The 15 highest-grossing animated movies of all time

SOURCE:Business Insider|BY:Jason Guerrasio

"Zootopia." Disney These are the 15 highest-grossing animated feature films of all time. Franchise hits like "Toy Story" and "Minions" and musicals like "Frozen" and "The Lion King" dominated the list. The list is compiled from Box Office Mojo without adjusting for inflation. Animated movies have always been big box office earners. From Disney classics like "The Lion King" to a slew of Pixar titles, animated movies have wide appeal, often making ideal outings for the whole family. This was evident in a post-pandemic world, as titles like "Minions: The Rise of Gru" and "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" got families to return to the theaters in droves after a dry period that was devastating to theater owners. Animation's power to devour the box office continued in the summer of 2024, when "Inside Out 2" crossed the $1 billion mark in 19 days, the fastest rate ever for an animated movie. A year later, "Zootopia 2" hit $1 billion in just 17 days, making it the fastest PG-rated movie ever to hit that milestone. "Zootopia 2" joins titles like "Toy Story," "Despicable Me," and "Frozen" in sharing the distinction of being one of the highest-grossing animated movies of all time. See where "Zootopia 2" landed below in the top 15 highest-grossing animated movies of all time. 15. “Finding Nemo” (2003) Disney / Pixar Worldwide gross: $941,637,960 Pixar had already grabbed the attention of kids thanks to "Toy Story," but when this aquatic story hit screens, the animation studio became even more beloved. 14. “Despicable Me 2” (2013) Lucy (Kristin Wiig) and Gru (Steve Carell) first meet in "Despicable Me 2." Universal Pictures Worldwide gross: $970,766,005 That's right — you'll see a lot of movies involving Minions on this list. The beloved "Despicable Me" franchise from Illumination has only grown in popularity over the decades. 13. “The Lion King” (1994) Disney Worldwide gross: $979,161,632 This beloved Disney movie is the oldest on this list, and that's a testament to just how well it performed when it opened 30 years ago. Though ticket prices have continued to climb in the years since, Simba and the gang are still safely in the top 15. 12. “Zootopia” (2016) Disney Worldwide gross: $1,025,521,689 Here marks our first billion-dollar earner. Chronicling Judy Hopps' adventures in "Zootopia" was a big lift for Walt Disney Animation, which had been searching for another megahit after "Frozen." 11. “Finding Dory” (2016) Disney/Pixar Worldwide gross: $1,029,266,989 Pixar created a new story for our favorite forgettable fish, which turned out to be a cash cow for the studio. 10. “Despicable Me 3” (2017) Universal Worldwide gross: $1,034,800,131 Introducing Gru's brother in the third movie gave the "Despicable Me" franchise its first billion-dollar earner. It wouldn't be the last. 9. “Toy Story 3” (2010) Toy Story 3 Disney/Pixar Worldwide gross: $1,067,316,101 Regarded by many as the best movie in the "Toy Story" franchise, Woody and the gang's journey that leads to them almost being incinerated was a winning mix of drama and lighthearted fun for an audience that grew up with the franchise. 8. “Toy Story 4” (2019) "Toy Story 4" Disney/Pixar Worldwide gross: $1,073,841,394 Almost a decade after "Toy Story 3" came the fourth installment. Though it wasn't as memorable as the previous release, that clearly didn't matter at the box office. 7. “Minions” (2015) Directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda. Universal Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,159,457,503 Illumination knew the Minions were popular. But the studio didn't know just how much of a hit the babbling yellow things were until this stand-alone movie made a killing at the box office. 6. “Incredibles 2” (2018) Disney/Pixar Worldwide gross: $1,243,225,667 Fourteen years after Pixar released the hit original, "Incredibles 2" came to theaters and delivered a story that in some ways surpassed the Oscar-winning first title. A main reason for that is its deeper examination of the superhero family ("Why did they change math?!?"), which touches on female empowerment and the rigors of caring for a growing child… that has zany powers. 5. “Frozen” (2013) Walt Disney Pictures Worldwide gross: $1,310,530,830 From its hit song "Let it Go" to Olaf becoming the latest beloved Disney character, "Frozen" was a grand slam for Disney Animation Studios. 4. “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” (2023) Mario and Luigi in "The Super Mario Bros. Movie." Universal Worldwide gross: $1,360,879,735 For decades, Illumination was known mostly as the studio that released the "Despicable Me" movies and created the Minions characters. But taking the Super Mario Bros. IP and turning it into a box office smash has made it an animation house that rivals Pixar. 3. “Frozen II” (2019) "Frozen II" Disney Worldwide gross: $1,453,683,476 Though not as memorable as the first "Frozen," that didn't matter at the box office. The first movie was such a sensation that audiences returned in droves to see the story continue. 2. "Zootopia 2" (2025) "Zootopia 2." Disney Worldwide gross: $1,464,212,160 Nine years after its original release, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde return with another entertaining buddy comedy story that audiences can't get enough of. The sequel has the distinction of being the highest-grossing movie ever for Walt Disney Animation. 1. “Inside Out 2” (2024) Joy has some new feelings to work with "Inside Out 2." Disney/Pixar Worldwide gross: $1,698,863,816 After years of being a box office behemoth, Pixar hit a snag during the pandemic. Relegating titles like "Luca" and "Turning Red" to direct-to-streaming led to frustration and low morale within the company. But those down times are over as "Inside Out 2" is the highest grosser for Pixar yet. "Inside Out 2" hit the $1 billion global mark in 19 days, the fastest ever for an animated movie. And along with "Deadpool & Wolverine," it's the only other movie released in 2024 that crossed the $1 billion mark. Read the original article on Business Insider

