Between The Killing Joke, Hell & Back, and Anomalisa destroying Charlie Kaufman’s career, R-rated animation is making a real comeback! Continuing the hot streak unabated is this week’s Sausage Party, which looks to be the purest distillation of co-creator/star Seth Rogen’s comedy MO: a literal walking talking dick joke. And we keep the party going with this week’s gallery: the 24 28 best and worst R-rated animated movies by Tomatometer.
Critics Consensus: A wholly innovative, original, and vital history lesson, with pioneering animation, Waltz With Bashir delivers its message about the Middle East in a mesmerizing fashion.
Anomalisa
Year: 2015
Tomatometer: 92%
Critics Consensus: Anomalisa marks another brilliant and utterly distinctive highlight in Charlie Kaufman’s filmography, and a thought-provoking treat for fans of introspective cinema.
Heavy Traffic
Year: 1973
Tomatometer: 89%
Akira
Year: 1988
Tomatometer: 87%
Critics Consensus: Akira is distractingly bloody and violent, but its phenomenal animation and sheer kinetic energy helped set the standard for modern anime.
Paprika
Year: 2006
Tomatometer: 84%
Critics Consensus: Following its own brand of logic, Paprika is an eye-opening mind trip that is difficult to follow but never fails to dazzle.
South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut
Year: 1999
Tomatometer: 81%
Critics Consensus: Its jokes are profoundly bold and rude but incredibly funny at the same time.
$9.99
Year: 2008
Tomatometer: 75%
Critics Consensus: Its storyline isn’t as wondrous as its visuals, but $9.99 has a sophistication and handmade charm that sets it apart from the animated pack.
Tekkonkinkreet
Year: 2007
Tomatometer: 72%
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
Year: 2001
Tomatometer: 72%
I Married a Strange Person!
Year: 1998
Tomatometer: 70%
A Scanner Darkly
Year: 2006
Tomatometer: 69%
Critics Consensus: A faithful adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s novel, A Scanner Darkly takes the viewer on a visual and mind-blowing journey into the author’s conception of a drug-addled and politically unstable world.
Perfect Blue
Year: 1999
Tomatometer: 68%
Critics Consensus: Perfect Blue is overstylized, but its core mystery is always compelling, as are the visual theatrics.
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
Year: 2003
Tomatometer: 64%
Critics Consensus: This may be strictly for anime junkies, but they’ll find much to like about Cowboy Bebop‘s casual violence and cool dialogue.
American Pop
Year: 1981
Tomatometer: 59%
Heavy Metal
Year: 1981
Tomatometer: 57%
Critics Consensus: It’s sexist, juvenile, and dated, but Heavy Metal makes up for its flaws with eye-popping animation and a classic, smartly used soundtrack.
Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade
Year: 1998
Tomatometer: 55%
Spriggan
Year: 2001
Tomatometer: 54%
WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3
Year: 2003
Tomatometer: 50%
Renaissance
Year: 2006
Tomatometer: 49%
Critics Consensus: While visually arresting, Appleseed‘s narrative and dialogue pondering existentialism is ponderous, awkward, and clumsy.
Heavy Metal 2000
Year: 2000
Tomatometer: 10%
