The Most Successful R-Rated Movies Of All Time

‘Us’ (2019)

Domestic Gross: $175 million (as of June 17, 2019)
The newest film on the chart, “Us,” was already in theaters at the time of release. This supernatural horror film directed by Oscar winner Jordan Peele follows a family that is terrorized by their own doppelgangers. It is still the highest-grossing R-rated film of 2019. It’s also been praised as one of the year’s most celebrated films, with a 94 percent Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

‘Us’ (2019)

‘Get Out’ (2017)

Domestic Gross: $176 million
Speaking of Jordan Peele, the film that catapulted him to the top of Hollywood’s directing rankings among the highest-grossing R-rated films. “Get Out” was about a guy spending a terrifying weekend at his girlfriend’s rural family house, where he discovers a dark mystery about them. The film was a huge success with both fans and reviewers, and it became the first horror film to earn an Oscar. “Get Out” is the highest-grossing film overall for Blumhouse Productions, the company responsible for iconic horror films such as “The Purge” and “Paranormal Activity.”

‘Get Out’ (2017)

‘There’s Something About Mary’ (1998)

Domestic Gross: $176.5 million
The year 1998 was a banner year for R-rated blockbusters, with R-rated films accounting for two of the top three highest-grossing films. When it was out, “There’s Something About Mary” was the third highest-grossing film of 1998 and the highest-grossing R-rated comedy of all time. Cameron Diaz starred as the titular woman, who had a long list of fascinated male suitors. It catapulted Diaz and co-star Ben Stiller to stardom and grossed about $370 million worldwide.

‘There’s Something About Mary’ (1998)

‘Pretty Woman’ (1990)

Domestic Gross: $178.4 million
Romantic comedies are almost never classified R as a genre, which was virtually unheard of in 1990. “Pretty Woman,” starring Julia Roberts as a prostitute who wins the love of a wealthy man portrayed by Richard Gere, demonstrated that an R-rated romance will make a lot of money with a good screenplay, a talented writer, and fantastic actors. It was by far the highest-grossing R-rated film of 1990, smashing action blockbusters like “Die Hard 2” and “Complete Recall.” International fans preferred it, even more, bringing in an extra $285 million.

‘Pretty Woman’ (1990)

‘The Revenant’ (2015)

Domestic Gross: $183.6 million
This Oscar-winning drama, which told the true tale of a frontiersman’s search for vengeance on his former comrades, is the third highest-grossing film in star Leonardo DiCaprio’s illustrious career. “The Revenant” was the highest-grossing R-rated film in 2015, collecting about $20 million more than “Fifty Shades of Grey” in American theaters. What’s more impressive is how much revenue “The Revenant” earned outside of the United States, bringing its worldwide estimate to almost $533 million.

‘The Revenant’ (2015)

‘Gladiator’ (2000)

Domestic Gross: $187.7 million
Another vengeance epic, “Gladiator,” is the highest-grossing R-rated film to ever win the best picture at the Oscars. It earned five Oscars in total and helped launch Russel Crowe’s career as the wronged Roman gladiator Maximus. “Gladiator” was the highest-grossing R-rated film of 2000, grossing $460 million globally, making it the second-highest-grossing film of the year.

‘Gladiator’ (2000)

’22 Jump Street’ (2014)

Domestic Gross: $191.7 million
This buddy movie featuring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum as undercover cops was a bigger hit than its sequel, “21 Jump Street,” released in 2012. Its almost $192 million cumulative outperformed the initial by more than $50 million in the United States alone. According to Box Office Mojo, it is the highest-grossing R-rated film ever set on a college campus, beating out films like “National Lampoon’s Animal House” and “The Social Network.”

’22 Jump Street’ (2014)

‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ (1991)

Domestic Gross: $206 million
Director James Cameron has directed some of the most successful films in history, including “Titanic” and “Avatar,” but his highest-earning R-rated picture is the 1991 sci-fi classic “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.” “T2’s” lifetime domestic gross of $206 million was collected over several theatrical releases, but it was a huge success from the start. It was the world’s highest-grossing film — independent of MPAA ranking — by a broad margin in 1991, and it is now the long-running Terminator franchise’s greatest cash cow.

