A Dark Fantasy Anime Is Beating ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ in a Surprise Upset

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Published Feb 15, 2026, 1:00 PM EST

Lade Omotade is a News and Feature Author at Collider with a passion for exploring the ever-evolving world of the Film & TV industry. Her work centers on covering the latest news, from casting announcements and franchise scoops to streaming updates and behind-the-scenes shifts that shape the way stories are told.

Omotade approaches storytelling with both professional insight and unapologetic fandom; digging into what makes a franchise successful, spotlighting rising voices in Hollywood, and asking the questions fans are already buzzing about. Her writing reflects that mix: part industry analysis, part fan excitement, and always grounded in a love for the craft of storytelling.

With the return of everyone’s current favorite fantasy anime, Jujutsu Kaisen, last month, the excitement has been palpable. Season 3 of the hit series, which covers the Culling Game arc, premiered on January 9, 2026, with a special double-episode. Die-hard fans will recall that these episodes already hit Japanese theaters on November 7, 2025, and U.S. theaters later on December 5. The event was part of a special theatrical release titled Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution, which also included the Shibuya Incident arc.

As the new Jujutsu Kaisen season progresses, it has been the most-watched anime for the past few weeks, dethroning several major favorites like Solo Leveling and Gachiakuta. However, that changed on February 10, 2026, as one of the darkest fantasy anime ever surprisingly surpassed all of those to become a chart-topper. That anime is none other than Hell’s Paradise, the MAPPA series based on the manga Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku by Yuji Kaku. The psychological thriller debuted in April 2023, on TV Tokyo and its affiliates, with Season 1 ending in July. A second season premiered just last month, which no doubt contributes to the anime’s recent popularity on streaming charts.

Hell’s Paradise became the #1 anime title on Crunchyroll in the U.S. earlier this week, taking over Jujutsu Kaisen, which has consistently held the position for over a month. Regardless, the former is now the second most-watched, with the latter returning to its top spot not just in the U.S. but also in the UK and Germany. Directed by Kaori Makita, Hell’s Paradise follows Gabimaru, a ruthless assassin from the village of Iwagakure, who is sentenced to death row. To earn his freedom, he goes to a hidden island to find the Elixir of Life.

What Is 'Jujutsu Kaisen' Season 3 About?

Satoru Gojo using 200% Hollow Purple in Jujutsu Kaisen.

Titled The Culling Game: Part 1, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 follows the Jujutsu Sorcerers entering the Culling Game with the main objective of fighting off Kenjaku and freeing Satoru Gojo from the Prison Realm. In addition to the Culling Game arc, the season is adapting the manga's Itadori's Extermination and Perfect Preparation arcs. The number of episodes to be expected has yet to be revealed, but will most likely be similar to either of the first two seasons, which comprise 24 and 23 episodes, respectively.

Hell’s Paradise and Jujutsu Kaisen stream on Crunchyroll in the U.S. Stay tuned to Collider for more news.