The Most Successful R-Rated Movies of All Time

A spoof of the Western genre, this Mel Brooks comedy doubles as a biting satire about racial prejudice. Its bevy of iconic jokes are decidedly non-PC but underpinned by an intelligent wit. Follow a clever railroad worker (Cleavon Little) as he becomes the first Black sheriff of a small town.

A welder by day, Alex Owens (Jennifer Beals) moonlights as an exotic dancer with dreams of joining a legitimate troupe. Bolstered by a hit soundtrack, the film overcame negative reviews on its way to box office success.

Would you let your wife sleep with another man for a million dollars? That’s the question at the heart of this erotic drama from director Adrian Lyne. It won three Razzie Awards.

Tom Cruise plays rookie lawyer Mitch McDeere in this adaptation of John Grisham’s blockbuster novel. Upon joining a prestigious new firm, McDeere uncovers a shocking conspiracy with deadly consequences.

One of the greatest thrillers ever made puts F.B.I. cadet Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) on the trail of a dangerous serial killer. Seeking help, she turns to a devious psychopath by the name of Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins). The film won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Inspired by actual events, this biographical drama chronicles the life and times of Navy S.E.A.L. sniper Chris Kyle (played by Bradley Cooper). A huge success both in America and overseas, it remains the highest-grossing war movie of all time (unadjusted for inflation).

No number of negative ratings or reviews could get in the way of this hotly anticipated erotic drama, based on the best-selling novel of the same name. The first in a trilogy, it centers on the sado-masochistic affair between a high-powered businessman (​​Jamie Dornan) and his latest hire (Dakota Johnson).

The grimmest and reportedly final chapter in the Wolverine saga takes place in a futuristic wasteland, where mutants are on the brink of extinction. Overcoming his own world-weariness to help a young girl, Logan (Hugh Jackman) proves there’s still some fight in him yet.

“Die Hard” on a plane is the best way to describe this mid-90s actioner, starring Harrison Ford as President James Marshall. It was the year’s fifth highest-grossing film at the worldwide box office. Bill Clinton was reportedly a fan.

Making unique — and virtually ubiquitous — use of CGI technology, this swords-and-sandals epic rolled into theaters with a chest-thumping bang. Based on a comic book series, it follows 300 Spartan soldiers into battle.

More than a mere action film, 1994’s “Speed” is an enduring pop culture phenomenon. The story takes place aboard a moving bus, which will explode if it dips below 50 MPH at any time. A famously terrible sequel would follow.

Mel Gibson was at the height of his fame when he starred in this dramatic thriller, playing the desperate father of a kidnapped son. Rather than pay the criminals directly, Gibson offers the ransom money as a bounty to the public. Reviews were generally positive but not ecstatic.

The debut feature film from “Family Guy” co-creator Seth MacFarlane was the raunchy smash hit that few saw coming. It follows a talking teddy bear (voiced by MacFarlane) and his best friend (Mark Wahlberg) as they stubbornly refuse to come of age. A less successful sequel came later.

A-list comedy star Eddie Murphy wears multiple hats in this modern-day fairy tale with a predominantly Black cast. Determined to find a bride on his own terms, a pampered African prince (Murphy) takes off for America. Some of the original cast members returned for a recent sequel, which also featured contemporary comedians in supporting roles.

This Oscar-winning dramedy from Sam Mendes captured suburban America in the midst of a spiritual crisis. Overlapping plot lines center around the story of a frustrated father (Kevin Spacey), who develops sexual feelings for his daughter’s close friend (Mena Suvari).

Detroit cop Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) returns to Beverly Hills for this blockbuster sequel, in which he investigates a string of bank robberies. It opened at No. 1 and became the second highest-grossing film of the year at the worldwide box office.

A critical disappointment, the third “Matrix” film was nevertheless a massive box office success. It caps off the initial trilogy and depicts the final showdown between mankind and machine. Stars Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss will both return for a fourth installment, which is scheduled for release this year.

Released over a decade after its groundbreaking predecessor, the third “Terminator” installment builds toward a potential nuclear holocaust. Without franchise creator James Cameron at the helm, the execution feels somewhat second-rate. Audiences flocked in droves anyway.