‘Terminator 2, Judgment Day’ (1991)

‘Wedding Crashers’ (2005)

Domestic Gross: $209.2 million
The year 2005 saw several big R-rated releases, including “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” “Brokeback Mountain,” and “Saw II,” but “Wedding Crashers” comfortably outperformed them all at the box office. Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson starred in this comedy as a pair of ruthless bachelors who regularly interrupted strangers’ weddings in order to sleep with women. According to Box Office Mojo, “Wedding Crashers” is the second-highest-grossing film ever with a wedding as its main plot, behind only “Bridesmaids” and “Mamma Mia!”

‘Wedding Crashers’ (2005)

‘300’ (2007)

Domestic Gross: $210.6 million
When it first came out in 2007, “300” became the highest-grossing R-rated film based on a comic book. It has since lost that title but the $210 million it pulled in made it the year’s top-earning R-rated film and the only one in the overall top 10 for 2007. It depicted a fictionalized and highly stylized account of a popular Persian War struggle in which massively outnumbered Greek troops faced off against Persian armies. “300” grossed more than $450 million at the global box office.

‘300’ (2007)

‘A Star Is Born’ (2018)

Domestic Gross: $215.3 million
The highest-grossing musical on this list — and one of the few R-rated musicals ever made — “A Star Is Born” managed to gross more than $215 million despite never becoming the biggest film at the box office on any weekend of its run. In this tale about a self-destructive artist and his protégé, director Bradley Cooper and his co-star, Lady Gaga, had amazing chemistry. In addition to grossing a lot of money, “A Star Is Born” was one of the year’s most critically praised films, ultimately earning an Oscar.

‘A Star Is Born’ (2018)

‘Saving Private Ryan’ (1998)

Domestic Gross: $217 million
Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks have collaborated on four films over the years, with 1998’s “Saving Private Ryan” becoming by far their most successful. This World War II blockbuster, which featured a bloody and dramatic reenactment of the D-Day landings at Normandy, was the highest-grossing film in America in 1998, regardless of MPAA ranking. Even more shocking is how well “Saving Private Ryan” performed with overseas viewers, who added an additional $265 million to the film’s global gross.

‘Saving Private Ryan’ (1998)

‘Ted’ (2012)

Domestic Gross: $218.8 million
What is the most successful film in the ever-popular “slacker/stoner” subgenre? According to Box Office Mojo, none of them have outperformed “Ted.” This 2012 sitcom featured Mark Wahlberg and his childhood teddy bear, who came to life and was voiced by Seth MacFarlane. Lightning clearly couldn’t hit twice, when 2015’s “Ted 2” won just $81 million in the United States, about a fraction of what its predecessor did.

‘Ted’ (2012)

‘Logan’ (2017)

Domestic Gross: $226.3 million
Taking the iconic X-Men character Wolverine on a dark new path proved to be a wise decision. Hugh Jackman’s “Logan,” in which he played an aging, much more gruff version of his classic superhero character, was a huge success in 2017, grossing more than any of the PG-13-rated X-Men films that had come before it. “Logan” went on to become one of the most praised comic book films, receiving a 93 percent Fresh rating from reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

‘Logan’ (2017)

‘The Exorcist’ (1973)

Domestic Gross: $233 million
The MPAA’s R classification has been in place since the scheme was established in 1970, only a few years before “The Exorcist” became the first R-rated film to top the box office. This horror icon, which tells the tale of a young girl’s intense exorcism, maintained the record for the highest-grossing R-rated film for 11 years — and for R-rated horror films for more than 40 years. When ticket sales are indexed for inflation, “The Exorcist” is by far the highest-grossing R-rated film in history, winning over $1 billion in theaters since 1973, according to Box Office Mojo.

