Anime has earned its place as one of the most inventive mediums for storytelling. Most animated projects from the land of the rising sun have elevated animation in cinema with stories exploring compelling characters and unique situations. Anime is a realm of endless possibilities, as most studios are still committed to traditional hand-drawn art combined with new technologies to tell stories that break the usual traditional molds.
Anime fans have made their voices loud and clear, making multiple animated films some of the largest box office earners worldwide. Japanese studios have been paying attention, and the longstanding barrier of language and localization has slowly dropped as we finally get the most popular anime films released at the same time as Japan, building their momentum and smashing box office numbers.
From the fantastical worlds of Studio Ghibli to the action-packed adventures of franchises such as Dragon Ball, One Piece, Pokémon, and Demon Slayer, these are the highest-grossing anime films of all time.
20 Tales from Earthsea (2012)
Not every film from Studio Ghibli is a tentpole for Hayao Mizayaki. Their carefully crafted talent pool creates some of the best stories from the animation house. Tales from Earthsea is directed by Goro Miyazaki, based on a script by Keiko Niwa, the voice acting in the original release is from established Japanese voice actors such as Bunta Sugawara, Junichi Okada, Aoi Teshima, and Yūko Tanaka.
The localized dub of this film featured heavy hitters such as Timothy Dalton, Willem Dafoe, and Mariska Hargitay. The story is set in a fantasy world, where we follow the adventures of a young prince named Arren, who must team with a wise wizard named Ged to confront an evil sorcerer threatening the balance of the realm. Despite some of the basic premise, the film has some of the most breathtaking visuals ever made, which helped land a box office gross of $75,500,000 worldwide.
19 Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021)
Hideaki Anno is a man driven by his demons. He created the original story of Neon Genesis Evangelion while enduring crippling depression. A few years later, he would tackle the story again with a new film series named The Rebuild Anthology. He committed himself to three films to recount the story but deemed it necessary to add one more film to round up the story. After a second bout of depression, Anno delivered the story's last chapter nine years after the last entry.
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time is the closing chapter of the beloved Evangelion franchise. Written and directed by Anno and featuring the talents of Megumi Ogata, Megumi Hayashibara, and Yuko Miyamura, we finally get one last glimpse at the world of Sinji and his friends and how he deals with the death of Kaoru from the last movie. It's a story that gives a firm closing to the saga and finally gives Shinji his happily ever after while letting audiences know that Anno is finally in a good place with himself. The film was a breakout hit, collecting $92,246,218 worldwide.
18 Detective Conan: The Fist of Blue Sapphire (2019)
Detective Conan is a wildly popular show in Japan, and it has been running in multiple forms for many years, with multiple films being released following the main storylines in the show. Detective Conan: The Fist of Blue Sapphire is a closing entry in the series, directed by Tomoka Nagaoka and written by Takahiro Okura, with the voice casting including popular Japanese staples such as Minami Takayama, Wakana Yamazaki, and Rikiya Koyama.
This film is the 23rd installment of the Case Closed film series based on the manga. In the movie, the brilliant detective Conan Edogawa and his friends must uncover a secret treasure, sparking a race against a criminal organization. As the last Heisei-era film, the movie collected a box office gross of $115,570,314, proving the lasting legacy of this IP worldwide.
17 Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018)
Fans have been clamoring to Akira Toriyama for years to make Broly part of the canon of Dragon Ball. The character debuted outside of the regular continuity in the Dragon Ball Z OVA series, with three films to his name. The legendary Super Saiyan has proven to be a formidable foe to beat each time he's on screen. In 2018 Toriyama finally conceded with the release of Dragon Ball Super: Broly, directed by Tatsuya Nagamine, with a screenplay by Toriyama himself.
The introduction of Broly to the official Dragon Ball lore also brought another surprise, as Bardock, the father of Goku, is now canon in the franchise as well. The voice talents of Masako Nozawa, Ryō Horikawa, and Bin Shimada are flawless, as usual. The story takes a lot of cues from the original OVA series by introducing Paragus, Broly's dad, who realized his son was an anomaly after his power measurements topped over King Vegeta's son. The film ranked $122,747,755 in its theatrical run.
