RELATED: Winter 2021: Best Anime Characters Of The Season, Ranked
This shift towards mainstream acceptance has, naturally, resulted in improved box office performance, but which is the highest-grossing anime movie of all time? Is it a Studio Ghibli pick? Something directed by Makoto Shinkai? Or is it a continuation of a beloved anime series? Perhaps most importantly, do any (legal) streaming services have these films?
Updated March 29, 2022 by Mark Sammut: The highest-grossing anime movies ever list does not change all that often, although contenders for the throne have started to pop up more frequently in recent years. It really goes to show that anime is gradually becoming less niche, and that is likely to only continue as the years roll by. This article has been updated to include a few more films, including one that is currently in cinemas across the United States.
20 Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon A Time ($92,900,767)
Nearly a decade after Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo’s debut, Rebuild of Evangelion finally dropped its final chapter. Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time brings Hideaki Anno’s vision to a close in epic fashion. While the 2021 film revisits ideas explored in 1997’s The End of Evangelion, these themes are explored in fresh ways that reveal new sides to the characters and the world they exist in.
RELATED: Neon Genesis Evangelion: Things That Make Shinji A Great Character
If Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time proves to be NGE’s last anime, the franchise can forever claim that it went out on a high, both critically and commercially.
19 Case Closed: The Scarlet Bullet ($95,580,715)
While Case Closed is a recognizable name in Western nations, Detective Conan is a juggernaut brand in Japan. Alongside a series with over a thousand episodes, the franchise has released 25 movies across roughly the same amount of years. Such a consistent release schedule could result in public burnout, yet the series continues to perform well at the box office.
The Scarlet Bullet is not the only Case Closed film to rank among the highest-grossing anime movies, serving as a testament to the franchise’s enduring popularity in its home country. Unlike the recent Dragon Ball movies, Case Closed’s features did not receive theatrical runs in North America.
18 Yo-kai Watch: It’s The Secret Of Birth, Meow! ($99,481,307)
Released at arguably the height of Yo-kai Watch mania, this movie roughly covers the second game in the series, although fans should not go in expecting a 100% faithful adaptation. Similar to the anime series, Yo-kai Watch: The Movie is predominantly concerned with delivering humor and lighthearted adventure, two things the film generally accomplished. At no point does this story attempt to extract a tear or get the audience thinking, and that is hardly a bad thing to experience every once in a while.
Yo-kai Watch has produced a couple more films following this release, but none of them have come close to achieve the same level of international success. Still, they are decent ways to kill 90 minutes.
17 Case Closed: Zero The Enforcer ($101,860,359)
An enjoyable entry starring everyone’s favorite anime detective, Case Closed: Zero the Enforcer finds Mori Kogoro accused of a terrorist attack at a Summit meeting. Despite evidence pointing towards Kogoro, there is clearly something not quite right about the case, and Conan sets out to discover the truth.
RELATED: Best Case Closed Movies, Ranked
Zero the Enforcer is simply an entertaining film that moves at a good pace and comes with a fun final reveal. While not especially unique, this movie demonstrates Case Closed’s impeccable ability to craft tight mysteries with memorable payoffs.
16 Case Closed: The Fist Of Blue Sapphire ($115,570,314)
When it comes to highest-grossing anime films, it mostly boils down to Japan’s preferences, outside a couple of exceptions such as Pokemon and Dragon Ball.
The 23rd film released as part of the Detective Conan franchise, The Fist of Blue Sapphire sometimes feels like more of a Kaito Kid flick than a Conan piece. Nevertheless, it is a solid entry in a series that has produced many of them.
15 Dragon Ball Super: Broly ($122,747,755)
Dragon Ball needs no introduction since the show has served as an entry-level shounen anime for plenty of people. For all of its success, Dragon Ball had to wait nearly two decades after its heyday to produce a proper theatrical movie. Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods and Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ walked so that Dragon Ball Super: Broly could run and smash through a few box office records along the way.
