Did you know? Movies that receive an R-rating from the Motion Picture Association of America ratings may have been Oscar-nominated, but do not do well at the box office. For instance, only three of the 50 highest-grossing films in American history are R-rated, and they are all in the bottom ten. And did you realize that no R-rated film has ever earned more than $1 billion at the global box office, despite scores of films crossing the mark over the years? Using data crunched by Box Office Mojo analysts, here are the R-rated films that have won the most revenue in American theaters as of June 17, 2019. Any of them would undoubtedly surprise you.
The Most Successful R Rated Movies Of All Time
‘Air Force One’ (1997)
Domestic Gross: $173 million
The undisputed king of the film universe in 1997 was “Titanic,” but “Air Force One” has made a lot of money. This Harrison Ford vehicle was set aboard the world’s most iconic airplane when terrorists stole it, prompting the president himself to kick some ass. “Air Force One” became the highest-grossing R-rated film of 1997, outperforming critical darlings such as “As Good as It Gets” and “Good Will Hunting.” It went on to gross over $315 million globally.
‘Air Force One’ (1997)
‘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)