‘The Exorcist’ (1973)

‘Beverly Hills Cop’ (1984)

Domestic Gross: $234.8 million
It took until 1984 for something to dethrone “The Exorcist” as the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, and “Beverly Hills Cop” did it by a nose. This Eddie Murphy comedy-action film was a huge success, being the first R-rated film to ever be the highest-grossing film of the year, winning more revenue than blockbusters like “Ghostbusters” and “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.” Its two sequels will both gross much less than the first, leaving “Beverly Hills Cop” as the highest-grossing R-rated film released before the year 2000.

‘Beverly Hills Cop’ (1984)

‘The Hangover Part II’ (2011)

Domestic Gross: $254.5 million
“The Hangover Part II” was one of the highest-grossing comedy sequels of all time, irrespective of MPAA ranking, falling only shy of the domestic gross of 2009’s “The Hangover,” thus surpassing it at the global box office. Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis all made cameo appearances, and fans were delighted to see them again in theaters all over the country. “The Hangover Part II” has the third-highest opening night gross of all time, behind only titles from the “Star Wars” and “Matrix” franchises.

‘The Hangover Part II’ (2011)

‘The Matrix Reloaded’ (2003)

Domestic Gross: $281.6 million
The long-awaited sequel to 1999’s “The Matrix” was launched to eager viewers in 2003, breaking box office records and earning more than $100 million more than the film. “The Matrix Reloaded” eventually surpassed “Beverly Hills Cop” as the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time. It wouldn’t last long, but it will be the most successful R-rated sequel in 15 years. “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” “Finding Nemo,” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” were both huge hits in 2003, but “The Matrix Reloaded” had the best opening weekend.

‘The Matrix Reloaded’ (2003)

‘Deadpool 2’ (2018)

Domestic Gross: $324.6 million
“Deadpool 2” is not only the highest-grossing R-rated sequel in history, but it is still the highest-grossing R-rated film in worldwide box office history. It made almost $800 million worldwide, but it’s the $324 million it made in the United States that propels it to the top of this chart. “Deadpool 2” made more profits than “Mission: Impossible – Fallout,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and “Ralph Breaks the Internet” in a year of lots of crowd-pleasing blockbusters.

‘Deadpool 2’ (2018)

‘It’ (2017)

Domestic Gross: $327.5 million
With a gross of $327 million, 2017’s “It” became the highest-grossing horror film in history, independent of MPAA ranking. “It” was a hit for both viewers and reviewers, and it quickly became the highest-grossing film based on a Stephen King novel, which has a lengthy list of films. It’ll just be a matter of time before we see whether the pre-planned sequel, which is set to reach theaters in 2019, will match the success of the original.

‘It’ (2017)

‘American Sniper’ (2014)

Domestic Gross: $350.1 million
This is Bradley Cooper’s fifth film on the chart, making him the all-time king of R-rated blockbusters, in my opinion. The real tale of Chris Kyle, the most efficient sniper in US military history, was told in the Oscar-nominated film “American Sniper.” It was a box office success, being just the second R-rated film to gross at least $300 million domestically at the time. Most notably, “American Sniper” is the highest-grossing film in Warner Bros. history that does not feature a superhero or a Harry Potter film.

‘American Sniper’ (2014)

‘Deadpool’ (2016)

Domestic Gross: $363 million
When “Deadpool” debuted in theaters in 2016 and smashed box office records, it was obvious that audiences were primed for an R-rated superhero. This Ryan Reynolds-starring film currently holds many records, including the highest-grossing R-rated superhero film of all time and the biggest R-rated opening weekend ever. It’s still the highest-grossing X-Men film ever, topping a long list of box office hits, the majority of which were PG-13. “Deadpool” comes within $7 million of shattering the all-time box office mark for R-rated films in the United States.

‘Deadpool’ (2016)

‘The Passion Of The Christ’ (2004)

Domestic Gross: $370.8 million
Director Mel Gibson’s infamous 2004 film “The Passion of the Christ,” which has held the top spot for more than 15 years, is the highest-grossing R-rated film in American history. According to Box Office Mojo, it’s also the highest-grossing Christian film of all time, grossing even higher than Disney’s family-friendly “The Chronicles of Narnia” collection. With a domestic gross of $370 million, it is the 42nd highest-grossing film in history, demonstrating how much all the largest R-rated blockbusters lag behind less negatively rated films.