RELATED: Every Dragon Ball Movie In Chronological Order
Wisely focusing on Broly rather than Goku, the 2018 film delivers a surprisingly effective story that creates a sympathetic figure out of a character who, up to that point, was mostly known for screaming.
14 Pokemon: The Movie 2000 ($133,949,270)
Released at the height of Pokemon mania, Lugia’s star-making vehicle is a pop culture relic of the late ‘90s. When a collector seeks to “catch” the three Legendary Birds to summon Lugia, the world is sent into chaos. Obviously, Ash and Pikachu are dragged right into the middle of this dangerous situation.
Pokemon: The Movie 2000 is not going to offer much anyone not already fond of the franchise, but it holds nostalgia value for those who grew up with Ash’s adventures or even the Nintendo RPGs.
13 The Wind Rises ($136,742,301)
In 2013, The Wind Rises was billed as Hayao Miyazaki’s final movie, however, the director has since come out of retirement and is currently working on a new project entitled How Do You Live? Although this development takes some shine away from The Wind Rises, the film still represents a culmination of the esteemed filmmaker’s work.
“Flight” is a constant theme throughout Miyazaki’s filmography, and The Wind Rises finds the director exploring this concept without any distractions. Unsurprisingly, the film is visually stunning, and the narrative pulls from reality in a way that adds significant weight to the story beats.
12 One Piece Film: Red ($149,800,000)
One Piece Film: Red is the shonen franchise’s highest-grossing movie. Impressively, the film will be debuting in a number of territories in November 2022, so Red’s current box office earnings will undoubtedly grow before the end of the year. Assembling a huge roster of fan-favorite characters, Red takes place on Elegia island and centers around a singer who has ties to an important person in Luffy’s past.
RELATED: One Piece: Similarities Between Shanks & Luffy
In recent years, One Piece has stepped up the quality of its movies to make them must-see features for fans rather than just glorified filler arcs. Red might be One Piece’s strongest cinematic outing yet.
11 The Secret World Of Arrietty ($151,496,097)
Studio Ghibli is the most renowned anime studio in the world, at least when it comes to movies. Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, The Secret World of Arrietty presents an enchanting world hidden within everyday reality, as small Borrower people live inside humanity’s walls.
Moving at a measured pace, The Secret World of Arrietty delivers plenty of atmosphere, charm, and drama. The characters are generally likable and grounded, particularly the Borrower Arrietty and the human Shou.
10 Pokemon: The First Movie ($163,644,662)
Along with Dragon Ball and Sailor Moon, Pokemon introduced many ’90s children to anime. While films like Akira and Ghost in the Shell gained a following outside of Japan, Pokemon: The First Movie was arguably the first anime flick to truly feel like a big deal in the West.
RELATED: Pokemon: Highest Grossing Pokemon Movies Of All-Time, Ranked
Obviously, Mewtwo Strikes Back is far from perfect. The film suffered from pacing issues and the fact it couldn’t impact the overall Pokemon universe in any significant way, but these things ultimately didn’t matter. Pokemon: The First Movie was an event.
9 Princess Mononoke ($170,005,875)
The oldest film to make the cut, Princess Mononoke might just be Hayao Miyazaki’s magnum opus, which means it’s also one of the best movies of all time. Like many of Miyazaki’s works, Princess Mononoke tackles environmental themes through a fantasy-laced narrative. While still overflowing with imagination, this 1997 epic is not quite as whimsical as some of the director’s other projects, and that is by no means a criticism.
Princess Mononoke’s greatest strength is in its unpreachy representation of both sides of the coin, be it nature or humanity. The story is mature, engrossing, and timeless.
8 Stand By Me Doraemon ($183,442,714)
Debuting in 1969 as a manga, Doraemon is an institution. The franchise has produced more than 40 movies, and Stand by Me Doraemon presents a convincing case for being the best of the bunch. The plot sees Doraemon, a robot cat, traveling to the past to lead Nobita, a clumsy kid, away from a catastrophic future. It’s a coming-of-age story with a twist.
By tweaking a few key stories from the series’ history, the 2014 film covers Doraemon’s entire time with Nobita, including their emotional goodbye.
