The highest-grossing anime movies have really set the pace for others to follow. They have made box office history and accrued millions of dollars.
The truth is that anime’s world is larger than TV series, where love shows top the ratings. Japanese anime films have intrigued audiences for decades with their breathtaking sights, provocative narratives, and styles.
So, we’ll take a look at the highest-grossing anime films of all time, ranging from the magical worlds of Studio Ghibli to the action-packed adventures of series like One Piece, Pokémon, and Demon Slayer.
13. The Wind Rises
On its own, this film is inspirational. Its story will have a profound effect on you as someone who has always dreamed. In the movie, Jiro has always dreamed of becoming a pilot. His dream had always been to soar above the heavens, and he worked very hard to realize this goal. Regretfully, it proved that he had too little vision to be a pilot. But rather than giving up on his much-anticipated dream, he chose to adopt another strategy.
Release Date: July 20, 2013
Amount of Money Made: $136.5 million
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
12. Princess Mononoke
Its thrilling historical backdrop, outstanding attention to detail, and exquisite cinematic details that even the greatest live-action films could not hope to duplicate made this 1997 film receive an 8.4 rating on IMDb. To gain more insight, let’s look at the synopsis. Princess San, a young woman, is tasked with protecting the forests from Lady Eboshi. And this conflict will determine the destiny of both nature and humans. However, the ecosystem won’t be in good shape if San loses. Meanwhile, this anime is very remarkable. It brings to the spotlight actual issues and offers enlightening viewpoints on them.
Release Date: July 12, 1997
Amount of Money Made: $169.7 million
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
11. Pokémon: The First Movie
The buzz around this film was huge and it completely rocked the anime industry. Anime wasn’t so popular back then. However, everyone was aware of this movie’s success. The movie highlights Mewtwo, a synthetic Mew clone created with the intention of becoming the ultimate monster among Pokemon. Sadly, the scheme backfired, and Mewtwo is currently en route to copying every single Pokemon. But he’s nothing like anything we’ve ever seen. And you will be completely shaken by this conflict and lose your sight. This explains why the film was liked by many people.
Release Date: July 18, 1998
Amount of Money Made:$172.7 million
Director: Kunihiko Yuyama
10. Stand By Me Doraemon
With over 40 films in the series to its credit, Stand by Me Doraemon makes a strong argument to be the finest. In the story, a clumsy little boy named Nobita is led by the robot cat Doraemon into the past to prevent a disastrous destiny. It’s a tale about coming of age done differently.
Release Date: August 6, 2014
Amount of Money Made: $183.4 million
Directors: Takashi Yamazaki, Ryuichi Yagi
9. Weathering With You
This movie was known by a lot of people when it initially came out. In fact, people still like talking about it today. Weathering With You is a love story that is full of humor. There are some important lessons for viewers to learn from this film as well. The film’s protagonist is a man named Hodaka who meets Hina, a female. The problem is that Hina has the ability to summon the sun at any time. Her enigmatic ability can also be quite helpful to individuals in need during Japan’s unusually wet season. It goes without saying, though, that enormous authority also entails considerable responsibility. She is going to pay a price for interfering with nature. And it’s safe to say that they’ll be really harsh.
Release Date: July 19, 2019
Amount of Money Made: $193.8 million
Director: Makoto Shinkai
8. Jujutsu Kaisen 0
In Jujutsu Kaisen 0, a timeline prior to the original series is discussed. Yuta is the name of the main character who attends Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School because of his extraordinary control and skills. Experts usually keep an eye on him to make sure no accidents happen. His fights in this new Jujutsu realm, however, will only get stronger and stronger. This will be truly amazing. And for fans of new-generation anime, that’s what makes this film so captivating.
Release Date: December 24, 2021
Amount of Money Made:$196.2 million
Director: Sunghoo Park
7. Ponyo
Ponyo, another Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki creation, is a sweet tale about a young kid and the goldfish that transforms his life. While Miyazaki’s movies are usually appropriate for all ages, Ponyo seems to be geared more toward young audiences, especially when it comes to the plot.
Release Date: July 19, 2008
Amount of Money Made: $204.8 million
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
6. Howl’s Moving Castle
The 2004 Ghibli picture Howl’s Moving Castle by Hayao Miyazaki keeps the Ghibli train going. This mystical story of a witch-curse victim moving in with a local wizard has been considered as one of the greatest fantasy movies ever made. It tells the story of a girl named Sophie who befriends the notorious wizard Howl. The Witch Of The Waste then transformed Sophie into an elderly woman. Meanwhile, getting her hands on the medicine that is hidden in Howl’s castle is the only way Sophie can become her normal self again. However,it won’t be easy to enter his fortress and find the treatment.
Release Date: November 20, 2004
Amount of Money Made: $236 million
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
5. One Piece Film: Red
Red has had a lengthy and successful run in theaters, grossing far more than any other One Piece film. Previously restricted to Studio Ghibli’s productions, anime films have seen tremendous success in recent years on international distribution platforms. In the movie, Red introduces his daughter Uta, who has become a well-known singer, in an attempt to thrust Shanks to the forefront. The Straw Hat pirates eventually find themselves at a performance hosted by the latter, who also happens to be Luffy’s childhood pal.
Release Date: August 6, 2022
Amount of Money Made: $246.5 million
Director: Takashi Otsuka
4. Suzume
Another masterwork by Makoto Shinkai is the film Suzume. In the movie, a 17-year-old girl named Suzume Iwato meets a young guy named Souta Munakata in Kyushu who is on a quest to locate and shut doors. When they find one, it leads to a starry meadow, but before they can get far, a statue of a cat comes to life. While teaching Souta about his responsibility to stop a strong worm from emerging, Suzume assists Souta in closing the door.
Release Date: November 11, 2022
Amount of Money Made: $320.3 million
Director: Makoto Shinkai
3. Your Name
Your Name by Makoto Shinkai showed that an anime movie doesn’t have to come from Studio Ghibli to become a worldwide success. There are moments when a movie is just plain amazing. Your Name is a body-swap comedy that eventually grows into something much more. It centers on two teens from very different backgrounds who meet by chance: Taki and Mitsuha. This is a fun film with clever narrative turns, funny moments, and compelling drama.
Release Date: August 26, 2016
Amount of Money Made:$382.2 million
Director: Makoto Shinkai
2. Spirited Away
It should come as no surprise that Spirited Away, widely regarded as Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpiece, has become one of the highest-grossing anime films of all time since its 2001 release. This imaginative tale has garnered praise for its striking imagery and endearing narrative. It draws the audience into an odd universe of spirits that is beautifully portrayed through the characters. The movie tells the tale of Chihiro, a little child enchanted and imprisoned in a spirit world full of weirdness and magic. Chihiro has to struggle to pay off her debt and win her parents back after they are changed into pigs for daring to steal food from a feast intended for the gods. She also has to assist several deities in solving their problems.
Release Date: 20 July 2001
Amount of Money Made:$395.8 million
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
1. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Spirited Away held the record for the biggest-earning anime film ever for 17 years, until October 2020. Guessing what changed? The first Demon Slayer movie came out and took its place! The fact that COVID-19 closed many theatres that year made the gathering of fans from all around the world for this highly anticipated sequel to the popular anime series more remarkable. The story follows Tanjiro Kamado and his allies as they set out to face a formidable demon wreaking havoc on the passengers by boarding the Mugen Train.
Amount of Money Made: $507.1 million
Director: Haruo Sotozaki
These are animes that have not only crafted their names on the sands of time but also made money while doing it.
Do you think new animes are joining the list anytime soon? Let us know in the comments section.