16 Pokémon: The Movie 2000 (1999)
American audiences were hungry for Pokémon content back in the early 2000s. Just one year after the first movie premiered, the second installment arrived on the screens everywhere in the world with a brand new adventure with Ash at the center of a unique quest. Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and written by Takeshi Shudo, Pokémon: The Movie 2000 showcases the franchise's enduring popularity everywhere.
The reliable voice cast by Rica Matsumoto, Ikue Otani, and Mayumi Iizuka does a fine job, as usual. In the movie, we follow the story of legendary Pokémon birds clashing in an epic battle that threatens the delicate balance of nature. The film captured the hearts of Pokémon enthusiasts with captivating storytelling and memorable characters to the tune of $133,949,270 during its theatrical run.
15 The Wind Rises (2013)
The Wind Rises is the first entry in the ranking by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki, and it won't be the last. Written and directed by Miyazaki, the film features the voice acting of Hideaki Anno, Miori Takimoto, and Hidetoshi Nishijima. It's a heartfelt story mixing the scientific facts about aviation and the passion for flying. Set in pre-World War II Japan, the film follows the journey of Jiro Horikoshi, a passionate airplane designer.
As the story progresses, we glimpse Jiro's dreams, his challenges, and the ethical dilemmas surrounding his creations. It's also a warming love story, as Jiro pursues love with a woman named Nahoko, ill with tuberculosis. This is one of the multiple films showcasing Miyazaki's unparalleled storytelling prowess and his ability to be a box office draw to the tune of $136,533,257 during its theatrical run.
14 The Secret World of Arrietty (2010)
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The Secret World of Arrietty is another breakout hit by Studio Ghibli; this film ponders what happens to the stuff you misplace at home. The answer lies with The Borrowers, a race of diminutive beings who take the missing stuff you have at home and use it to survive. Hiromasa Yonebayashi directs this marvelous story following a screenplay by Hayao Miyazaki. The cast includes Mirai Shida, Ryunosuke Kamiki, and Tomokazu Miura.
We follow the adventures of the tiny Arrietty and her family, who live secretly beneath the floorboards of a house, borrowing items to survive. They lead their lives by one simple rule: to never make contact with the humans they share a space with. All that changes when a sick boy named Shō learns about Arriety, and they begin a friendship. The film managed to capture the imagination of audiences by grossing $149,411,550.
13 Princess Mononoke (1997)
You can credit Princess Mononoke with multiple feats, but its principal distinction is to be the film that brought Anime to the masses in the Western world, next to Akira and Ghost in The Shell. Another solid offering by Studio Ghibli, written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, this grand epic features the talented voices of Yōji Matsuda, Yuriko Ishida, and Yūko Tanaka. It's a film that has warmed the hearts of some of the most creative minds in Hollywood, such as Neil Gaiman.
The story is set in a mythical world where humans and forest spirits clash. We follow the adventures of Ashitaka, a young warrior caught in the middle of a conflict while a curse consumes his right arm. A girl named San, allied with the Forest Spirit, joins him on his quest to save his life and village. The breathtaking animation, complex characters, and environmental themes made this film the animated breakout hit of 1997 to the tune of $170,005,875.
12 Pokémon: The First Movie (1998)
It's pretty tricky to say just how big Pokémon was when it debuted in 1996. The show already had a massive audience worldwide, and the toys were the best-selling items across multiple chain stores. When the first film was announced, it built up hype similar to what you'd expect from films like The Phantom Menace. It was a world without the internet, and if you wanted to watch a popular film on a premiere date, you had to line up outside the theater for days.
Pokémon: The First Movie was directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and written by Takeshi Shudo. The film features the talents of Rica Matsumoto, Ikue Ōtani, Mayumi Iizuka, and Yūji Ueda. In the movie, we see Ash Ketchum face off against Team Rocket, who somehow manages to get their boss the means to clone the legendary Pokémon Mew and create Mewtwo, leading to a clash between the monsters. The film made an impressive $172,744,662 but was panned by American fans after the localized version changed the original story's intent.
11 Stand by Me, Doraemon (2014)
Doraemon is another property with a lasting presence in Japan. Like Detective Conan, the show has been running for a long time with no signs of stopping soon. Stand by Me, Doraemon works as an entry point to the franchise for newcomers. The 3D animated film takes multiple elements from diverse short stories. It combines them into a single script recounting some of the best moments of Doraemon and his life with his human friend Nobita.
