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What constitutes an R-rated movie hasn’t always been the same. However, R-rated movies still limit the movie goers to 17 and up, even if the definitions have shifted a bit. You may remember when graphic violence was still allowed in PG-rated movies and the R- rating was a big deal—something most production companies tried to avoid.
But sometimes, movie makers decided to go for it, paving the way for even more adventure at the theater. Some R-rated movies on our list exceeded all expectations and broke box office records. Of course, not all R-rated movies break records, for lesser-known R-rated movies, check out The Best R-Rated Movies You Probably Haven’t Seen.
50. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
- Worldwide box office: 369.9 million
- Directed by: George Miller
49. There's Something About Mary (1998)
- Worldwide box office: 369.9 million
- Directed by: Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly
48. Fifty Shades Freed (2018)
- Worldwide box office: 372 million
- Directed by: James Foley
47. Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)
- Worldwide box office: 377.4 million
- Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
46. Fifty Shades Darker (2017)
- Worldwide box office: 381.4 million
- Directed by: James Foley
45. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
- Worldwide box office: 383.8 million
- Directed by: Danny Boyle
44. 1917 (2019)
- Worldwide box office: 389.1 million
- Directed by: Sam Mendes
43. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
- Worldwide box office: 389.8 million
- Directed by: Martin Scorsese
42. Prometheus (2012)
- Worldwide box office: 402.4 million
- Directed by: Ridley Scott
41. Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
- Worldwide box office: 404.6 million
- Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
40. Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)
- Worldwide box office: 408.8 million
- Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
39. The Bodyguard (1992)
- Worldwide box office: 411 million
- Directed by: Mick Jackson
38. Rain Man (1988)
- Worldwide box office: 412.8 million
- Directed by: Barry Levinson
37. Sex and the City (2008)
- Worldwide box office: 415.2 million
- Directed by: Michael Patrick King
36. Bad Boys For Life (2020)
- Worldwide box office: 424.5 million
- Directed by: Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah
35. The Matrix Revolutions (2003)
- Worldwide box office: 427.3 million
- Directed by: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski
34. The Exorcist (1973)
- Worldwide box office: 428.8 million
- Directed by: William Friedkin
33. The King's Speech (2010)
- Worldwide box office: 430.1 million
- Directed by: Tom Hooper
32. A Star is Born (2018)
- Worldwide box office: 431.9 million
- Directed by: Bradley Cooper
31. Pretty Woman (1990)
- Worldwide box office: 432.6 million
- Directed by: Garry Marshall
30. John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
- Worldwide box office: 432.7 million
- Directed by: Chad Stahelski
29. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
- Worldwide box office: 433.1 million
- Directed by: Jonathan Mostow
28. Django Unchained (2012)
- Worldwide box office: 449.8 million
- Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
27. Gladiator (2000)
- Worldwide box office: 451.7 million
- Directed by: Ridley Scott
26. 300 (2006)
- Worldwide box office: 454.2 million
- Directed by: Zack Snyder
25. The Last Samurai (2003)
- Worldwide box office: 456.8 million
- Directed by: Edward Zwick
24. Lucy (2014)
- Worldwide box office: 457.5 million
- Directed by: Luc Besson
23. The Hangover (2009)
- Worldwide box office: 465.5 million
- Directed by: Todd Phillips
22. The Matrix (1999)
- Worldwide box office: 466 million
- Directed by: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski
21. It: Chapter Two (2019)
- Worldwide box office: 467.6 million
- Directed by: Andy Muschietti
20. Troy (2004)
- Worldwide box office: 483.2 million
- Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen
19. Les Intouchables (2011)
- Worldwide box office: 484.6 million
- Directed by: Olivier Nakache, Ãric Toledano
18. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
- Worldwide box office: 485 million
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg
17. Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mugen Ressha-Hen (Demon Slayer: To the Swordsmith Village) (2023)
- Worldwide box office: 507.1 million
- Directed by: Haruo Sotozaki
16. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- Worldwide box office: 515.4 million
- Directed by: James Cameron
15. Mei Ren Yu (The Mermaid) (2016)
- Worldwide box office: 525 million
- Directed by: Stephen Chow
14. The Revenant (2015)
- Worldwide box office: 532.9 million
- Directed by: Alejandro G. Iñárritu
13. Tang Ren Jie Tan An 2 (Detective Chinatown 2) (2018)
- Worldwide box office: 544.1 million
- Directed by: Sicheng Chen
12. American Sniper (2014)
- Worldwide box office: 547.3 million
- Directed by: Clint Eastwood
11. Ted (2012)
- Worldwide box office: 556 million
- Directed by: Seth MacFarlane
10. Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)
- Worldwide box office: 570.8 million
- Directed by: Sam Taylor-Johnson
9. The Hangover Part II (2011)
- Worldwide box office: 586.8 million
- Directed by: Todd Phillips
8. Logan (2017)
- Worldwide box office: 614.2 million
- Directed by: James Mangold
7. The Passion of the Christ (2004)
- Worldwide box office: 622.3 million
- Directed by: Mel Gibson
6. It (2017)
- Worldwide box office: 701 million
- Directed by: Andy Muschietti
5. The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
- Worldwide box office: 738.6 million
- Directed by: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski
4. Deadpool (2016)
- Worldwide box office: 781.9 million
- Directed by: Tim Miller
3. Deadpool 2 (2018)
- Worldwide box office: 786.4 million
- Directed by: David Leitch
2. Oppenheimer (2023)
- Worldwide box office: 951.8 million
- Directed by: Christopher Nolan
1. Joker (2019)
- Worldwide box office: 1.1 billion
- Directed by: Todd Phillips