of that range.
The film follows in the footsteps of last year’s Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” which debuted slightly higher at $11.6 million and went on to gross $75 million domestically. While “Deliver Me From Nowhere” received a “B+” CinemaScore, critics were mixed, suggesting it may struggle to maintain box office traction.
With a $55 million budget, the studio hopes festival buzz and Springsteen’s own fanbase can give the movie some legs. The film had its world premieres at Telluride, New York, and AFI Fest, attended by Springsteen himself.
‘Black Phone 2’ and ‘Tron: Ares’ Round Out the Top Five
Universal’s “Black Phone 2” continues to perform well, adding $3.7 million on Friday for a $12 million second weekend, a 56% drop from its debut. That brings its domestic total to $48 million, slightly ahead of the first film’s pace. Despite being the most expensive Blumhouse movie of the year at a $30 million budget, it’s currently the studio’s highest-grossing 2025 release.
In fifth place, Disney’s “Tron: Ares” earned another $1.3 million on Friday, a 48% decline from last week. Now in its third weekend, the sci-fi sequel has collected $59 million in North America—a disappointing total for a film that cost $180 million to produce.
Other Notable Openings
Neon’s horror mystery “Shelby Oaks” debuted in 1,823 theaters, earning about $1.1 million on Friday. Despite mixed reviews, the film is on track for a seventh-place opening, adding more competition to an already crowded October box office.
Final Thoughts
The weekend box office results highlight a shifting trend in audience preferences. Anime films like “Chainsaw Man” continue to attract passionate crowds, while traditional Hollywood releases struggle to maintain dominance. With “Chainsaw Man” leading the charts, “Regretting You” performing above expectations, and “Deliver Me From Nowhere” fighting for attention, the October box office is proving to be as unpredictable as ever.
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