10 Highest-Grossing R-Rated Movie Franchises Of All Time

By fully utilizing mature themes for maximum dramatic impact, many top-tier R-rated films are recognized as some of the greatest movies ever made. This is evident not only in their outstanding box office earnings but also in the multitude of positive reviews they receive. Considering their more restricted cinematic audience, the financial success of a single R-rated film speaks volumes about its quality, but when this extends across entire franchises, it becomes truly remarkable.

In modern times, there’s a greater chance that an adult-themed movie could be part of a franchise, broadening the criteria for selection. This expansion now includes popular series with just one PG-13 film among their more mature, NSFW offerings. Nevertheless, these franchises remain the elite of R-rated cinema, continually influencing mainstream culture with some of the highest-grossing films in cinematic history, earning them the title of the top-grossing R-rated movie franchises ever.

10. Bad Boys

Worldwide Box Office Gross: $1.23 Billion

Although it’s unclear if a fifth installment of the “Bad Boys” series will materialize, this long-lasting action-comedy franchise continues to hold a spot among cinema’s top 10 highest-grossing R-rated movie franchises. Led by the beloved duo of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, the “Bad Boys” films may not have consistently impressed critics over their four-film journey spanning from 1995 to 2024, but they’ve consistently been box office sensations.

As a devoted film enthusiast, I can attest to the enduring financial success of the “Bad Boys” series. Spanning nearly three decades, this action-packed duo has managed to gross an impressive $1.23 billion worldwide, making it one of cinema’s most consistent money-makers. Despite some mixed-to-negative reviews, the franchise has aged gracefully from a financial standpoint. In fact, its financial performance has only improved over time, with the 2020 and 2024 releases topping the charts as the highest-grossing films in the entire series.

9. Joker

Worldwide Box Office Gross: $1.27 Billion

Remarkably, the financial triumph of the Joker franchise, with its second installment being the second-highest-grossing R-rated movie ever, is even more astonishing given that the sequel flopped disastrously at the box office. The 2024 release, Joker: Folie à Deux, turned into a chaotic musical spectacle and barely managed to recoup its approximately $200 million budget, receiving poor reviews from both fans and critics, which may signal the end for Todd Phillips’ creation.

In essence, the catastrophic sequel served to highlight even more significantly the success achieved by the original Joker film from 2019. The powerful portrayal of Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker contributed greatly to the movie’s staggering box office earnings exceeding $1 billion globally. As a result, the combined box office revenue of both films stands at approximately $1.27 billion, placing them among the top 10 highest-grossing R-rated film franchises in history. This achievement puts into sharp contrast the missed opportunities for the upcoming sequel in 2024.

8. Resident Evil

Worldwide Box Office Gross: $1.27 Billion

The Resident Evil movies, modeled after Capcom’s highly praised survival horror video game series, haven’t managed to garner the same level of critical acclaim as the games. To put it into perspective, none of the films in this long-running franchise have received a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score exceeding 37% even after seven tries, although they’ve generally been well-received by viewers.

As a dedicated film enthusiast, I can’t help but feel fortunate that the reputation of this series as a fan-favorite has been solidified by its long-lasting status as an R-rated blockbuster at the box office. Once holding the title for the highest-grossing film series based on a video game, Resident Evil’s total worldwide gross currently stands at approximately $1.27 billion as of 2025. With an eighth installment tentatively titled and slated for release in 2026, it seems that the eighth-highest-grossing R-rated franchise in cinema history is about to undergo another reboot, hinting at more zeros potentially being added to Resident Evil’s already impressive earnings.

7. 50 Shades

Worldwide Box Office Gross: $1.32 Billion

Critics have been quite harsh towards the movie adaptations of E.L. James’ popular erotic novel trilogy, “50 Shades of Grey”. Similar to the negative reception James’ books received, the three films released between 2015 and 2018 were mostly panned by critics, despite the undeniable allure of Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson. Regrettably, not one of these films managed to secure a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score above 25%, with the second and third installments even receiving a dismal rating of only 11%.

In Hollywood, financial success often overshadows critical acclaim or quality, and this is evident with the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy. With global earnings of approximately $1.32 billion, it ranks as the seventh highest-grossing R-rated movie franchise ever, clearly showcasing that James’ creation has an undeniable draw as a financial powerhouse.

6. The Hangover

Worldwide Box Office Gross: $1.4 Billion

The movie “The Hangover” (2009), famous for its hilarious tale about four unconventional friends called the Wolf Pack, stands as a classic representation of a trilogy that reached its pinnacle with the initial film. This original, outrageously funny installment has repeatedly been praised as one of the 21st century’s most memorable comedies. However, the two subsequent movies, which seemed to grow increasingly absurd, unfortunately failed to maintain the same level of quality.

