Chainsaw Man Watch Order: Anime and the Reze Arc Movie

Chainsaw Man is mercifully simple to watch in order — one TV season and one theatrical film — but the questions around it are not: where does the Reze Arc movie actually sit, do you need to re-watch anything first, how much manga does the anime cover so far, and what should you read if you can't wait for more? This guide answers all of it, in order, with no spoilers beyond premise level.

The complete watch order

Order	Title	Type	Year	Manga covered
1	Chainsaw Man (Season 1)	TV, 12 episodes	2022	Vol. 1–5 (Intro → Katana Man)
2	Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc	Film	2025	Vol. 5–6 (Bomb Girl arc)

That's it — no OVAs, no specials, no recap films. Release order and story order are identical, which by shonen standards is a small miracle.

What happens in Season 1 (spoiler-light)

Denji is a teenager buried in yakuza debt who hunts devils with his pet chainsaw-devil Pochita just to eat. After a betrayal leaves him dying in a dumpster, Pochita merges with him — making Denji the Chainsaw Man — and the mysterious Makima recruits him into the government's Public Safety Devil Hunters. MAPPA's production is deliberately cinematic: film-style lighting, restrained colour, and a different ending theme for every episode. The season closes at the end of the Katana Man arc, with Denji's team reshaped and Makima's plans just starting to show their edges. If you want to keep the cast straight, our Chainsaw Man characters guide profiles Denji, Makima and the rest of Division 4.

Where the Reze Arc movie fits — and why it's a film

The Reze Arc (the manga's "Bomb Girl" storyline) picks up immediately after episode 12. Denji, still tangled up in his feelings for Makima, meets a disarmingly sweet girl named Reze in a rainstorm — and gets pulled into the most emotionally brutal arc of Part 1. It was adapted as a theatrical film rather than a second season because the arc is compact, self-contained and built around one relationship, and the format pays off: the fight animation and the quiet café scenes both get movie-budget treatment. Do not watch it before Season 1; the emotional stakes depend entirely on knowing Denji's history.

Do you need to know the devil power system first?

No — the show explains itself — but the rules reward attention: every devil is born from a collective human fear, and the more feared the concept, the stronger the devil. Contracts trade body parts or lifespan for power. Our devils and powers explainer ranks the fear hierarchy and covers why the Gun Devil, mentioned constantly in Season 1, matters so much.

Where to continue in the manga

The anime so far adapts roughly the first six volumes. If you want to read ahead after the Reze Arc film, start the manga at Volume 7 (Chapter 53) — the beginning of the International Assassins arc. Part 1 of the manga (the Public Safety saga, volumes 1–11) is complete and has a definitive ending; Part 2 (the Academy saga) is ongoing and follows a new co-protagonist alongside Denji.

What's next for the anime?

MAPPA has continued the story theatrically with the Reze Arc; whatever format comes next, the remaining Part 1 arcs (International Assassins, Gun Devil, Control Devil) are the obvious road map. Given the reception of the film's production values, expect the story to continue — Chainsaw Man remains one of the best-selling manga of its generation. For more shows with its energy while you wait, see our 10 best anime like Chainsaw Man.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to watch anything before the Chainsaw Man Reze Arc movie?

Yes — all 12 episodes of Season 1. The film continues the story directly and assumes you know Denji, Makima, Aki and Power.

Is there a Chainsaw Man Season 2?

The story after Season 1 continued as a theatrical film (the Reze Arc) rather than a broadcast season. Further anime is expected to continue Part 1's remaining arcs.

How much of the manga does the anime cover?

Season 1 covers volumes 1–5; the Reze Arc movie covers the Bomb Girl arc through volume 6. Continue reading at chapter 53.

Is Chainsaw Man okay for younger viewers?

No — it's firmly mature: graphic violence, dark sexual themes and heavy emotional content. It earns its rating in the first episode.

Is the Chainsaw Man anime finished?

No. The animated adaptation has covered roughly half of the manga's Part 1, and Part 2 of the manga is still being published.