Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc

Somewhat frustratingly, we live in a world where to be a successful shonen anime series, you need to have at least one venture into the world of cinema to your name. Demon Slayer did it, Jujutsu Kaisen did it, and now, Chainsaw Man has added itself to the ever-growing list of anime that use a movie to continue their narrative. However, when a movie is as good as Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc, the frustration that comes with anime movies’ global release schedules can be excused.

Today, Europe and the US have finally been treated to the release of Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc, a film that has earned renown throughout its last month in Japanese theatres. I was a huge fan of the Chainsaw Man anime, so much so that I ended up reading ahead in the manga, so to say I was excited to see the ‘Reze Arc’ brought to life would be an understatement. So, were my very high expectations met? Well, it’s time to dive in to all things Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc, in our spoiler review. To reiterate, this is a spoiler review, so please check out the film for yourself before reading on! We’ll be going into all of the grisly details today, so make sure to experience Chainsaw Man: Reze Arcin your own way before we let you in on all of the surprises. Alright, it’s time – let’s review Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc.

---

Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc Review

Image by MAPPA

Ever since Chainsaw Man took the anime industry by storm back in 2022, I’ve been a huge fan of the series. In fact, I was so much of a fan that I made the rare decision to read ahead in the manga, because I simply could not wait for more. With that being said, ever since I first read the ‘Reze Arc’ all those years ago, I knew that the plan was always going to be to make this section of the story into a movie. In fact, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if cinematic aspirations were in Tatsuki Fujimoto’s mind when he wrote this arc for the first time. Everything about it so owes itself to the structure, pacing, and emotional payoff of a film. So, while I usually don’t love when an anime series decides to turn to the world of cinema to continue their stories, the ‘Reze Arc’ was a perfect fit for the big screen.

So, why does it work so well? Not only does Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc perfectly translate its source material to the big screen, but it also follows a perfectly self-contained story, one that flows far better as a movie than say the recent Demon Slayer movie, a film that was certainly enjoyable, but felt like watching manga chapters far more suited for television be somewhat ham-fistedly adapted into a movie. Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc is just the right length for a feature film, and though Fujimoto’s approach to storytelling does change somewhat with this format transition in mind, the film still manages to capture everything that makes Chainsaw Man special. It’s a quirkly film, filled with off-the-wall characters, non-stop explosions, and copious amounts of gore. However, at its core, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc tells such a heartfelt story that you can’t help but feel a tender connection to the chaos unfolding before you. In that way, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc perfectly recaptures the magic of the 2022 anime series, which was the first hurdle the film would have to overcome.

Funnily enough, you could make a very strong argument that Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc is a romance movie, as both the first and final sections of the film play out like a romantic tragedy. Of course, these sections are broken up by some absolutely bonkers action sequences, but beneath the surface, the movie is a story about love, and quite poignantly, love that our protagonist, Denji, can never truly achieve. Considering Denji has always been a somewhat immature character when it comes to romance, it’s amazing to see how easily everything could have gone wrong with Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc, and how elegantly the story plays out instead. Reze is a phenomenal character, and her connection with Chainsaw Man fans is miraculous, considering how small of a presence she ultimately has in the story as a whole. We get so little time with Reze, and yet she stands opposite to Denji in this movie as an almost equally compelling and likeable character, a feat that should never be understated.

Image by MAPPA

What would have made Reze an even better character was if the advertising campaign for Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc didn’t make it so transparent that she was the Bomb Devil. Reading the manga, the revelation came as a genuine shock to me. I can only imagine how thrilling it would have been for anime fans to see this reveal unfold in front of their eyes, without seeing it coming. Unfortunately, it seems like Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc was looking to appeal to manga readers who already knew how enjoyable this arc was, as opposed to trying to hook any new fans in. There’s an emerging trend in the movie industry where adaptations appeal to people familiar with the source material, as opposed to people experiencing these stories for the first time, with the advertising for Wicked: For Good coming to mind. I don’t love this trend, because it takes away from the surprise of moments like the Bomb Devil reveal.

However, regardless of your familiarity with the source material, you’re going to be blown away with what MAPPA has done with this film. Be warned, for all of those animation purists out there – Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc does make use of occasional CGI elements, and for once, I’m going to side with the people calling this out. The 3D moments can feel jarring, but they’re only so jarring because the 2D animation in Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc is so formidable. Particularly once the action kicks off, it’s clear as day that MAPPA have gone all-out on making this movie a magical experience for cinema-goers. I would argue that this movie holds its own against Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, though the latter does have a far more cinematic feel to it. It’s a shame that such a dark cloud hangs over MAPPA morally, because their output is undeniably strong.

