LOS ANGELES, Oct. 27 -- Japanese anime feature Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arctriumphed at the North American box office, debuting in the top spot at US$17.3 million (RM73 million) and besting a much-anticipated biopic about Bruce Springsteen, industry estimates showed yesterday.

Chainsaw Man,from Sony and Crunchyroll, had already scored big successes in Japan and across Asia, noted analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research.

It tells the dark fantasy story of orphaned teenager Denji, who is killed by the yakuza but reborn by merging with his pet devil to become Chainsaw Man. While fighting devils, Denji develops a romantic interest in Reze, who works at a cafe.

"But it's not just Asia. Anime is doing well everywhere...