The movie is written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki and Ryūichi Yagi and features the classic voice cast of Wasabi Mizuta, Megumi Ōhara, and Satoshi Tsumabuki. We follow the heartwarming adventures of Nobita and his robotic cat friend Doraemon as they navigate the ups and downs of life and friendship. The film touches upon multiple themes, such as bullying, self-defense, and bravery. It was lauded for compressing many elements of years of continuity into a single story. Doraemon scored high with a box office gross of $183,442,714 worldwide.
10 Weathering with You (2019)
Makoto Shinkai has been hailed as the new Hayao Miyazaki, but don't tell him that since the director doesn't like the comparison. Weathering with You is one of his many offerings with an overwhelming story designed to make you experience multiple feelings. Written and directed by Shinkai, the movie features the voice talents of Kotaro Daigo, Nana Mori, and Shun Oguri.
The story is set in a rain-soaked Tokyo, as we follow Hodaka, a teenager who meets a girl named Hina, and she seems to have the power to control the weather. They click together and navigate a world of supernatural phenomena while exploring the bittersweet complexities of love. The film features many of Shinkai's signature breathtaking visuals, with a poignant narrative that resonated with audiences to the tune of $193,715,360 in its theatrical run.
9 Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (2021)
MAPPA is doing for Shonen what Ghibli is doing for drama: the studio is elevating action stories to an inescapable art form to the senses. Based on the manga of the same name, Jujutsu Kaisen 0 works as a prequel to the events of the show's first season. The film is directed by Sunghoo Park and based on the manga by Gege Akutami.
It's the story that sets up the current events in the show as we follow the origins of most of the elements in the series, such as the popular Saturo Gojo, the Jujutsu Society, the Spirit Demons, and more. The voice cast features Junya Enoki, Yuma Uchida, and Asami Seto. The story takes place in Yuta Okkotsu, a high school student burdened with a dangerous curse. The film was a smash hit that collected a total gross of $196,290,952 worldwide.
8 Ponyo (2008)
Are you still getting used to seeing Miyazaki's name in this ranking? You better be familiar to it by now, as the man keeps pumping hit after hit in this list, and we are far from done yet. Ponyo is likely the sweetest movie you'll ever see in your life. The story follows an endearing fish girl named Ponyo, who longs to become human after meeting a young boy named Sosuke. Their love story transcends boundaries as they long to be with each other.
Hayao Miyazaki retakes the lead, writing and directing this enchanting film while bringing a delightful tale about friendship and magic. The talented voice cast features Yuria Nara, Hiroki Doi, and Tomoko Yamaguchi. The American dub didn't pull any punches and brought a lot of A-list talent into the game, including Tina Fey, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, Liam Nesson, Frankie Jonas, and Noah Cyrus. The film made a stunning $204,826,668 in its theatrical run.
7 Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
Howl's Moving Castle is another smash hit directed by Hayao Miyazaki, who, this time around, decided to adapt the novel by Diana Wynne Jones. The story follows the adventures of Sophie, a young woman cursed with an older woman's body, and her encounters with the enigmatic wizard Howl. The talented voice cast includes the likes of Chieko Baisho, Takuya Kimura, and Akihiro Miwa.
Miyazaki went out of his way to make this film a grand epic with a powerful steampunk aesthetic. The movie is full of stunning visuals, memorable characters, and a narrative that touches upon multiple subjects, such as love, self-acceptance, and the horrors of war. The localized sub includes the talents of Hollywood mainstays such as Lauren Bacall, Christian Bale, Josh Hutcherson, and Billy Crystal. It was a significant box office hit to the tune of $237,536,126 in total gross.
6 One Piece Film: Red (2022)
One Piece Film: Red is the fifteenth feature film of the One Piece movie series. Like Dragon Ball, these films started as side stories not bound by the show's continuity or the manga. However, as time went on, the films became intertwined with the show by adapting short arcs, including new plot points to the show, or even resolving dangling plotlines. Red is directed by Takashi Otsuka, with a screenplay by Tsutomu Kuroiwa, and features the classic voice cast of Mayumi Tanaka, Akemi Okamura, and Kazuya Nakai.