7 Weathering With You ($193,357,334)
In the last decade, Makoto Shinkai has emerged as perhaps anime’s leading visionary director, especially since most of his projects tend to feature common themes. In many ways, Weathering With You is the definitive Shinkai film, as it amplifies nearly everything that has become synonymous with the director.
RELATED: Winter 2021: Best Anime Of The Season, Ranked
Weathering With You might not hold too many surprises for those familiar with Shinkai’s previous creations, but it’s still a beautiful work of art. The music is brilliant, the animation stunning, and the characters enjoyable.
6 Jujutsu Kaisen 0: The Movie ($195,870,885)
Releasing on March 18, 2022 in North American theaters, Jujutsu Kaisen 0 stands alongside the likes of Uncharted and Scream as one of the year’s highest-grossing movies so far. The prequel to Jujutsu Kaisen is also still in theaters and has yet to release in every country, so its total international gross will likely grow further in the future.
RELATED: Things You Need To Know About Jujutsu Kaisen 0
Featuring a different protagonist than the main series, Jujutsu Kaisen 0 centers on Yuta Okkotsu and the spirit of Rika Orimoto. Packed to the brim with fantastic action and sporadic flashes of humor, this movie is a must-watch for not only fans of the overall series but also anyone who just appreciates a good battle shonen story.
5 Ponyo ($205,162,666)
Another one of Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki’s projects, Ponyo tells the charming story of a young boy and the goldfish that changes his life. While Miyazaki’s films are typically suitable for the entire family, Ponyo seems to primarily focus on entertaining children, particularly in the story department.
Although not as complex as Princess Mononoke or Spirited Away, Ponyo seeps magic out of every frame. The movie does not have a dull moment in it, and the animation might just be Studio Ghibli’s best. Naturally, that is saying a lot.
4 Howl’s Moving Castle ($237,536,126)
For the follow-up to Spirited Away, Hayao Miyazaki redirected his attention towards war, a decision stemming from the social climate of the early 2000s. Howl’s Moving Castle echoes Miyazaki’s anger with its anti-war rhetoric, although that’s not the only idea the movie explores. Ultimately, this is a film about life, nature, and love.
Howl’s Moving Castle follows Sophie, a young woman who’s forcibly aged by about 60 years by a witch. In order to reverse the curse, Sophie sets out to find Howl, an enigmatic wizard.
3 Your Name. ($358,180,115)
Makoto Shinkai’s Your Name proved an anime film doesn’t need to be by Studio Ghibli or based on a well-established property to be a global hit. Sometimes, the movie can simply be incredible. A body-swap comedy that eventually transforms into something far bigger, Your Name revolves around Taki and Mitsuha, two teenagers from very different walks of life who meet through supernatural circumstances.
Your Name is a crowd-pleaser, a movie that offers humor, great plot twists, and effective character drama.
2 Spirited Away ($383,886,480)
Even in a filmography filled with masterpieces, 2001’s Spirited Away stands out as something special. Hayao Miyazaki’s 2001 film follows a young girl who finds herself in a bathhouse filled with all sorts of spirits, including some that are downright terrifying.
RELATED: Video Games To Play If You Are A Studio Ghibli Fan
Chihiro’s journey through this fantastical world demonstrates animation’s unparalleled ability to actualize childlike wonder and unrestricted imagination. Spirited Away is the only anime film to win an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, and it’s earned.
1 Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train ($506,523,013)
Debuting in 2020 in Japan before going global in 2021, Demon Slayer: Mugen Train has been an unprecedented hit. A continuation of the popular anime series, Mugen Train adapts a canon arc from the manga, something that most films of this type tend to avoid.
As the film is not designed to be a standalone experience, pre-existing knowledge of the series is necessary to fully enjoy Mugen Train. However, newcomers who are familiar with shÅnen anime should still be able to get something out of the movie. Demon Slayer: Mugen Train debuted in U.S. theatres on April 23, 2021.
MORE: Demon Slayer: What Happens After The Anime?
