Chainsaw Man Fans Outraged as Golden Globes Overlook Reze Arc

The latest Golden Globe nominations have set the anime community abuzz, as Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle secured a coveted spot for Best Animated Motion Picture. While this recognition has delighted many, a significant number of viewers are less than pleased, particularly those who had hoped to see Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc receive similar acclaim.

Golden Globes’ Decision Sparks Debate

Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc enjoyed a remarkable run, earning widespread praise and a strong following. Many fans argue it outshone Demon Slayer’s latest offering, leading to a lively row online. The Golden Globes’ official announcement listed Arco, Zootopia 2, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, KPOP Demon Hunters, Little Amelie, and Elio as nominees in the animated category, leaving Reze Arc conspicuously absent.

Despite the fierce competition, the omission has not gone unnoticed. Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc dominated the Japanese box office for seven weeks straight and its theme song, Iris Out, topped the Japan Billboard charts. Fans have been quick to highlight these achievements, questioning the rationale behind the selection process.

Fan Reactions and Industry Speculation

Social media has been awash with passionate responses. One user summed up the sentiment:

– #1 film in Japan for 7 consecutive weeks
– earned $175M on $4M budget [44x ROI]
– #1 film on MAL
– #2 film on AniList
– Best animated sequence of the year
– Iris Out No. 1 on Japan Billboard

Chainsaw Man Reze Arc is best animated film of the decade

Another added:

Mappa COOKED with this film so unbelievably hard

There’s also speculation that industry politics may have played a part. As one observer noted:

The thing is Crunchyroll CEO said they want to take Demon Slayer Infinity Castle all the way to Oscars. So Chainsaw Man Reze Arc is not gonna be taken together to avoid any competition.

Some have even questioned the cinematic merits of the nominees:

Demonslayer is amazing, but it’s basically 6 episodes in a row that will release individually later. Reze is a proper cinematicly paced story.

Box Office and Critical Reception

While Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc’s achievements are impressive, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle’s commercial success is difficult to ignore. The latter became the sixth-highest-grossing film of 2025 and set records as the top-grossing non-English language film in the United States, as well as the highest-grossing Japanese and R-rated animated film of the year.

In terms of revenue, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle amassed over $780 million, dwarfing Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc’s $174 million. However, the latter’s modest budget of just over $4 million resulted in a return on investment that’s hard to dismiss, highlighting the strength of its fanbase and the franchise’s growing influence.

Comparing the Two Franchises

Both films have received high marks from critics and audiences alike. On IMDb, each holds an 8.5/10 rating. Rotten Tomatoes scores stand at 96% for Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc and 98% for Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle. My Anime List users have given Reze Arc a score of 9.18, compared to Infinity Castle’s 8.71.

Though Demon Slayer currently enjoys greater international recognition, Chainsaw Man is rapidly gaining ground. With continued support and strong releases, it may well challenge the established order in the years to come. Both titles are currently available for streaming on Crunchyroll.