Dandadan has just stunned the anime world by breaking a major record that previously belonged to Solo Leveling. With the release of Dandadan: Evil Eye in theaters on June 6, 2025, the series has officially outpaced Solo Leveling’s own theatrical performance, setting the stage for a thrilling head to head rivalry between two of the biggest names in anime right now.
The Evil Eye movie is a special compilation of the first three episodes from Dandadan’s upcoming second season, offering fans an exclusive early experience. And they showed up in full force. According to official reports, the film grossed an impressive $3.55 million at the US box office during its limited time engagement. That number pushed it past Solo Leveling: ReAwakening, which earned $3.35 million, and placed it just behind My Hero Academia: You’re Next, which currently holds the top spot with $5.04 million.
Dandadan’s achievement is all the more remarkable considering its unconventional tone and wild supernatural themes. It managed to outperform other heavy hitters like Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom and Blue Lock: Episode Nagi, proving that its fanbase is not only passionate but growing rapidly.
The movie's early success is largely fueled by the overwhelming praise season one received. Audiences already had high expectations going into this follow up, and the film delivered with vibrant animation, intense battles, and a teasing cliffhanger ending that smoothly transitions into season two. Fans were left craving more, setting up an eager anticipation for the full season premiere on July 3, 2025.
What makes this even more exciting is how the Evil Eye arc is still far from over. While the heroes survive the immediate chaos, the looming threat of the Evil Eye spirit continues to cast a shadow over what lies ahead. The film did not try to resolve everything. Instead, it gave fans just enough to get emotionally invested all over again and lined up season two for a powerful launch.
Dandadan’s victory at the box office shows the power of community driven hype and the growing potential for anime theatrical events. Even knowing the episodes would soon be available on streaming, fans turned up in theaters to be part of something bigger. This kind of turnout hints at a larger trend where anime movies tied to ongoing series become essential viewing experiences.
As Solo Leveling and Dandadan now stand side by side as two of the most talked about series in the anime world, this box office win marks a new era of competitive storytelling. Dandadan has set a new bar for hype and delivery, and with the rest of season two just around the corner, it is clear that the momentum is only building.
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