American Idiot is the seventh studio album by American rock band Green Day. Produced by Rob Cavallo, the album was released on September 20, 2004 by Reprise Records. Green Day first achieved popularity in the 1990s with a string of successful albums. Following disappointing sales of their sixth album, Warning (2000), the band took a small break. They later reconvened to record their next album, titled Cigarettes and Valentines, a process cut short when its master tapes were stolen. Rather than re-record that material, the group decided to start over.

A concept album and "punk rock opera," American Idiot follows the story of Jesus of Suburbia, an adolescent anti-hero that is divided between "rage and love." Through its plot, the album expresses the disillusionment and dissent experienced by a generation which came of age during various turmoil including the Iraq War. The album was inspired by several musicals and the work of the Who. Recording of American Idiot was split between two Los Angeles studios between 2003 and 2004. Its album art—inspired by propaganda—depicts a heart-shaped hand grenade.

American Idiot marked a career comeback for Green Day following a period of decreased relevance. It charted in 27 countries and peaked at number one in 19 of them, eventually selling 15 million copies worldwide. The album spawned five successful singles, all of which went platinum: "American Idiot", "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", "Holiday", "Wake Me Up When September Ends" and "Jesus of Suburbia". American Idiot received rave reviews and won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album in 2005. Its success inspired a Broadway musical and an incomplete feature film adaption. It has been praised in the years following its debut, with numerous appearances on "greatest" lists.