For over a decade, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood reigned supreme as the undisputed king of anime, often cited as the perfect blend of emotional storytelling, philosophical depth, and explosive action. But time catches up with even the greatest. A new generation of anime fans, raised on faster pacing, darker themes, and cinematic spectacle, has found a new champion.
That champion is Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc. The 2025 theatrical release has not only electrified audiences worldwide but has now officially dethroned Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood as the #1 action anime on MyAnimeList, with an astounding average score of 9.17. For fans, this is not just a passing trend, it is a changing of the guard, and Chainsaw Man is leading anime’s new golden age.
Chainsaw Man’s Rise to the Top
As of October 26, 2025, Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc sits proudly atop MyAnimeList’s action anime rankings, edging out Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and even Gintama: The Final. Its domination is not limited to fan ratings either, because critics have also rallied behind the film, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting an impressive 96% approval rating and a near-perfect 99% audience score.
Part of this success lies in the film’s flawless balance of brutality and heart. The Reze Arc brings back Denji, the blood-soaked devil hunter, in a tragic love story that perfectly encapsulates Chainsaw Man’s signature blend of chaos and vulnerability. The film’s breathtaking animation, courtesy of MAPPA, elevates every fight into an emotional crescendo, in the kind of storytelling that Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood once defined, now reimagined for modern audiences.
More than anything, Chainsaw Man’s victory symbolizes a shift in what anime fans value today. Where Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood thrived on classic heroism and moral order, Chainsaw Man thrives on emotional disarray and raw, unfiltered humanity in a world where love and violence coexist. It is not just a story; it is a mirror of the audience that crowned it king.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has not lost its brilliance and is far from it. Its 2009 remake remains a masterclass in pacing, world-building, and the emotional bonds of brotherhood. But as the anime landscape evolves, so too do audience expectations. Today’s viewers crave unpredictability and darker reflections of the human condition, qualities Chainsaw Man delivers in abundance.
The dethroning of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is not a failure, but a natural evolution of taste. Just as Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End briefly took the top spot in 2024, Chainsaw Man’s rise signals a renewed hunger for complex, cinematic storytelling. These aer not mere trends, because they represent anime’s growth from niche entertainment into full-fledged, emotionally resonant art.
Whether Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc holds onto its crown remains to be seen. But for now, Denji and Reze stand where Edward and Alphonse once did in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, at the peak of anime history. And for a generation of fans who crave both heartbreak and hellfire, that is exactly where they belong.
