The 10 Most Expensive Anime Movies Ever Made (And How Much They Earned at the Box Office)

Over the years, anime movies have evolved into full-blown cinematic events, with studios investing years of effort and millions of dollars into a single release. What originally was a niche part of the entertainment world is now an international success, with names like Studio Ghibli setting the gold standard for both quality and ambition.

However, here is the truth: high budgets do not always turn into high returns. Some films became box office blockbusters, while others focus more on artistic brilliance than commercial success. And honestly, that is what makes them unique. Now, for this article, we will be using production cost estimates and box office data to identify the top 10 most expensive anime of all time and how they performed at the box office. Let us have a look.

Please note that some figures mentioned above are the estimated numbers based on industry discussions rather than officially disclosed numbers. Also, the IMDb ratings mentioned above are as of April 11, 2026, which means it is subject to change in the future.

10 Steamboy – Ambition That Didn’t Pay Off

Created by Katsuhiro Otomo (who is also famous for Akira), it was one of the most expensive anime films ever made at that time (approximately $22 million in production).

However, it only grossed approximately $10.8 million worldwide. While the film’s beautiful steampunk art style has become iconic, it became a classic example of the fact that sometimes ambition does not guarantee success.

9 From Up on Poppy Hill – A Simple Story That Works

This Studio Ghibli film is directed by Goro Miyazaki and revolves around two students who are trying to save their school’s clubhouse, and along the way, they uncover a rather interesting personal mystery involving themselves.

It is a down-to-earth, nostalgic film with a lot of emotional undertones and has grossed over $61.4 million worldwide. It is not flashy – but very effective in a subtle way.

8 Howl’s Moving Castle – Studio Ghibli’s Fantasy Goldmine

This Hayao Miyazaki masterpiece follows the story of Sophie, a young woman cursed into old age, and her weird journey with Howl. As expected from a Ghibli film, it mixes romance, anti-war themes, and magic really well.

What is more interesting here is that it was made on a relatively lower budget compared to some of the other entries here. However, even with that, it became a massive hit and earned around $243.4 million worldwide. Honestly, the movie proves that when you have a strong story combined with visual magic, it can outperform even high-budget productions.

7 Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time – Ending a Legacy

This film continues the classic Evangelion trend of traumatic drama as it portrays a mentally broken Shinji moving ahead and confronting his father, Gendo Ikari. The classic father-son confrontation is the prime attraction of the movie.

Directed by Hideaki Anno, this movie generated over $94.7 million and provided fans with the resolution that they had been waiting for many years.

6 Pokémon: The Movie 2000 – Legendary Clash at Sea

In this movie, Ash and Pikachu find themselves caught in a battle involving legendary birds and the balance of nature itself.

This film grossed approximately $133.9 million in total worldwide, demonstrating that even with the previous film release, there continues to be a strong craze for all things Pokémon.

5 Pokémon: The First Movie – A Global Phenomenon

This focus on Mewtwo’s existential crisis and his clash with humanity, which honestly hit harder than expected.

It made around $163.6 million globally and became a childhood memory for a generation – again showing how anime dominated global markets during the peak of Pokémon.

4 The Wind Rises – A Miyazaki Masterpiece on The Cost of Ambition

The Wind Rises is a very personal piece of work from Hayao Miyazaki, which shows the life of Jiro Horikoshi, the man responsible for designing airplanes used by Japan during World War II.

The film combines ambition, love, and tragedy while making more than US$137 million! while also sparking debates about its themes.

3 Ponyo – Studio Ghibli’s Wholesome Ocean Tale

Ponyo is about a magical goldfish named Ponyo who dreams of becoming human after befriending a young boy. Known for its hand-drawn animation style, it reflects director Hayao Miyazaki’s commitment to using traditional methods even in modern times.

The stunning artwork and the simple charm have contributed to its success, ultimately earning more than $206.5 million worldwide. Personally, this movie feels like a comforting hug while watching.

2 The Tale of the Princess Kaguya – Art Over Profit

This beautiful anime movie by Isao Takahata retells a traditional Japanese tale animated in a watercolor style. It took several years to perfect the animation for this film.

The estimated budget for this film was $49.3 million, but it only grossed about $24.7 million. Although it was not a financial success, the film was nominated for an Academy Award and is regarded as one of the most beautiful anime movies ever.

1 The Boy and the Heron – A Modern Ghibli Classic

The Boy and the Heron is the latest film by Studio Ghibli, which tells the story of a young boy going through grief and a mysterious fantasy world after losing his mother. While many assumed that The Tale of the Princess Kaguya was the most expensive anime movie ever, director Toshio Suzuki confirmed that The Boy and the Heron cost more to produce.

The movie was a huge box-office hit – this Hayao Miyazaki-directed production grossed approximately $289 million internationally, while also winning an Academy Award, which proves that anime can be a dominating force around the globe!

At the end of the day, this list proves one very important thing – anime movies are not just about budgets or box office numbers. Because personally, we feel that some films win us over with money, others with legacy, and a few manage to do both.

So now the big question is – would you rather watch a visually expensive anime or one that simply tells a great story? Share your thoughts in the comments section below, and we would love to hear them.