Yahoo Movies The highest-grossing anime films of all time
Studio Ghibli, Makoto Shinkai and several fan favourites have dominated the box office
Anime films are a staple part of the cinematic experience, and some have even become global sensations to the point where they dominate the box office in their own right.
The First Slam Dunk is the latest anime film to be shown on the big screen. The acclaimed sports drama is out in cinemas and IMAX from 30 August in the UK but has already become a smash hit since its release in Japan in 2022.
Read more: The best anime to live-action adaptations ranked
Studio Ghibli may have cemented anime's place in cinematic history with its classic films, but there are others that have drawn fans to cinemas in their droves.
With this in mind, we're taking a look back at the 10 highest-grossing anime films to ever be released, and some of the entries may come as a surprise.
10. Weathering With You (2019)
Global box office: £152m ($193m)
Makoto Shikai became a household name with his smash-hit Your Name, and his 2019 follow-up Weathering With You also did incredibly well at the box office.
The film follows high school student Hodaka Morishima, who runs away from home and meets a girl who has the ability to manipulate the weather. Similar in tone and narrative to Your Name (and even featuring a cameo from its characters), Weathering With You earned an impressive £152m ($193m) worldwide.
Where to stream: Available on digital platforms.
9. Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (2021)
Global box office: £155m ($196m)
Jujutsu Kaisen is one of the current "big three" in anime alongside Demon Slayer and My Hero Acadamia, taking the mantle from Bleach, One Piece and Naruto, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that prequel film Jujutsu Kaisen 0 did well at the box office.
The film is based on the one-off manga of the same name by Gege Akutami, and it centres on Yuta who is haunted by the ghost of his childhood friend Rika who will protect him at all costs. The film comes in ninth place with £155m ($196m) worldwide.
Where to stream: Crunchyroll.
8. Ponyo (2008)
Global box office: £161m ($204m)
When people think of anime the first thing that often comes to mind is Studio Ghibli, the iconic animation studio that was first founded by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata in 1985.
Miyazaki's seventh film Ponyo is one of the studio's biggest hits, the film follows its titular goldfish princess and her friendship with a human boy which leads her to want to live a life on land. The film earned £161m ($204m) at the global box office.
Where to stream: Netflix.
7. Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
Global box office: £187m ($237m)
Miyazaki's classic Howl's Moving Castle is also one of Studio Ghibli's biggest hits as the anime earned over £187m ($237m) at the worldwide box office.
Based on Diana Wynne Jones' book of the same name, the fantasy follows Sophie who is cursed into becoming an old woman and comes to work with the wizard Howl in a bid to find a way to break it.
Where to stream: Netflix.
6. One Piece Film: Red (2022)
Global box office: £194m ($246m)
One Piece is an iconic anime series, and is soon to be adapted into live-action, but before that film fans were able to enjoy One Piece Film: Red in cinemas.
Read more: Everything you need to know about Netflix's One Piece
The movie sees Monkey D. Luffy reunite with singer Uta, who is the adopted daughter of his mentor Shanks, and who reveals she has unsettling plans for the world. The film went on to earn over £194m ($246m) at the box office worldwide.
Where to stream: Not available to stream yet.
5. The First Slam Dunk (2022)
Global box office: £203m ($257m)
The First Slam Dunk sees creator Takehiko Inoue return to his beloved '90s manga for a new film, and the franchise's longevity is proven by the film's success at the box office.
Read more: The First Slam Dunk review: Global smash hit is a masterful sports drama
The anime charts the tense match between the Shohoku basketball team and their unbeatable rivals Sannoh, and the film is so popular it has remained in Japanese cinemas for over 280 days and has earned £203m ($257m) worldwide so far. With its release in the UK it'll no doubt earn more.
Where to stream: Not available to stream yet.
4. Suzume (2022)
Global box office: £254m ($322m)
Makoto Shinkai's most recent film Suzume became a box office hit around the world and has only narrowly missed out on topping his most famous film by earning over £254m ($322m) worldwide.
The film follows its titular character as she travels around Japan trying to close portals at disaster-stricken locations as the doors could lead to untold misfortune if left open, it is inspired by the events of the 2012 Tohoku earthquake.
Where to stream: Not available to stream yet.
3. Your Name (2016)
Global box office: £302m ($382m)
Your Name put director Makoto Shinkai at the forefront of the anime industry, leading to many to refer to him as the "next Miyazaki" even though their styles and narrative choices are markedly different.
The heartfelt film follows teens Mitsuha and Taki who begin to swap bodies with each other despite having never met, and who go on a journey to discover how and why this is happening to them. The movie earned a staggering £302m ($382m) at the box office.
Where to stream: Available on digital platforms.
2. Spirited Away (2001)
Global box office: £312m ($395m)
Spirited Away is Hayao Miyazaki's most beloved films, and it earned the filmmaker an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film in 2003.
The film follows Chihiro, a young girl who is transported to the spirit world with her family and who goes on a quest to save her parents before it's too late. Stunning, emotional and captivating, the film was rightly a global sensation and earned over £312m ($395m) worldwide.
Where to stream: Netflix.
1. Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train (2022)
Global box office: £401m ($507m)
As previously mentioned, Demon Slayer is one of the current Big Three in the anime industry and nothing proves this more than the success of the franchise's first movie.
Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train follows Tanjiro and his demon sister Nezuko as they and their friends board the eponymous train where they are forced to face terrifying demons.
Despite being released amid the COVID pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the film defied the odds and earned over £401m ($507m) worldwide.
Where to stream: Crunchyroll.