In this film, we follow the Straw Hat Pirates as they attend Uta's concert on the island of Elegia. Uta reveals her connection to Luffy and her plan to create a world of happiness. A crew of mercenaries tries to capture her, but Uta's singing powers save her. The Marines and Uta's powers clash as she entraps everyone in the Sing-Sing World. Now it's up to Luffy and Shanks to defeat Tot Musica, who is revealed to be behind the plot. It's a great film that scored big, with a box office gross of $246,570,000.
5 The First Slam Dunk (2022)
The First Slam Dunk is a movie that speaks volumes about the popularity of this property. The film is set at the team's final game, but it's told from the point of view of all the other characters in the show, especially Ryota Miyagi. The movie is directed by Kazuto Arai and written by Takehiko Inoue, the creator of the Slam Dunk manga, who Toei Animation pursued to make this film for over a decade.
Slam Dunk is an anime about basketball. The coming-of-age story includes plenty of romance and funny situations. The film should be nothing more than a treat for longstanding show fans, but this hasn't stopped this movie from becoming a box-office hit in 2023. The film has garnered critical appraisal and a box office gross of $246,570,000. The unique visuals, with the casting of Kenji Akabane, Yoshimasa Hosoya, and Hiroshi Kamiya, make the movie one of the most compelling offerings of the year.
4 Suzume (2022)
Suzume is another masterpiece written and directed by Makoto Shinkai. The film tells the story in Kyushu, where a 17-year-old girl named Suzume Iwato finds a young man named Souta Munakata, who is on a mission to find and close doors. They discover one leading to a starlit field but are interrupted by a cat statue coming to life. Suzume helps Souta close the door while learning about his duty to prevent a powerful worm from emerging.
She joins him on a journey across Japan, closing doors and battling the worm. Once they get to Tokyo, Suzume becomes the keystone, saving Souta by locking the worm. The story explores themes of sacrifice and self-discovery. It's an enchanting film that delighted audiences, making one of Japan's best box office hits with a total gross of $322,547,496, proving again that Shinkai truly has the touch to create masterpieces.
3 Your Name (2016)
Your Name is the movie that positioned Makoto Shinkai in the zeitgeist of pop culture. The complex story follows two teenagers, Taki and Mitsuha, who mysteriously swap bodies and develop a profound connection across time and space. Shinkai writes and directs this one as well. This critically acclaimed feature has the voice talents of Ryunosuke Kamiki and Mone Kamishiraishi.
Despite having a complex narrative, the heartwarming story explores feelings in a way no other film has dared to. Your Nameis loaded with breathtaking visuals, an emotional story fusing romance, fantasy, and cosmic wonder in a single package. It's hard to convey the viewing experience of this movie, plus you'll do your senses a solid by figuring that out for yourself. The message sent by the director had its intended impact, as the movie collected $382,238,181 worldwide.
2 Spirited Away (2001)
Spirited Away is another hit by Hayao Miyazaki and the one that cemented him in the minds of everyone else as an authority figure in the world of Anime. Miyazaki wrote and directed this masterpiece. The voice talent includes the iconic performances of Rumi Hiiragi, Miyu Irino, and Mari Natsuki. Spirited Away is notorious for being the largest animated earner from Japan, with a box office gross of $395,580,000, a title it held for 19 years.
The film follows the story of Chihiro, a young girl trapped in a spirit world filled with strange creatures and magic. After her parents are turned into pigs for daring to take food from a feast meant for the Gods, Chihiro must work to pay her debt and get her parents back, all while helping multiple deities solve their problems. This movie transcended age barriers and cultural boundaries with a compelling and imaginative story, stunning animation, and the director's ability to create rich and immersive fantasy worlds.
1 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train (2020)
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is one of the hottest anime right now. After two successful seasons, Ufotable adapted the Mugen Train story arc into a single film. The result is one of the most lavishly animated features out there and the one that broke every record set by Ghibli Studios, with a box office gross of $507,127,293. The movie is directed by Haruo Sotozaki and based on the manga by Koyoharu Gotouge, with the voicing talents of Natsuki Hanae, Akari Kito, and Hiro Shimono.
In the story, we follow Tanjiro Kamado and his comrades as they board the mysterious Mugen Train along the Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku to confront a powerful demon wreaking havoc on the passengers. The film is a standard Shonen offering, but the IP has proven to be massively popular, which helped the film reach its fantastic milestone. That doesn't mean the story is bad, as the film encompasses multiple lessons about strength, sacrifice, and bravery with stunning animation and intense action sequences.
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