Chainsaw Man—The Movie: Reze Arc is a movie that serves as the latest installment of the Chainsaw Man series, an anime adaptation of the manga series by the same name written and illustrated by Tatsuki Fujimoto. The movie illustrates the aptly named “Reze Arc” of the franchise, serving as a direct continuation of where season one left off and encapsulating the entire story arc within a movie for more streamlined viewing.
The R-rated movie made its U.S. release on October 24th, and ever since then it has made $168.3 million worldwide. The movie currently boasts a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, along with a 98% audience score, and currently sits as the 20th highest-earning movie of 2025.
The movie has been a huge departure from Season 1 of the anime, as the arc it brings to life marks a pivotal turning point in the series. The Reze arc, at its surface, seems to be another male gaze-oriented arc about the main character’s aspirations relating to approximating himself to women; however, upon watching it, it’s easy to realize this movie is so much more. This movie is about growth, not only for the characters but also for the series as a whole. It shifts the atmosphere of the cast from being a comedic group in such a bleak world and grounds many characters and plot points.
To give a general premise, Chainsaw Man follows a 16-year-old boy named Denji, who has no parents and lives in struggle. Being deprived of basic joys of life for so long, Denji eventually gains all he believed he ever wanted after gaining the heart of a devil and becoming the Chainsaw Man, after which he is recruited to Japan’s Public Safety Devil Hunting Association. Under this association, he is brought under the wing of its head, Makima, and paired up with Aki and Power, who become like a found family to him. With his physiological and safety needs finally met, Denji’s new goal becomes to touch a woman’s breasts.
While that premise sounds crass and not for general audiences, that is precisely what makes this movie so impactful. This movie is a transition in the story, from the depraved male fantasy into this beautiful journey about broken people moving up Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The movie is exciting, romantic, heartbreaking, witty, and funny, while holding the crass undertones the story is known for all at the same time.
The movie itself is a mix between romance and a gory battle shonen, teetering the line whilst doing both incredibly well. It has high stakes, action-packed scenes, and incredibly flashy animation, whilst beautifully encapsulating the trials of first love. It’s emotional, fast-paced, and tragic all the same. As you watch it, you know the movie must come to an end, yet you don’t want it to. It’s a melancholic ride that’s bittersweet until the end and for days after.
The day after watching the movie, I struggled to get out of bed when I heard the sounds of rain outside my window. The author himself has gone on record to say he wants the presence of Reze, the movie’s female lead, to linger in the minds of every viewer like a curse, and for so many, it did. This movie was a reminder to cherish those I care for most and to not bear burdens alone. It was one of the purest calls for human connection I’ve experienced in a long time. Immediately after it was done, all I could do was quote a line from the movie itself as the theater lit up: “I believe that a single good movie can change your entire life.”
Overall, I give Chainsaw Man—The Movie: Reze Arc a 9.8/10. I strongly recommend watching it and Chainsaw Man the series before the movie leaves theaters if anime is a medium you tend to enjoy.
