List of highest-grossing adult animated films

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These are the following list of animated films exclusively aimed for teen and adult audiences, each films included PG-13 and R-rated by the Motion Picture Association.

Contents

History

By the start of Motion Picture Association of America in the late-1960s, adult animation films became independently popular in the United States and Japan, the latter more popularized higher success for the box-office revenue over the years. [1]

1969–1970s: Animerama and Ralph Bakshi

Beginning with Animerama , the first Japanese animated film trilogy or series to be rated X by the MPAA established in the United States, begins the first film of the trilogy is A Thousand and One Nights (1969), was a success in Japan with distribution box-office revenue of ¥290 million, [2] it fails at the box-office revenue in the United States until Fritz the Cat, the first animated film produced independently in the United States to be rated X in 1972, the same year as Cleopatra , the second film of the trilogy rates the same film rating in the same year, which the former drew box-office success in 1970s and was rating surrendered in the 1990s in the follow of its new highest rating NC-17, as a result, considered it unrated on home video releases. [3]

Highest-grossing adult animated films

 indicates films playing in theaters around the world in the week commencing 11 July 2025.
RankTitleCountryTechniqueRatingWorldwide grossYearRef(s)
1 The Simpsons Movie US Traditional PG-13$536,414,2702007 [4]
2 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train JapanTraditionalR$503,063,6882020 [5]
3 The First Slam Dunk Japan CGI/TraditionalPG-13$279,892,2812023 [6]
4 One Piece Film: Red JapanTraditionalPG-13$245,270,0002022 [7] [8]
5 Beowulf USCGIPG-13$196,393,7452007 [9]
6 Jujutsu Kaisen 0 JapanTraditionalPG-13$195,870,8852021 [10]
7 Weathering With You JapanTraditionalPG-13$193,186,8792019 [11]
8 The Boy and the Heron JapanTraditionalPG-13$172,864,5802023 [12]
9 Princess Mononoke JapanTraditionalPG-13$169,785,6291997 [11]
10 Sausage Party US, CanadaCGIR$140,705,3222016 [13]
11 The Wind Rises JapanTraditionalPG-13$136,333,2202013 [14]
12 Detective Conan: The Fist of Blue Sapphire JapanTraditionalPG-13$119,875,0242019 [15] [16]
13 Detective Conan: Zero the Enforcer JapanTraditionalPG-13$108,105,2232018 [17]
14 One Piece: Stampede JapanTraditionalTV-14$94,684,2232019 [18] [19] [20]
15 Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time JapanTraditionalTV-MA$92,000,0002021 [21]
16 Fritz the Cat USTraditionalX$90,000,0001972 [22]
17 Big Fish & Begonia ChinaTraditionalPG-13$85,557,7212016 [23]
18 Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within US, JapanCGIPG-13$85,131,8302001 [24]
19 One Piece Film: Z JapanTraditionalTV-14$85,119,7282012 [25]
20 South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut USTraditionalR$83,137,6031999 [26]
21 Tales from Earthsea JapanTraditionalPG-13$75,500,0002006 [27]
22 Isle of Dogs US, Germany Stop-motion PG-13$72,673,9622018 [28]
23 One Piece Film: Gold JapanTraditionalTV-14$70,840,0002016 [29]
24 Detective Conan: The Darkest Nightmare JapanTraditionalPG-13$66,280,0002016 [30]
25 Detective Conan: Crimson Love Letter JapanTraditionalPG-13$63,147,5762017 [25] [31]

Highest-grossing adult animated films by animation type

Computer animation

RankTitleCountryRatingWorldwide grossYearRef(s)
1 The First Slam Dunk JapanPG-13$279,892,2812023 [6]
2 Beowulf USPG-13$196,393,7452007 [9]
3 Sausage Party US, CanadaR$140,705,3222016 [13]
4 Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within JapanPG-13$85,131,8302001 [24]
5 9 USPG-13$48,428,0632009 [32]
6 Waltz with Bashir Germany, France, IsraelR$13,912,2892008 [33]
7 Bilal: A New Breed of Hero United Arab EmiratesPG-13$3,830,8322015 [34]
8 Gantz: O JapanNC-17$2,359,1272016 [35]

Traditional animation (Japanese)

 indicates films playing in theaters around the world in the week commencing 11 July 2025.
RankTitleRatingWorldwide grossYearRef(s)
1 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train R$503,063,6882020 [5]
2 One Piece Film: Red PG-13$206,740,2952022 [7]
3 Jujutsu Kaisen 0 PG-13$195,870,8852021 [10]
4 Weathering With You PG-13$193,186,8792019 [11]
5 The Boy and the Heron PG-13$172,864,5802023 [12]
6 Princess Mononoke PG-13$169,785,6291997 [11]
7 The Wind Rises PG-13$136,333,2202013 [14]
8 Detective Conan: The Fist of Blue Sapphire PG-13$119,875,0242019 [15] [36]
9 Detective Conan: Zero the Enforcer PG-13$108,105,2232018 [17]
10 One Piece: Stampede TV-14$94,684,2232019 [18] [19] [20]

