Top 20 Highest Grossing Anime Films of All Time, Ranked

Anime movies continue to be a big success at the box office worldwide, frequently exceeding expectations and breaking records outside of Japan. This list showcases the 20 highest-grossing anime films globally, detailing their earnings by region, performance in major markets, and the factors that resonated with viewers. All figures represent total worldwide box office revenue, including any re-releases, and have been rounded for easy reading.

‘Detective Conan: Black Iron Submarine’ (2023)

The latest installment in this popular series had a very successful opening weekend, earning approximately $121.9 million worldwide. A particularly strong performance in Japan during Golden Week accounted for the largest portion of these earnings, with additional revenue coming from other parts of Asia and some European countries. This success has opened doors for the franchise to collaborate with new international partners on future films.

‘Dragon Ball Super: Broly’ (2018)

The new Dragon Ball movie, featuring Goku, earned roughly $122.7 million worldwide. Japan was the biggest contributor to this success, with North America also performing well thanks to its release in many theaters. The film was especially popular in Latin America, where the franchise has a dedicated following. Updated animation and showings in IMAX theaters helped increase ticket sales per theater.

‘Pokémon the Movie 2000’ (1999)

The second Pokémon movie grossed around $133.9 million globally. Its success was boosted by the popularity of the Pokémon TV show, especially in the United States and Canada. Japan’s early release helped build excitement through related merchandise. The film also performed well in Europe and Latin America, attracting families during the summer months.

‘The Wind Rises’ (2013)

Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film has earned approximately $136.9 million worldwide, with Japan contributing the largest portion of that amount thanks to its strong and sustained performance there. The film also did well internationally, particularly in France, Italy, and the United States, where it was shown in select art house cinemas. Positive reviews and award nominations helped the film continue to attract audiences long after its initial release.

‘Detective Conan: One-eyed Flashback’ (2025)

The latest film in the series earned approximately $162 million globally. Japan was a key market, achieving a record-breaking opening week for the franchise. China and South Korea also performed well, increasing the series’ international reach. Increased showtimes and premium viewing options boosted average ticket sales.

‘Princess Mononoke’ (1997)

Studio Ghibli’s acclaimed film earned around $170 million globally. It was a huge hit in Japan and gained popularity in Europe thanks to positive word-of-mouth at film festivals. In North America, the film continued to earn money through re-releases and special showings. Its message about protecting the environment helped keep audiences engaged for years, ensuring it remained popular over time.

‘Pokémon: The First Movie’ (1998)

I remember when the first Pokémon movie came out – it was huge! It made around $172.7 million worldwide, and a lot of that came from North America where everyone was obsessed with Pokémon back in the late 90s. It did really well in Japan too, and all the toys and merchandise really boosted the film’s success. It even did well in Europe and Australia when kids were out of school for the holidays.

‘Stand by Me Doraemon’ (2014)

The revamped 3D version of this well-known film made approximately $183.4 million globally. Japan was a major driver of success, with lots of families attending and many repeat viewers. China also boosted earnings during the summer, benefiting from a lack of competing releases. The film performed consistently well in Southeast Asia, thanks to the enduring appeal of its characters.

‘Weathering with You’ (2019)

Makoto Shinkai’s latest film, following the success of ‘Your Name,’ earned around $193.7 million globally. Most of the revenue came from Japan, where it played for a long time in various formats. China and South Korea also contributed significantly to the box office, and North America and Europe saw respectable numbers, particularly through special screenings and previews that boosted its opening weekends.

‘Jujutsu Kaisen 0’ (2021)

The film earned around $196.2 million worldwide. Japan and China were the biggest contributors to this total, with strong ticket sales continuing for several weeks. In North America, the film did well thanks to its broad release and positive buzz, especially from late-night television appearances which boosted weekday attendance.

‘Ponyo’ (2008)

Ghibli’s latest ocean-themed film has earned approximately $204.8 million globally. Most of this success came from Japan, where families enjoyed the movie during several school holidays. The film also performed well in Europe, particularly in France and Italy. In North America, a dubbed version with well-known voice actors helped boost its earnings.

‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ (2004)

The fantasy film earned around $237.5 million worldwide. Japan was its biggest market, with a successful run in local theaters. France also performed very well, showing how popular Studio Ghibli is there. The film continued to earn money internationally for years thanks to re-releases and screenings at film festivals.

‘One Piece Film Red’ (2022)

The latest installment in the franchise has become a massive success, earning around $246.5 million globally. Japan was a major contributor, bringing in over 20 billion yen – a new record for the series. The film also performed exceptionally well in France and other European countries. Special screenings and concerts helped keep audiences engaged after the initial release weekend.

‘The First Slam Dunk’ (2022)

The basketball movie earned around $279 million globally. Japan and South Korea were particularly successful, achieving record attendance for an anime sports film. China also significantly boosted the film’s earnings with a strong start and continued audience interest. The movie appealed to both longtime fans through familiar themes and new viewers thanks to its updated animation style.

‘The Boy and the Heron’ (2023)

Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film has been a huge success, earning around $294.2 million globally. It performed exceptionally well in Japan, even without a typical marketing campaign. Strong ticket sales in North America, following a number one opening weekend, and continued popularity in Europe and China, boosted the film’s overall earnings.

‘Suzume’ (2022)

I’m still buzzing about Makoto Shinkai’s latest film! It’s already made over $323.6 million worldwide, which is incredible. Japan and China are really leading the charge, and it’s awesome to see people going back week after week to watch it. It’s also doing really well in other parts of Asia like South Korea and Taiwan. Plus, they did some special screenings in North America and Europe, which let even more people experience it – I was lucky enough to catch one!

‘Spirited Away’ (2001)

Spirited Away has earned over $395.6 million worldwide, becoming a major box office success. It initially broke records in Japan and continued to gain popularity thanks to re-releases in 2020. The film then expanded its reach internationally through positive reviews at film festivals and special showings, with ongoing screenings still contributing to its total earnings.

‘Your Name.’ (2016)

Shinkai’s latest romantic film has grossed over $405.3 million globally. A large portion of this came from Japan, with impressive numbers also coming from China and South Korea. The film’s popularity continued to grow thanks to enthusiastic fans who saw it multiple times. It also performed well in limited releases across North America and Europe.

‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train’ (2020)

The movie became a global success, earning over $512.7 million worldwide. It performed exceptionally well in Japan, reaching key financial goals very quickly. North America and numerous countries in Asia and Europe contributed significantly to the film’s international earnings. Special showings, like those in large format theaters and late-night screenings, boosted the average revenue earned per theater.

‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle’ (2025)

The newest installment has already earned over $555 million globally. It broke box office records in Japan right away, and then had strong debuts in Europe and North America. Viewers in China and South Korea also significantly boosted earnings during their respective national holidays. Continued exclusive theatrical releases and people returning to see the film again are still adding to the overall total.

Share your favorite from the list and the box office stat that surprised you most in the comments.

2025-10-29 18:16