The 5 Best R-Rated Animated Shows (That Definitely Are NOT For Kids)

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Christopher Baggett

Christopher Baggett

JustWatch Editor

The end of May 2025 will see Big Mouth. This animated adult comedy follows a group of classmates whose experience with puberty and sexual attraction are manifested in the form of monsters who represent their baser instincts. 

While the end of Big Mouth is notable for Netflix losing a popular series, it’s sure not the end of the genre. The adult animated genre has been popular for decades, and the advent of streaming has only made it more popular and more accessible. If you’re looking for something to fill the void left by Big Mouth, here’s where you can stream five adult animated shows that are very R-rated and sure to make you laugh, cry, and maybe cheer a little bit, too. 

South Park (1997-Present)

Would it even be possible to discuss R-rated adult animation without mentioning the longest-running and most prominent of the genre? South Park wrote the book on adult animation, and it continues to add new chapters to this day. Though it premiered in 1997, everything about its lifespan—from its vulgar first episode accidentally being released on PS1 game discs to its recent films takings shots at everything from social media celebrities to weight loss drugs—has been about offering critical commentary about the world around us while being as shocking as possible. It remains a fan favorite to this day, with Season 27 set to premiere in July 2025, and regularly ranks as one of the greatest cartoons ever made, 

The Boondocks (2005-2014)

Based on the hit comic strip of the same name, Adult Swim lineup and became something of a cultural phenomenon. The show follows the Freemans, a Black family who moves from Chicago to the white suburb of Woodcrest. Today, The Boondocks is revered for its satirical humor built on examining social issues and relationships. While the series did stumble with its fourth and final season, which saw series creator Aaron McGruder step away due to scheduling issues, the show is still overall regarded as one of the best series of all time, animated or otherwise.

The Venture Bros. (2003-2018)

Another hit on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim, The Venture Bros.: Radiant is the Blood of the Baboon Heart, officially ending the series for good in 2023. 

BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)

The first adult animated series produced for Netflix, BoJack Horseman follows the titular BoJack, a washed-up star of a ‘90s sitcom struggling with depression, alcoholism, and addiction. The show started as a pithy comedy taking shots at celebrity culture, but what it became in later seasons was one of the most thoughtful and introspective shows Netflix ever aired. And to balance all that out, BoJack Horseman still manages to be downright hilarious, thanks to its unique take on “Hollywoo,” filled with a mix of humans and humanoid-animals in a world as wondrous as it is down-to-Earth. BoJack is a rare series and easily one any fan of animation needs to watch. 

Invincible (2021-Present)

One of the current crown jewels of Amazon‘s The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman. The series follows Mark Grayson, a teenager whose father is the Superman pastiche Omni-Man, as he discovers his own developing powers and becomes a superhero named Invincible. Like the comic before it, the animated series has become renowned for its down-to-Earth characters, shocking plot twists, and no-holds-barred, blood-soaked action. While the series has received some flack for its long production time and animation that pales in comparison to the stunning original comic book, it remains one of Prime Video’s most popular series. 

Where To Watch The Best Adult Animation Shows Online

To discover more about TV shows and movies currently streaming in the US, check out the JustWatch streaming guide! You can filter your search by streaming service, genre, price, age rating, and score. Be sure to build your watchlist and receive helpful notifications on what to watch next based on your preferences!

  1. Big Mouth

    Big Mouth

    2017

    # 1

    Teenage friends find their lives upended by the wonders and horrors of puberty in this edgy comedy from real-life pals Nick Kroll and Andrew Goldberg.

  2. South Park

    South Park

    1997

    # 2

    Follows the misadventures of four irreverent grade-schoolers in the quiet, dysfunctional town of South Park, Colorado.

  3. The Boondocks

    The Boondocks

    2005

    # 3

    When Robert “Granddad” Freeman becomes legal guardian to his two grandsons, he moves from the tough south side of Chicago to the upscale neighborhood of Woodcrest (a.k.a. "The Boondocks") so he can enjoy his golden years in safety and comfort. But with Huey, a 10-year-old leftist revolutionary, and his eight-year-old misfit brother, Riley, suburbia is about to be shaken up.

  4. The Venture Bros.

    The Venture Bros.

    2004

    # 4

    Hank and Dean Venture, with their father Doctor Venture and faithful bodyguard Brock Samson, go on wild adventures facing megalomaniacs, zombies, and suspicious ninjas, all for the glory of adventure. Or something like that.

  5. BoJack Horseman

    BoJack Horseman

    2014

    # 5

    Meet the most beloved sitcom horse of the '90s , 20 years later. He's a curmudgeon with a heart of...not quite gold...but something like gold. Copper?

  6. INVINCIBLE

    INVINCIBLE

    2021

    # 6

    Mark Grayson is a normal teenager except for the fact that his father is the most powerful superhero on the planet. Shortly after his seventeenth birthday, Mark begins to develop powers of his own and enters into his father’s tutelage.