Chainsaw Man Season 2: Do You Need to Watch the Reze Arc Movie First?
In short: Yes. Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc (2025) is canon and picks up directly after Season 1, so watch Season 1 (12 episodes), then the film, then the sequel. MAPPA announced that sequel, adapting the International Assassins Arc, at Jump Festa in December 2025; its format and date hadn't been revealed as of October 2026.
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- Season 1 (MAPPA, October to December 2022, 12 episodes). Denji becomes Chainsaw Man and joins Public Safety. Covers manga chapters 1 to 38.
- Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc (September 19, 2025 in Japan; October 2025 in the US). Denji meets Reze, a girl at a café, and it isn't what it seems. Chapters 39 to 52.
- The International Assassins Arc. Announced; date and format to come.
Why the Reze Arc was a film
The Reze story is a self-contained arc with a big finale, which suited a feature. It paid off: the film earned around $190 million worldwide, one of MAPPA's biggest hits, and reviews praised its action and romance.
What's next
At Jump Festa in December 2025, MAPPA announced an anime adaptation of the International Assassins Arc, with director Tatsuya Yoshihara, writer Hiroshi Seko and composer Kensuke Ushio returning from the film. Whether it will be a TV season or another film hadn't been confirmed as of October 2026. Treat specific release dates you see online as rumours until MAPPA announces one.
If you can't wait
Tatsuki Fujimoto's manga covers far more, including Part 2, which follows a new protagonist. The anime has only adapted the start of Part 1.
More anime watch orders: Demon Slayer, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and Baki.
Frequently asked questions
When does Chainsaw Man Season 2 come out? No date yet. MAPPA announced the International Assassins Arc sequel at Jump Festa in December 2025 with the film's director, Tatsuya Yoshihara, returning, but hasn't said whether it's a TV season or another film.
Where can I watch the Reze Arc movie? It was released in cinemas worldwide in 2025 and arrived on Crunchyroll for streaming in spring 2026.
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