‘The Passion Of The Christ’ (2004)

Joker

Domestic Gross: $355.5 million

The 2019 American psychological thriller Joker was written and co-directed by Todd Phillips and Scott Silver. Joaquin Phoenix plays the Joker in the DC Comics adaptation, which tells the character’s origin story independently. It is set in 1981 and centers on Arthur Fleck, a failing clown and aspiring stand-up comic who sparks a violent countercultural uprising against the wealthy in a run-down Gotham City as a result of his spiral into mental illness and nihilism.

Joker

Pretty Woman

Domestic Gross: $463.3mil

The romantic comedy Beautiful Woman, which Garry Marshall directed in 1990, was written by J. Lawton, F. Vivian Ward, a Hollywood prostitute, and wealthy businessman Edward Lewis are the main characters of the movie. Vivian is recruited to accompany Edward to a number of professional and social events, and throughout the course of her weeklong stay with him, they become closer.

Pretty Woman

Slumdog Millionaire

Domestic Gross: $378.1 million

The 2008 British drama film Slumdog Millionaire is a loose adaptation of the 2005 Indian author Vikas Swarup book Q & A. It tells the tale of Jamal Malik, an 18-year-old from Mumbai’s Juhu slums.

Slumdog Millionaire

Lucy

Domestic Gross:$463.4 million

2014 French science fiction action movie Lucy is in English. Virginie Besson-Silla, his wife, produced the film, which was written, directed, and directed by Luc Besson for his firm EuropaCorp. Although the ideas, aesthetics, and Johansson’s acting received accolades, many critics thought the plot was absurd, particularly because of its emphasis on the ten percent of the brain theory and the resulting powers.

Lucy

Bad Boys For Life

Domestic Gross: $426.5 million

Adil & Bilall are the directors of the 2020 American buddy cop action comedy movie Bad Boys for Life. It is the third entry in the Bad Boys franchise and the sequel to 2003’s Bad Boys II.

Bad Boys For Life

The Wolf Of Wall Street

Domestic Gross: $406 million

Martin Scorsese and Terence Winter’s 2013 American epic biographical dark comedy crime drama The Wolf of Wall Street is based on Jordan Belfort’s 2007 autobiography of the same name. It describes how Belfort worked as a stockbroker in New York City and how his company, Stratton Oakmont, became involved in widespread fraud and corruption on Wall Street, which ultimately led to his collapse.

The Wolf Of Wall Street

Sex And The City

Domestic Gross: $418.8 million

On his feature film directing debut, Michael Patrick King wrote and directed the 2008 American romantic comedy Sex and the City (marketed as Sex and the City: The Movie). It is a follow-up to the 1998–2004 television series about four friends and their lives as women in New York City: Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall), Charlotte York Goldenblatt (Kristin Davis), and Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon).

Sex And The City

Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train

Domestic Gross: $506.5 million

A 2020 Japanese animated dark fantasy action film titled Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train is based on the “Mugen Train” arc of the shonen manga series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba by Koyoharu Gotouge. It is also known as Demon Slayer: Mugen Train or Demon Slayer: Infinity Train.

Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train

Troy

Domestic Gross: $497.4 million

The epic historical war movie Troy, which was produced in 2004, was helmed by Wolfgang Petersen and scripted by David Benioff. Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, and Orlando Bloom are among the cast members of the movie, which was produced by companies in Malta, Mexico, and Britain’s Shepperton Studios. Its presentation of the full tale of the ten-year Trojan War—condensed into hardly more than a few weeks, rather than merely the argument between Achilles and Agamemnon in the ninth year—is largely based on Homer’s Iliad.

