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Did Sony done it again? Coming after the success of the hit anime Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, which earned over $600 million globally, the latest Chainsaw Man film has surpassed the hundred-million-dollar mark worldwide, reaching a international earnings of $108 million in its opening frame. This feature beat out the thriller Black Phone 2 (almost $13 million) in its second week in theaters, as well as the music documentary Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere with Jeremy Allen White ($9 million).

Strong Domestic and Worldwide Results

Helmed by Tatsuya Yoshihara, the feature is a straightforward follow-up of the debut season of the Chainsaw Man series. It brought in over $18 million in North America after a powerful $5.2 million Saturday and four-point-five-million-dollar Sunday take. Overseas, the animated by MAPPA feature grossed $14.7 million across 46 Sony markets, pushing its worldwide total to over $60 million through Sony distribution (over $43 million overseas, $18.2M domestic). Official totals are still pending from Sony its complete box office tally.

Parallels to Previous Blockbuster Anime Movies

Anime marketing agency White Box Entertainment previously spoke, comparing the film’s projected performance to Jujutsu Kaisen 0, which grossed thirty-four million dollars in the U.S. and Canada in 2022 and started with a comparable eighteen million dollars in the U.S.. The new film's opening frame is in line with that standard, while its $108M global gross currently tracks a bit short of the earlier film's over $166 million overall box office. While it is improbable this Chainsaw Man film will match the numbers of smash success the enormous hit Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, this is still a major victory for the distributor.

Promotional Strategies Drive Success

Sony and its subsidiary Crunchyroll have effectively leveraged audience interaction to drive their leadership at the cinema for anime films. The movie's marketing campaign began at Anime Expo Los Angeles in the month of July with a MAPPA panel, special events, and Pochita-themed pictures, and later included a notable appearance at the New York Comic Con featuring exclusive clips, fan raffles, and more MAPPA sessions. Additionally, there was an exclusive fan screening for the public and influencers alike after the final day of the gathering.

Future Prospects

This year marks a major time for animated films, and for the company, which has an additional animated movie releasing in the coming months in the upcoming Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution in the month of November.