In true sequel fashion, this blockbuster comedy overlays the same formula as its predecessor in a new location. Upon their arrival in Thailand, the wolf-pack once again wakes up with no memory of the night before. Rote plot points notwithstanding, the film became the highest-grossing R-rated comedy of its time (unadjusted for inflation).

Ridley Scott’s sci-fi horror classic overcame wary studio executives and numerous rewrites on its way to the big screen, where it found immediate commercial success. The story follows crew members of the spaceship Nostromo as they’re picked off by an alien creature. Its nail-biting trailer looks as compelling now as it did over 40 years ago.

The film that made director David Fincher a household name, this brutally dark thriller takes place in an unnamed city. Against a backdrop of perennial rain, an arrogant detective (Brad Pitt) and his veteran partner (Morgan Freeman) search for a sadistic serial killer with a master plan. It all builds toward one of the most unshakable endings in modern movie history.

Tom Cruise brought his box office bona fides to this epic period drama, which he also produced. The story takes place in 19th-century Japan and chronicles the transformational encounter between an American military officer (Cruise) and a samurai clan.

Hoping to ward off a terrorist attack, a chemist (Nicolas Cage) and an ex-con (Sean Connery) break into Alcatraz. Director Michael Bay’s propulsive pacing is elevated by excellent performances and a surprisingly solid script. It’s been reported that both Aaron Sorkin and Quentin Tarantino provided uncredited rewrites.

The third installment in the “Detective Chinatown” franchise follows detectives Tang Ren and Qin Feng to Tokyo, where they investigate a murder. Similar to its predecessors, the movie imparts a unique and often relentless brand of modern farce. It’s currently the highest grossing non-American R-rated film of all time (unadjusted for inflation).

Partners Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) take on a weapons dealer in this third franchise installment. Despite the return of all the major players — including director Richard Donner and supporting actor Joe Pesci — the film didn’t muster the same zeitgeist-grabbing energy as its two predecessors. It still made a killing at the box office.

Big on brawn but light on brains, this historical epic retells “The Iliad” along with aspects of another Greek poem called “Posthomerica.” Playing Achilles, a chest-baring and sword-wielding Brad Pitt functioned as the main draw.

This black-and-white drama tells the story of Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), a German industrialist who saved the lives of over 1,000 Jews during WWII. A passion project for Steven Spielberg, it won seven Academy Awards. The director redirected both his personal salary and some of the film’s profits to create the USC Shoah Foundation, which is dedicated to Holocaust survivors.

The first chapter in a two-part series, this adaptation of Stephen King’s horror classic arrived at the height of “Stranger Things” fever. It takes place in 1989 and centers on a group of close friends who are terrorized by a shapeshifting demon clown (Bill Skarsgård). “Chapter Two” arrived in theaters two years later, earning less than its predecessor but still making a bundle.

Two men (Matt Dillon and Ben Stiller) vye for the same woman (Cameron Diaz) in this famously raunchy comedy. It comes from the same directing team behind “Dumb and Dumber” and imparts a similar sensibility. On AFI’s list of “100 Years, 100 Laughs,” it lands at #27.

Based on Ken Kesey’s timeless novel, this blockbuster dramedy follows a rebellious soul (Jack Nicholson) into a mental institution. It won five Academy Awards and recently yielded a series spin-off called “Nurse Ratched.”

Adrian Lyne’s erotic thriller was so influential that it essentially kicked off a stalker sub-genre. Michael Douglas plays a married publishing executive whose short-lived affair becomes the stuff of nightmares. Part potboiler and part cautionary tale, it was the highest-grossing film of 1987.

What was originally a stand-alone script called “Simon Says” became the third installment of the beloved “Die Hard” franchise. Now operating on his home turf of New York City, Lt. John McClane (Bruce Willis) squares off against a brilliant terrorist (Jeremy Irons). The Special Edition DVD features an alternate ending, which was deemed a bit too dark for audiences.

“Are you not entertained?!” Maximus (Russell Crowe) asks aloud in this historical epic. Based on the soaring box office numbers and slew of awards, audiences were most definitely entertained. Set during Roman times, the story sends a former general turned gladiator into the blood-soaked arena.

