The 20 highest-grossing Disney animated films of all time

Disney movies almost always make a ton of money! Today, we're taking a look at their top-grossing animated films.

When it comes to animated films, Disney is internationally recognized as one of the most groundbreaking and consistently successful studios in film history. With dozens of beloved animated characters, stories, and a beautiful magical world, it's no surprise the company is a practical powerhouse of the genre. Between Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios, The House of Mouse has won dozens of Oscars and grossed billions at the worldwide box office.

While Disney has indeed had a difficult few decades during its existence, the studio appears to be as healthy as ever, pinning its hopes not only on landmark sequels like Toy Story 4 and Frozen II, but also on Original animated features like Onward and Soul. But whether basking in the magic of Disney or the ingenuity of Pixar, these animated masterpieces have a way of making money at the box office.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on January 7, 2023: Now in theaters, Disney Animation's latest entry, Oddworld, invites audiences to relive the magical journey through its creator's imagination. As we all know, Disney and its affiliates, mainly Pixar has had incredible success with its animation projects over the past few decades, with certain films earning huge profits at the global box office. With the help of box office tracker The Numbers, fans can now get an inside look at some of the biggest hits in Walt Disney Animation and Pixar history.

Cars 2 (2011) - $560 Million

Cars 2 is the sequel to the hit 2006 film about a world populated by sentient cars. The sequel takes an unexpected spin into the espionage genre, with Tow Mater being mistaken for a famous super-spy while racing the international circuit with his friend Lightning McQueen. The movie grossed more than its predecessor, grossing more than $1 billion worldwide.

Despite being a huge financial success, Cars 2 was also one of Pixar's worst-reviewed films of all time. Many fans of the animation studio were quick to label the sequel a downbeat cash grab that fell short of Pixar's standards for high-quality films.

Monsters, Inc. (2001) - $560 Million

Monsters, Inc. is the fourth Pixar animated film, following Mike and Sully, in which two monsters unexpectedly find themselves in the care of a human girl. this movie is critical and a financial success, grossing $560 million worldwide, making it Pixar's highest-grossing film at the time of its release.

Even more than two decades after its release, Monsters, Inc. remains one of Pixar's most beloved films for its intense emotion and the lovable nature of its talented voice actors. The film became an early staple of 3D animation, and its popularity led to a sequel in 2013 that even surpassed the original film in box office numbers.

Tangled (2010) - $583 Million

Tangled is a 2010 animated comedy retelling of the classic Rapunzel fairy tale. The film, which stars Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi, also includes a score by iconic Disney composer Alan Menken. The film's talented roster certainly didn't go to waste, as Tangled quickly became a classic with $583 million worldwide.

Unlike many of Disney's other hit cartoons, Tangled remains a stand-alone film with no sequels, save for Disney Channel original series following the events of the film. And, while Tangled remains one of the few Disney animated films that hasn't been rebooted in live-action, it's still hugely popular with fans, many of whom haven't gotten much of it yet. their signature song.

Ratatouille (2007) - $626 Million

Ratatouille is the eighth Pixar film after Remy, a mouse who dreams of becoming a world-famous chef. Teaming up with the late icon's son, Remy fulfills his unlikely dream of proving that everyone can cook. Despite its strange subject matter, Ratatouille resonated with audiences and grossed well over $600 million.

Ratatouille has stood the test of time in part because of its intrinsically relevant themes, which show that anyone can achieve their dreams, no matter how impossible they seem. It's a sentiment that has kept the film lingering in fans' memories, leading to a hilarious parody in the critically acclaimed Everything Everywhere All Once.

The Incredibles (2004) - $631 Million

The Incredibles is Pixar Animation's sixth film following the Parr family, a superhero family that encourages powerful people in a world not to be famous. Despite being released long before the superhero movie boom of recent years, The Incredibles was a huge hit, becoming one of Pixar's highest-grossing films ever.

Nearly two decades after the film's release, The Incredibles is still considered one of the best animated superhero films of all time. despite the transaction With otherworldly superpowers, the film's true story about family made it resonate with audiences of all ages, who lobbied for a sequel for nearly 15 years before finally getting their way.

