United States anime market data: streaming, box office, and limits
No single U.S. anime market-size figure is published officially. The available evidence points to a large, streaming-led market with a growing theatrical footprint.
Published: 2026-08-19. Updated: 2026-08-19.
Short answer: The United States does not have an official anime market-size report. Wall Street research firm Bernstein estimated the overseas anime streaming market at $3.7 billion in 2023 and projected it would reach $12.5 billion in 2030. Crunchyroll, the leading dedicated anime streamer, grew from 5 million subscribers in August 2021 to more than 15 million in August 2024. Theatrical performance is also measurable: Box Office Mojo lists the highest-grossing anime release in the U.S. as Pokemon: The First Movie at $85.7 million, followed by Demon Slayer: Mugen Train at $49.5 million.
Is there an official U.S. anime market size?
There is no official U.S. government or Japanese industry body figure for the size of the anime market in the United States. The Association of Japanese Animations publishes aggregate overseas revenue but does not break it down by country.
What exists are platform disclosures and analyst estimates. Bernstein estimated the overseas anime streaming market at $3.7 billion in 2023 and projected it would more than triple to $12.5 billion by 2030. Crunchyroll and Netflix are described as controlling more than 80% of that overseas streaming market.
Scope caveat: Bernstein's figure covers international streaming, not the total U.S. anime market. It excludes merchandise, home video, theatrical, and licensing revenue.
What the streaming data shows
Crunchyroll is the most cited U.S. anime streaming signal. Variety reported that Crunchyroll grew from 5 million subscribers in August 2021 to more than 15 million in August 2024. The service hosts more than 1,800 titles, according to JustWatch data cited in the same report.
Netflix's U.S. anime catalog reached about 240 titles in 2024, per Parrot Analytics data cited by Variety. That is far smaller than Crunchyroll's library, but Netflix's global reach and budget make it a significant buyer of anime rights.
Streaming signals for the U.S. anime market. Figures are not directly comparable.| Platform | U.S. anime catalog or subscribers | Source basis |
|---|
| Crunchyroll | 15M+ subscribers globally; 1,800+ titles | Company milestones and JustWatch |
| Netflix U.S. | ~240 titles in 2024 | Parrot Analytics |
U.S. anime box office is measurable
Box Office Mojo provides a running list of U.S. anime theatrical grosses. Pokemon: The First Movie leads with $85.7 million, followed by Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie: Mugen Train at $49.5 million.
More recent releases also rank highly. Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero grossed $38.1 million, Jujutsu Kaisen 0 grossed $34.5 million, and Dragon Ball Super: Broly grossed $30.7 million. These numbers show that anime films can reach wide North American audiences.
Top U.S. anime theatrical grosses, per Box Office Mojo.| Title | U.S. lifetime gross | Distributor | Release year |
|---|
| Pokemon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back | $85,744,662 | Warner Bros. | 1999 |
| Demon Slayer: Mugen Train | $49,505,008 | FUNimation | 2021 |
| Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero | $38,112,140 | Crunchyroll | 2022 |
| Jujutsu Kaisen 0 | $34,542,754 | Crunchyroll | 2022 |
| Dragon Ball Super: Broly | $30,712,119 | FUNimation | 2019 |
What the data does not cover
Public sources do not disclose U.S.-specific anime merchandise, licensing, or home-video revenue. Crunchyroll and Netflix do not break out U.S. subscriber revenue for anime separately from their overall businesses.
Industry forecasts from commercial research firms vary widely in scope and methodology. AnimeSignal uses platform disclosures and box-office data as verified signals and flags estimates where the underlying methodology is not public.
How to interpret U.S. anime market signals
The U.S. market is best understood as streaming-led but not streaming-only. Crunchyroll's subscriber growth and Netflix's catalog investment indicate strong platform demand, while theatrical grosses show that anime films can compete with mid-tier domestic releases.
Because no official U.S. anime market report exists, claims about total U.S. revenue should be treated as estimates. The safest approach is to combine platform milestones, box-office data, and aggregate overseas reports while clearly stating what each number measures.
Frequently asked questions
What is the U.S. anime market size?
No official U.S. anime market-size figure exists. Bernstein estimated the overseas anime streaming market at $3.7 billion in 2023, but that is international streaming only, not the full U.S. market.
How many Crunchyroll subscribers are in the U.S.?
Crunchyroll reports global subscribers, not U.S.-only numbers. It grew from 5 million global subscribers in August 2021 to more than 15 million in August 2024.
What is the highest-grossing anime film in the U.S.?
Box Office Mojo lists Pokemon: The First Movie as the highest-grossing anime release in the U.S. with $85.7 million, followed by Demon Slayer: Mugen Train at $49.5 million.
Does AJA publish U.S. anime revenue?
No. The Association of Japanese Animations publishes aggregate overseas revenue but does not provide country-level splits.
Sources and methodology
- As Anime Streaming Market Booms, Netflix and Crunchyroll Dominate, Variety. Cites Bernstein's $3.7 billion overseas anime streaming estimate for 2023, Crunchyroll subscriber growth from 5M to 15M, and Netflix U.S. anime catalog size.
- Genre Keyword: Anime, Box Office Mojo. Box-office rankings and lifetime grosses for anime theatrical releases in the U.S. market.
- Anime Industry Data, Association of Japanese Animations. Official archive of AJA industry reports, which provide aggregate overseas revenue but not country breakdowns.