Japanese Fans Crown 2025's Best Anime Movies: Demon Slayer Tops Rankings Over Chainsaw Man

The 50th Hochi Film Awards confirmed Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1 – Akaza's Return as the Best Animated Feature, topping the list of 2025's best anime films compiled from fan polls, box office results, and awards data. This victory places the Ufotable production ahead of major contenders, including the critically acclaimed Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc.

Released in July, the Demon Slayer film immediately set new global box office records. The story focuses on Tanjiro and the Hashira as they enter the perilous Infinity Castle, engaging in brutal confrontations against high-ranking demons such as Akaza. The film’s win highlights the continuing influence of Ufotable’s high-quality animation.

Competition was fierce, with Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc proving a massive commercial and critical success. The movie secured the highest user rating ever recorded on MyAnimeList for a film release and simultaneously hit number one at both the Japanese and U.S. box offices. The adaptation brought Denji’s intense, explosive romance with Reze to the screen, earning an 8.4 rating on IMDb, which narrowly surpassed the score achieved by the Demon Slayer feature.

The finalized top 10 list also recognized the enduring power of older titles. Princess Mononoke’s recent 4K restoration managed to crack the U.S. top 10 theatrical runs, a feat partly attributed to promotion from figures like Michael B. Jordan. The list also included the Kamen Rider W's Fuuto PI movie, centering on fan-favorite Sokichi Narumi, alongside multiple Gundam entries that maintained the mecha genre’s relevance throughout the year.