LOS ANGELES (AP) — The highly anticipated big-screen adaptation of the popular anime series "Chainsaw Man" has topped the North American box office, outpacing a biographical film about the legendary musician Bruce Springsteen and the horror sequel "Black Phone 2." This remarkable achievement marks yet another successful entry for anime films in mainstream cinema, coming just weeks after "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle" made headlines with a record-breaking opening weekend of $70 million.

"Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc" emerged victorious by grossing an impressive $17.25 million at theaters across the U.S. and Canada during its opening weekend, according to Comscore's estimates. In comparison, "Black Phone 2," which is the sequel to the hit 2021 horror film, landed in second place with earnings of $13 million in its second week of release.

Additionally, two new films made their theatrical debuts: a romantic comedy titled "Regretting You," which garnered $12.85 million, and "Springsteen – Deliver Me From Nowhere," a biopic centered around the struggles Bruce Springsteen faced while creating his iconic "Nebraska" album released in 1982, which earned $9.1 million. Rounding out the top five was "Tron: Ares," which collected $4.9 million at the box office.

"Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc" is a self-contained adaptation of the hit manga series created by Tatsuki Fujimoto, featuring a unique storyline about a demon hunter whose limbs can transform into chainsaws. This film, which blends elements of romance and intense action, is based on the anime series that premiered in 2022 and has quickly captured the attention of audiences.

Moreover, the film represents a continuing triumph for Crunchyroll, a subsidiary of Sony that previously released "Infinity Castle" to significant acclaim. The success of "Chainsaw Man" emphasizes anime's growing influence and popularity in the cinematic landscape.

"Deliver Me From Nowhere" features Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen. The film delves into the creative challenges Springsteen faced during the production of his "Nebraska" album. Notably, White had to learn guitar skills and had limited singing experience before portraying the iconic musician, who was actively involved in the movie’s production process.

While "Deliver Me From Nowhere" received a B+ rating from Cinemascore, "Chainsaw Man" impressed audiences with an A rating, reflecting strong viewer satisfaction. "Black Phone 2," which stars Ethan Hawke alongside Mason Thames, now has a cumulative domestic earning of nearly $50 million after its release.

In terms of the top 10 movies at the domestic box office, with final numbers reported by Comscore covering the weekend from Friday to Sunday, here’s the breakdown:

• "Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc," $17.3 million
• "Black Phone 2," $13 million
• "Regretting You," $12.9 million
• "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere," $9.1 million
• "Tron: Ares," $4.9 million
• "Good Fortune," $3.1 million
• "Shelby Oaks," $2.4 million
• "One Battle After Another," $2.3 million
• "Roofman," $2 million
• "ParaNorman (Remastered)," $991,910

This weekend's box office results illustrate the dynamic landscape of film releases and audience preferences, showcasing a blend of genre variety and storytelling that continues to captivate moviegoers.