Moana (2016) - $631 Million

Moana is a 2016 film about the adventurer of the same name from the island of Motonui. Thanks to some incredible work from Disney Animation Studios, and an incredible soundtrack starring Hamilton star Lin-Manuel Miranda, Moana has brought in a ton of box-office hits, grossing around $1,000 worldwide. to $631 million.

While it may not be as impressive as some of the other features Disney has released in recent years, it can't be said that Moana's adventure with her tattoo-covered demigod Maui wasn't a success. While it tried to give Arendelle a pair of royals some competition with some heat from the Polynesian islands, Moana still couldn't wrest Elsa's crown from her hands.

Big Hero 6 (2014) - $648 Million

Who would have guessed that a mostly forgotten Marvel miniseries might have spawned one of the most successful feature films in Disney history? Big Hero 6 may actually exist in the much-loved MCU, including a Stan Lee cameo! Pair these elements with information about the importance and outcomes of dealing with grief, mental and emotional health Worthy of being a Marvel giant.

The roughly $648 million gross is sure to grab the attention of movie theaters and Disney fans alike, but is still less than what the film really deserves. Treating such a poignant subject in such a creative and imaginative way, the audience must be very pleased with their care.

Up (2009) - $731 Million

Up tells a better love story in 10 minutes than most writers can in 100 pages. The story of Carl and Russell's adventure to Paradise Falls in a flying house is certainly a standout Pixar film. With its touching storytelling, absurd humor and Michael Giachino's delightful score, it's understandable why it's getting such astounding critical acclaim.

Grossing an estimated $731 million at the box office, Up was a huge success in its debut. The film earned new respect for directors Pete Docter and Bob Peterson, while also setting an example of what a truly gifted writer and animator can do.

Monsters University (2013) - $743 Million

Monsters University, the long-awaited sequel to the animated Pixar classic Monsters, Inc., could have easily fed a fanbase with a solid but simple cash grab, but has since become its own Go on an adventure with fun jokes and memorable characters who deserve the legacy of the original.

With $743 million at the box office, Monsters University was a bona fide success, proving that love for the original film hasn't faded over time. It even grossed nearly $200 million more than its predecessor, continuing a trend of Pixar's incredible financial success with its sequels.

Coco (2017) - $797 Million

There hasn't been a Pixar film so gripping since Up. For a movie about cartoon skeletons and bright, colorful musical numbers, Coco has heart and soul. The film follows Miguel and his loyal dog Dante as they embark on a journey to the afterlife in search of their forgotten family and a way back to the land of the living.

With nearly $800 million at the box office and an incredible reception from the Pixar fanbase, Coco has certainly gained traction. Even today, the film remains one of the most talked about Pixar films from its impressive catalog. From the soundtrack to the twisty finale, there's no question why Coco has been such a big hit.

Inside Out (2015) - $853 Million

well known 2015's Inside Out was a very difficult animated feature to make. After all, making human emotions the protagonists of a movie seems a bit far-fetched, even for an animation studio as famous as Pixar. Thankfully, director Pete Docter and screenwriters Meg LeFauve and Josh Cooley were able to make the film, and in doing so captured the hearts of many fans around the world, leading to the filming nearly a decade later. got a sequel.

To this day, Inside Out remains one of Disney-Pixar's highest-grossing animated films of all time, with $853 million worldwide. Also, the movie was well received by critics. In addition to Pixar's customary Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature, Inside Out was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay, an honor rarely considered for animated features.

Finding Nemo (2003) - $936 Million

In 2003, Pixar invested heavily in making films that would appeal not only to children, but also to their parents and other adults. With Finding Nemo, the studio proved it was very capable of doing just that, releasing one of the most beloved and gripping projects in animation history As it follows a clownfish as he desperately travels across the ocean to find his missing son.

Worldwide, Finding Nemo has grossed $936 million, very close to breaking into the billion-dollar club. It's worth noting, however, that it seems inconceivable that an animated feature would gross more than $1 billion in 2003, which means Nemo's box office take is definitely considered a major success for Disney and Pixar, and remains Pixar's all-time box office hit. The top film for more than a decade until 2010's Toy Story 3 topped the list.

The Lion King (1994) - $968 Million

1994's The Lion King is one of the most iconic Disney films of all time, featuring a talented voice cast and a score filled with classic songs from Tim Rice, Elton John and Lebo M., as well as a score by Hans Zimmer himself . With so many talented filmmakers working on this film, The Lion King is one of Disney's most successful films of all time.

