Anime Film Tops Letterboxd's Most Acclaimed Movies of 2025
A Japanese animated feature based on a popular manga series has claimed the top spot on Letterboxd's annual rankings, beating out major Oscar contenders with an impressive 4.4-star rating from hundreds of millions of user votes.
Letterboxd dropped its annual Year in Review data, and the results might surprise movie fans everywhere. An anime adaptation claimed the crown for highest-rated film of 2025, pulling ahead of traditional Oscar favorites.
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc scored a 4.4 average rating from 700 mn user votes on the platform. The film adapts the manga's Bomb Girl storyline, where main character Denji encounters a mysterious new romantic interest. Reze appears to be just another girl, but she's hiding dangerous secrets that could spell trouble for the devil hunter.
Beating Hollywood's Best
The anime feature outperformed major awards season contenders including One Battle After Another, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, and Sinners. These films were expected to dominate year-end lists, making the anime's victory even more striking.
Voice actors from both the English and Japanese versions recorded thank-you messages for voters. Alexis Tipton, who voices Reze in the English dub, called the recognition a "dream come true."
What's Next for the Franchise
The movie's success has already sparked excitement for upcoming projects. Chainsaw Man season 2 received official confirmation and will adapt the International Assassins storyline. This arc puts Denji in the crosshairs of professional killers from around the world.
While fans wait for that release, winter anime season offers plenty of alternatives. Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 continues its weekly episode drops. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End season 2 and Oshi no Ko season 3 both premiere this week, giving anime enthusiasts multiple new shows to follow.