The action sequence that occupies the majority of the second half of Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc is a complete thrill-ride, genuinely feeling like a rollercoaster as it unfolds. There’s just the right amount of chaos for a Chainsaw Man movie, which, considering this universe, is quite a lot. Have you ever wanted to watch a man made of chainsaws riding a giant shark through a bomb tornado? The concept has probably never even come to mind for those unfamiliar with the manga, and yet, all of this madness feels perfectly at home in Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc. Admittedly, there’s so much chaos going on that it can sometimes be hard to decipher exactly what you’re looking at. However, for the most part, you can just sit back and enjoy the ride that this movie takes you on. Unless you embrace its madness, it’s easy to get lost in the pure, unfiltered fury of Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc.

Image by MAPPA

With that in mind, I hold the same opinion about Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc as I did with Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, in the sense that this is something you must experience in a cinema if possible. Not only does the movie’s sense of awe owe itself to being experienced on the big screen, it’s incredible to see not only one, but two, anime movies making waves in Hollywood in 2025. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is currently the fifth highest-grossing movie of the year, and though I doubt that Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc will reach the same heights in terms of the box-office, it’s bound to make at least a splash, especially in the wake of such a financial success for the industry. If possible, get out there and support this movie! You won’t regret the experience from a viewing perspective.

Now then, it seems like it’s a good time to address the elephant in the room. Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc is releasing in very close succession to Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle. So, which is the better movie? Well, a quick glance at my review scores will tell you that I think this is the stronger film. However, it’s worth saying that not only do I think that Infinity Castle will easily secure a higher box-office, but also, Infinity Castle is a far more impressive experience from a cinematic perspective. However, narratively, thematically, emotionally, and technically, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc is the stronger film, mainly because it feels like its heart is in it. Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc wants to be a film because a film is the right way to adapt this arc, not solely because it would make the big bucks for MAPPA.

Speaking of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, I’ve seen some people say that, unlike that film, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc could be enjoyed as a movie without watching the 2022 anime series. While I can see where they’re coming from, considering how comparatively self-contained Reze’s story is compared to the ‘Infinity Castle’ arc, I still have to disagree with this take. Not only will the ending, an ending that leads directly into Season 2 of the anime, not make much sense to any non-anime viewers, but there’s so much more emotional depth behind Denji’s loss in this movie if you’re aware of how he is being manipulated using romance during the anime. If, by some chance, you’re reading this review and you’ve never watched the Chainsaw Man anime series, please watch it before going into this film. It’s not only a phenomenal show in its own right, but it greatly enhances the Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc experience.

Image by MAPPA

While we’re on the topic, let’s talk about the ending of Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc, a truly frustrating, heartbreaking, and yet extremely beautiful, ending. One of my favourite things about Chainsaw Man is how much it leaves you feeling conflicted, because I really do love all of these characters. Reze was an incredible character, so seeing her brutally killed by Makima and Angel should make me hate those two characters. And yet, I can’t hate either of them, especially Angel. The ending is filled with an overwhelming sense of melancholy, as we finally round-out the story of the country mouse and the city mouse, as well as succinctly concluding the ‘Reze Arc’ and leading us gracefully into Season 2. It amazes me that a show filled with such eccentric and humorous characters so often breaks my heart. I hope Reze’s legacy will live on in Season 2, even though she herself is gone. As sad as it was, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc concluded perfectly, which will be refreshing for fans frustrated with the Infinity Castle ending earlier this year.

So, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc is a near-perfect film from start to finish. Outside of its occasional errors in animation, the only complaint I can make about the movie is that it’s somewhat slow in its early stages. However, this slow-burn approach is what makes us love Reze so much by the film’s ending, so I wouldn’t change it. Just don’t go in to the movie expecting non-stop action from the jump – Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc takes its time. I would have liked to see the movie do a little exposition-dumping at the start, purely to open the film up to new audiences, but for anyone familiar with Chainsaw Man, I don’t think you could ask for more.

Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc is the quintessential Chainsaw Man experience. It’s a film that can be goofy, but balances it out with its compelling brutality. Every character is a little bit strange, but you can’t help but feel drawn to them in their own, disarming ways. The action in the finale is absolutely bonkers, but captures the overwhelming sense of chaos that Chainsaw Man thrives on. I absolutely adored this film, and feel overjoyed that Chainsaw Man’s transition to film has felt appropriate for the big screen. This is the most masterful shonen film since Jujutsu Kaisen 0, and even then, it may have exceeded that film in quality. I highly recommend it for any fans of the anime, and for any anime fans in general. A true masterclass in what an anime film should be.

See also: Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Review

---

Where to Watch Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc?

Image by MAPPA

Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc premiered in Japanese theatres on September 19, 2025, with its U.K. release date set for October 24, 2025. The Chainsaw Man series streams on Crunchyroll, so you can expect the film to debut on the streaming platform in the future, but as of now, there is no official digital release date for the movie – we’ll be keeping an eye out for when you can enjoy this movie from home!

• ShareCopied to clipboard
• X
• Facebook