Traditional animation (U.S and international)

RankTitleCountryRatingWorldwide grossYearRef(s)
1 The Simpsons Movie USPG-13$536,414,2702007 [4]
2 Fritz the Cat USX$90,000,0001972 [22]
3 Big Fish & Begonia ChinaPG-13$85,557,7212016 [37]
4 South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut USR$83,137,6031999 [26]
5 Beavis and Butt-Head Do America USPG-13$63,118,3861996 [38]
6 Loving Vincent Poland, UKPG-13$44,077,2492017 [39] [40]
7 The Bob's Burgers Movie USPG-13$34,148,7502022 [41]
8 Persepolis France, IranPG-13$25,397,1872007 [42]
9 Eight Crazy Nights USPG-13$23,833,1312002 [43]
10 Heavy Metal US, CanadaR$20,063,6361981 [44] [45]

Stop-motion animation

RankTitleCountryRatingWorldwide grossYearRef(s)
1 Isle of Dogs US, GermanyPG-13$72,674,8432018 [28]
2 My Life as a Zucchini Switzerland, FrancePG-13$10,245,7432016 [46]
3 Memoir of a Snail AustraliaR$7,643,1232024 [47]
4 Anomalisa USR$5,706,1682015 [48]
5 $9.99 AustraliaR$708,3542008 [49]
6 Hell and Back USR$157,7682015 [50]

Highest-grossing adult animated films by rating

Highest-grossing adult animated films by year

 indicates films playing in theaters around the world in the week commencing 11 July 2025.
YearTitleRatingWorldwide grossRef.
1969 A Thousand and One Nights X$2,611,318 [51]
1970 Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
1971 Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
1972 Fritz the Cat X$90,000,000 [3]
1973 Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
1974 The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat R$3,000,000 [52]
1975 Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
1976 Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
1977 Wizards TV-14$9,000,000 [53]
1978 The Mystery of Mamo PG-13$8,233,896 [54]
1979 Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
1980 Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
1981 Heavy Metal R$20,063,636 [44] [45]
1982 Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
1983 Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
1984 Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
1985 Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
1986 Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
1987 Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
1988 Akira R$49,000,000 [55]
1989 Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
1990 Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
1991 Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
1992 Bebe's Kids PG-13$8,442,162 [56]
1993 Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
1994 Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownUn­known
1995 Ghost in the Shell R$2,287,714 [57]
1996 Beavis and Butt-Head Do America PG-13$63,118,386 [38]
1997 Princess Mononoke PG-13$169,785,629 [11]
1998 Spriggan R$3,149,387 [58]
1999 South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut R$83,137,603 [26]
2000 Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust R$151,086 [59]
2001 Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within PG-13$85,131,830 [24]
2002 Eight Crazy Nights PG-13$23,833,131 [43]
2003 The Triplets of Belleville PG-13$14,776,760 [60]
2004 Steamboy PG-13$18,900,000 [61]
2005 Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa PG-13$11,000,000 [62]
2006 Tales from Earthsea PG-13$75,500,000 [27]
2007 The Simpsons Movie PG-13$536,414,270 [4]
2008 Waltz with Bashir R$13,912,289 [33]
2009 9 PG-13$48,428,063 [32]
2010 Bleach: Hell Verse TV-14$5,500,000 [63]
2011 Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos TV-MA$7,579,282 [64]
2012 One Piece Film: Z TV-14$85,119,728 [25]
2013 The Wind Rises PG-13$136,333,220 [14]
2014 Detective Conan: Dimensional Sniper PG-13$37,200,000 [65]
2015 Detective Conan: Sunflowers of Inferno PG-13$60,985,674 [66]
2016 Sausage Party R$140,705,322 [13]
2017 Detective Conan: Crimson Love Letter PG-13$63,147,576 [31]
2018 Detective Conan: Zero the Enforcer PG-13$108,105,223 [17]
2019 Weathering With You PG-13$193,186,879 [11]
2020 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train R$503,063,688 [5]
2021 Jujutsu Kaisen 0 PG-13$195,870,885 [21]
2022 The First Slam Dunk PG-13$279,892,281 [6]
2023 The Boy and the Heron PG-13$172,864,580 [12]
2024 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training R$44,102,312 [67]

Highest-grossing adult animated films by timeline

At least four adult traditional animations held the records of the highest at any year;

TitleEstablishedRatingRecord-setting grossRef.
A Thousand and One Nights 1969X$2,601,662 [68]
Fritz the Cat 1972X$90,000,000 [3]
Princess Mononoke 1997PG-13$169,785,629 [11]
The Simpsons Movie 2007PG-13$536,414,270 [4]

See also

References

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