Over the years, The Lion King has grossed $968 million worldwide, making it one of Disney's most successful non-Pixar animated features. With so With a lot of money behind it, it's no surprise that the film has inspired Broadway shows, theme park attractions, and even a 2019 remake, though it was the seventh-highest-grossing film of all time upon its release, failing to reach Primal magic.

Zootopia (2016) - $1.004 Billion

2016's Zootopia presents a world populated by anthropomorphic animals, where predator and prey sometimes struggle to coexist. The film follows a young detective and her new con artist friend as they try to solve a gripping mystery that could threaten their social existence.

After grossing $75 million in its opening weekend, Zootopia went on to gross over $1 billion internationally, cementing the strength of Walt Disney Animation Studios' return to its original form. It's worth noting, however, that Zootopia isn't the first animated film to hit the billion-dollar mark. Instead, the movie just proved to Hollywood that the animated genre can consistently make big bucks without relying on sequels.

Finding Dory (2016) - $1.03 Billion

Finding Nemo, the long-delayed sequel to Finding Nemo, was released in 2016, following Ellen DeGeneres' iconic role in which she was separated from Marlin and Nemo, the film's box-office hit $1.029 billion within the globe. Dolly grossed $135 million in its opening weekend alone, proving immediately that it was going to be a massive hit.

It always felt like the 13 years between Finding Nemo and Finding Nemo meant nothing to Disney fans, who flocked to it and quickly made the sequel Pixar's second-highest-grossing film of its time. While there's no word yet on a third, fans need only look at the success of the four Toy Story films to see that Pixar is keen to keep its franchise alive if it can tell a good new story.

Toy Story 3 (2010) - $1.07 Billion

Toy Story 3 was the first animated film ever to gross more than $1 billion at the box office, with a worldwide gross of $1.07 billion. Not only did the 2010 film establish Lee Unkrich as a blockbuster director and Pixar as a major Hollywood studio, but it also set new expectations for the animation genre.

Although Toy Story 3 seemed like a logical conclusion to one of the most beloved franchises in Disney history, a fourth was quickly considered. exist In fact, actor Tom Hanks, who voices the character of Woody, revealed in 2011 that a Toy Story 4 was already in development, possibly as a result of the third film's unprecedented success.

Toy Story 4 (2019) - $1.07 Billion

With a worldwide gross of $1.073 billion, it looks like Woody and co have at least one more adventure. While the third film in the series tied everything together neatly, Toy Story 4 brought back Woody's beloved Bo Peep and introduced the living Fork to the world.

Love it, hate it, or live with it, Toy Story 4 may not be the best sequel, but it's certainly the most profitable of all the films in the franchise. The film is currently the second-highest-grossing Pixar film of all time, which means there could be other franchises in the future as long as audiences continue to show up in theaters.

The Incredibles 2 (2018) - $1.24 Billion

For a long time, despite the film's gripping ending, it was genuinely felt that The Incredibles would be one of the few Pixar titles that would never actually get a sequel. What's more, after Disney bought Marvel Studios, making it less important to produce more superheroes in the House of Mouse. Fortunately, though, Pixar finally released Incredibles 2, which catered to fans old and new, proving the franchise deserves a renewed focus.

The second installment was worth the wait for Disney and Pixar, and grossed $1.24 billion worldwide, making it Pixar's most successful film of all time. Surprisingly, there's no word yet on a third installment in the series, but given the huge success of the second film, fans certainly shouldn't expect a sequel.

Frozen (2013) - $1.26 Billion

It's hard to imagine an animated film bigger than 2013's Frozen. What many Disney fans don't realize is that Frozen actually started off with a slow $67 million weekend and grew steadily over time. That's largely because in 2013, Walt Disney Animation Studios was still trying to restore its reputation as a studio that could compete with the likes of Pixar, DreamWorks, and Illumination.

Regardless, fans around the world are now aware of the success of Frozen, which grossed $1.276 billion worldwide. But Arendelle's royal family doesn't stop there. In 2019, there were two lightning strikes, and the film world was once again dominated by a pair of royal sisters and a talking snowman.