Despite a noticeable drop in quality, the franchise of “The Hangover” movies continued to thrive at the box office, setting a remarkable record as the sixth highest-earning R-rated franchise ever. To date, these comedies have amassed over $1.41 billion in revenue. This impressive feat is further highlighted by the fact that the second installment, “The Hangover Part II” from 2011, remains among the top ten highest-grossing R-rated films of all time, even though it was released over a decade ago.

5. Die Hard

Worldwide Box Office Gross: $1.4 Billion

In contrast to most of its action-packed peers that are known for adult content, the Die Hard franchise stands out because it’s the only R-rated series among the top ten in wider cinema with a sole PG-13 rated movie: 2007’s Live Free or Die Hard. Despite criticism from many fans due to the absence of John McClane’s iconic catchphrase in the film, it’s interesting to note that this fourth installment turned out to be the franchise’s highest-grossing movie.

Despite a significant drop in quality after the disappointing 2013 release, “A Good Day to Die Hard”, the Die Hard series, led by Bruce Willis, has continued to be financially successful, maintaining its position as the fifth highest-grossing R-rated film franchise ever, with cumulative earnings of approximately $1.44 billion across five movies, even though the last installment was released over a decade ago.

4. The Matrix

Worldwide Box Office Gross: $1.79 Billion

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but feel a flutter of excitement as whispers about Matrix 5 refuse to fade away. There’s a glimmer of hope that this iconic R-rated franchise, which has earned a place among the top four highest-grossing in cinema history with roughly $1.79 billion in global box office revenue, might ascend even higher. Spanning four films with widely diverse quality, The Matrix has never shied away from mature themes, managing to maintain an R-rating throughout its entire series.

2003’s sequel, “The Matrix Reloaded,” earned over $738 million globally and remains one of the top six highest-grossing R-rated films to date, despite being released over 20 years ago. This underscores the franchise’s esteemed status as a leader in R-rated cinema. It’s surprising to consider that its financial success might have been greater if not for the underperformance of the latest installment, “The Matrix Resurrections,” which was released in 2021.

3. Alien

Worldwide Box Office Gross: $1.98 Billion

The enduring Alien franchise, known for its iconic science fiction horror films, is often held up as a benchmark of excellence in cinema. Whether you’re evaluating it from a critical or commercial perspective, the Alien series stands out as a cinematic gold standard. These films follow the chilling exploits of the titular hostile aliens, and since its inception, the franchise has released seven full-length movies and two spin-offs with the sci-fi legend, Predator, demonstrating its lasting impact and financial success.

Despite the fact that the Predator crossovers aren’t included in the overall count, Alien would still slide down just one spot in the current Top 10 of R-rated films. Given this, it’s no wonder that its staggering global box office earnings of nearly $2 billion make Alien the third-highest grossing R-rated franchise ever, with the 2012 prequel, Prometheus, being its most successful installment to date.

2. The Conjuring

Worldwide Box Office Gross: $2.38 Billion

The Conjuring universe, known for its top-grossing horror movies, comes close but doesn’t claim the number one spot among R-rated films with the highest earnings in cinema history. Started by the 2013 release of the supernatural horror film “The Conjuring”, which follows the adventures of Ed and Lorraine Warren, seven subsequent successful installments in The Conjuring, Annabelle, and The Nun series have outperformed genre heavyweights such as Alien and Resident Evil at the box office, thanks to the creative vision of James Wan.

It’s important to point out that “The Conjuring” being at the top of the list is more about its tough competition rather than any one film breaking records at the box office. However, this doesn’t lessen its status as the second highest-grossing R-rated movie franchise ever made. To date, it has earned an impressive $2.38 billion globally. The upcoming release in 2025, titled “The Conjuring: Final Rites,” might even help it claim the crown for the most profitable R-rated box office success.

1. Deadpool

Worldwide Box Office Gross: $2.9 Billion

It’s not surprising that Deadpool rules the adult-oriented franchise movie category, given it houses three out of the five highest-grossing R-rated films ever made in cinema history. This spin-off from the X-Men series, characterized by Ryan Reynolds’ memorable portrayal of the wisecracking anti-hero, has achieved this status due to its unique combination of biting satire, intense violence, and bold breaking of the fourth wall. The result is the most financially successful R-rated trilogy to date.

The Deadpool movies have amassed a total earnings of approximately $2.9 billion across three films, starting from 2016. Each new release has set a record as the highest-grossing R-rated movie at the time it was released. Notably, the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine movie (scheduled for 2024) currently holds the top spot in terms of earnings; its staggering worldwide gross of over $1.3 billion is not far from the combined earnings of the previous two movies in the series.

Source: The Numbers

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2025-04-25 00:55