Troy

True Lies

Domestic Gross: $378.9 million

Based on the 1991 French comedy film La Totale!, James Cameron created the 1994 American spy action comedy picture, True Lies. As Harry Tasker, a U.S. government operative who tries to manage his dual life as a spy with his familial responsibilities, Arnold Schwarzenegger plays Harry Tasker in the movie.

True Lies

The King’s Speech

Domestic Gross: $427.4 million

The King’s Speech is a 2010 historical drama movie that was written and directed by Tom Hooper. Future King George VI, played by Colin Firth, seeks help from Geoffrey Rush’s portrayal of Lionel Logue, an Australian speech and language therapist, to deal with his stammer.

The King’s Speech

1917

Domestic Gross: $384.9 million

Sam Mendes is the director and producer of the 2019 war movie 1917, which he co-wrote with Krysty Wilson-Cairns. The movie, which was partially influenced by Mendes’ paternal grandfather Alfred’s recollections of his service in World War I, is set after the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line during Operation Alberich and centers on two British soldiers named Will Schofield (George MacKay) and Tom Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman), who are sent on a mission to deliver a crucial message to stop an offensive attack that is doomed to fail.

1917

The Bodyguard

Domestic Gross: $411 million

The Bodyguard is a 1992 American romantic drama thriller movie with a cast that includes Kevin Costner, Whitney Houston (in her acting debut), Gary Kemp, Bill Cobbs, and Ralph Waite. It was directed by Mick Jackson and written by Lawrence Kasdan. The movie centers on a former US Secret Service agent who has been employed as a bodyguard to safeguard a well-known actress and musician from an unidentified stalker.

The Bodyguard

Prometheus

Domestic Gross: $403.4 million

The scientific fiction horror movie Prometheus was co-produced and directed by Ridley Scott in 2012. It was written by Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof and starred Charlize Theron, Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba, and Logan Marshall-Green.

Prometheus

The Last Samurai

Domestic Gross: $456.8 million

In addition to directing and co-producing the 2003 epic historical action thriller The Last Samurai, Edward Zwick also co-wrote the screenplay with Marshall Herskovitz and John Logan from a plot idea created by Logan. In addition to Tom Cruise, who also co-produced the movie, who plays a soldier-turned-samurai who befriends Ken Watanabe, other actors who appear in supporting parts include Timothy Spall, Billy Connolly, Tony Goldwyn, Hiroyuki Sanada, Koyuki, and Shin Koyamada.

The Last Samurai

‘IT’ Chapter Two

Domestic Gross: $473.1 million

A 2019 American supernatural horror film with a script by Gary Dauberman, It Chapter Two is directed by Andy Muschietti. It is the second installment of a two-part adaptation of Stephen King’s 1986 novel It, which mostly focuses on the second half of the book. It is a follow-up to It (2017).

‘IT’ Chapter Two

Mad Max: Fury Road

Domestic Gross: $415.2 million

George Miller co-wrote, co-produced, and directed the post-apocalyptic action movie Mad Max: Fury Road, which was released in 2015 in Australia. For the screenplay, Miller worked with Nico Lathouris, Brendan McCarthy, and others. The fourth Mad Max film in the series.

Mad Max: Fury Road

Once Upon A Time in Hollywood

Domestic Gross: $377.4 million

The 2019 American comedy-drama film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood[a] was written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. It is a joint production of the United States, the United Kingdom, and China and was made by Columbia Pictures, Bona Film Group, Heyday Productions, and Visiona Romantica. Sony Pictures Distribution handled the distribution.

Once Upon A Time in Hollywood

Django Unchained

Domestic Gross: $426 million

Featuring Walton Goggins, Dennis Christopher, James Remar, Michael Parks, and Don Johnson in supporting roles, Django Unchained is a 2012 American revisionist Western film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. It stars Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, and Samuel L. Jackson.

Django Unchained

‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’

Domestic Gross: $410.9 million

20th Century Fox’s Kingsman: The Golden Circle had its London premiere on September 18 and was theatrically released in the UK and the US on September 20 and 22, respectively, in 3D and 2D.

Kingsman: The Golden Circle