Chainsaw Man achieved a historic feat for the anime world in early 2026. The film Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc was officially revealed as the highest-rated film production of 2025 on the platform Letterboxd, an important review aggregator. With an impressive average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars among users, the adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga surpassed big-budget Western blockbusters, including the acclaimed One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. This result consolidates the growing strength of Japanese animation on the global stage and reignites the debate about the genre’s recognition in major awards.
The victory came through a list released by Letterboxd itself, which ranked the 2025 productions. The film, which adapts the popular Reze Arc, not only leads the ranking but also leaves behind successes like Marty Supreme, with Timothée Chalamet, and Sinners, starring Michael B. Jordan. The achievement is especially relevant because it occurs despite the film being ignored in the Golden Globe nominations, an award won by Hamnet, which only placed seventh on Letterboxd. Since then, the creative team has celebrated the feat with messages of thanks, including from the original Japanese voice actors and the English dub version.
How did the film reach this position? The answer seems to lie in its critical and popular reception. Shortly after its release, Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc became one of the favorites of specialized critics in 2025, earning the “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Furthermore, the production grossed over US$159 million (approximately R$800 million at the current exchange rate) at the worldwide box office, a significant amount that demonstrates its reach beyond the anime fan niche. Therefore, the success on the Letterboxd platform is the culmination of a year of great cultural and commercial impact.
Recognition and Future of the Franchise
Due to this enormous acceptance, director Tatsuya Yoshihara sent an emotional statement to Letterboxd. He attributed the result to the “immense love and passion” of the entire production team, who managed to blend violence, action, and romance into an “exceptional visual experience.” Meanwhile, fans have more reasons to celebrate. Despite the absence at the Golden Globes, the film is eligible for an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature, a category that may also include Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle. Thus, the competition for the golden statuettes in 2026 promises to be fierce.
However, the journey of Denji and his companions does not stop there. Production has already confirmed that the next story arc, the “Assassins Arc,” is in development. Still, the producers have not revealed whether it will be a second season of the series or a new feature film. With more news expected throughout this year, Brazilian fans can follow everything closely, as the victorious film is available for digital purchase. Thus, the influence of Chainsaw Man continues to grow, proving that Japanese comic book stories have a unique power to captivate audiences worldwide.