This erotic thriller centers on the fraught relationship between a troubled homicide detective (Michael Douglas) and his primary suspect (Sharon Stone). Tawdry by design, it benefits from convincing performances and director Paul Verhoeven’s stylish sensibilities. Its scandalous reputation and box office success sent Sharon Stone straight to the top of Hollywood’s A-list.

A mercenary mutant with a crude and comic disposition, Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) takes on a time-travelling cyborg (Josh Brolin) in this violent sequel. With estimated net proceeds of $235.4 million (after expenses and revenues), it was the seventh most profitable release of 2018. “Deadpool 3” is currently in development as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Arnold Schwarzenegger reunited with “Terminator” director James Cameron for this explosive spy thriller, about the double-life of a secret agent (Schwarzenegger). Interweaving elaborate action sequences with frequent comic relief, it opened at No. 1 and became the third highest-grossing film of 1994.

This violent actioner kicked open the doors on R-rated comic book fare whilst deliciously subverting the sub-genres’ conventions. Breaking the fourth wall as he dodges bullets, Deadpool seeks revenge on the man who nearly killed him.

Enigmatic trailers whetted audience appetites for this groundbreaking sci-fi masterpiece, which duly lived up to the hype. It tells the story of a hacker named Neo (Keanu Reeves), who discovers that reality is definitely not what it seems. The heady narrative and special effects have rendered a lasting impact on the action genre at large.

Eddie Murphy’s third lead role in a major comedy cemented his status as a young Hollywood legend. He plays fast-talking Detroit cop Axel Foley, who brings his quick wit and unique charms to swanky Beverly Hills. The film spent a whopping 13 weeks at the top of the box office.

Catching its lead talents at the perfect moment, this romantic thriller depicts the relationship between a pop star (Whitney Houston) and her protector (Kevin Costner). A box office smash, it also yielded the best-selling soundtrack of all time.

Mel Gibson put up a sizable chunk of his own cash to finance this deeply personal project, about the final days of Jesus Christ (played by Jim Caviezel). To date, it remains the highest-grossing R-rated film at the domestic box office (unadjusted for inflation). A sequel is reportedly in the works.

Hoping to secure a major inheritance, a selfish yuppy (Tom Cruise) takes his austic brother (Dustin Hoffman) under his wing. The film won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and a Best Actor award for Hoffman. It also features one of Cruise’s finest dramatic performances.

Witness the unlikely but effortlessly charming love story between a streetwise prostitute (Julia Roberts) and a savvy businessman (Richard Gere). A modern fairy tale with an adult-themed twist, the film turned Roberts into an overnight sensation.

One of the most gripping battle scenes in film history kicks off this WWII saga, which sends a group of U.S. soldiers across enemy lines. Winner of five Academy Awards, it sparked an ongoing professional relationship between Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.

Crafted by Todd Phillips in the vein of a Martin Scorsese classic, this disturbing drama explores the origins of comic book villain The Joker (Joaquin Phoenix). With its epic haul of over $1 billion, this is the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time at the worldwide box office (unadjusted for inflation).

A benchmark in modern filmmaking, James Cameron’s sci-fi sequel mashes genre tropes while making expert use of then-nascent CGI technology. The story picks up 11 years after the original and sees The Terminator returning from the future, this time as a protector. It remains the highest-grossing film of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career.

In the vein of its epochal predecessor, this sci-fi sequel layers philosophical themes with eye-popping set pieces. It continues the story of humanity’s fight against its computer overlords, bringing Neo’s role further into focus.

This dance-themed and surprisingly unfiltered drama helped spawn the disco era and turned John Travolta into a movie star. Its hit-loaded soundtrack was a pop culture cornerstone unto itself, and the second best-selling soundtrack of all time.

One of the greatest and most influential films ever made launched several high-profile careers and took home three Oscars. It was also a critical and commercial smash, reportedly sitting on top of the domestic box office for 23 weeks in a row. Behold the story of the Corleone crime family, whose power is threatened by a new foe.

Author William Peter Blatty adapted his own novel when penning the script for this graphic horror film. Directed by William Friedkin, it presents the unrelenting demonic possession of a young girl (Linda Blair). Extreme viewer reactions such as vomiting and fainting arguably fueled word-of-mouth momentum, hence the film’s enduring blockbuster status.