These are the 15 highest-grossing animated feature films of all time.
Franchise hits like "Toy Story" and "Minions" and musicals like "Frozen" and "The Lion King" dominated the list.
The list is compiled from Box Office Mojo without adjusting for inflation.

Animated movies have always been big box office earners. From Disney classics like "The Lion King" to a slew of Pixar titles, animated movies have wide appeal, often making ideal outings for the whole family.

This was evident in a post-pandemic world, as titles like "Minions: The Rise of Gru" and "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" got families to return to the theaters in droves after a dry period that was devastating to theater owners.

Animation's power to devour the box office continued in the summer of 2024, when "Inside Out 2" crossed the $1 billion mark in 19 days, the fastest rate ever for an animated movie. A year later, "Zootopia 2" hit $1 billion in just 17 days, making it the fastest PG-rated movie ever to hit that milestone.

"Zootopia 2" joins titles like "Toy Story," "Despicable Me," and "Frozen" in sharing the distinction of being one of the highest-grossing animated movies of all time.

See where "Zootopia 2" landed below in the top 15 highest-grossing animated movies of all time.

15. “Finding Nemo” (2003)

Worldwide gross: $941,637,960

Pixar had already grabbed the attention of kids thanks to "Toy Story," but when this aquatic story hit screens, the animation studio became even more beloved.

14. “Despicable Me 2” (2013)

A screengrab of Lucy (Kristin Wiig) and Gru (Steve Carell) in "Despicable Me 2." — Lucy (Kristin Wiig) and Gru (Steve Carell) first meet in "Despicable Me 2."
Universal Pictures

Worldwide gross: $970,766,005

That's right — you'll see a lot of movies involving Minions on this list. The beloved "Despicable Me" franchise from Illumination has only grown in popularity over the decades.

13. “The Lion King” (1994)

Worldwide gross: $979,161,632

This beloved Disney movie is the oldest on this list, and that's a testament to just how well it performed when it opened 30 years ago. Though ticket prices have continued to climb in the years since, Simba and the gang are still safely in the top 15.

12. “Zootopia” (2016)

Worldwide gross: $1,025,521,689

Here marks our first billion-dollar earner.

Chronicling Judy Hopps' adventures in "Zootopia" was a big lift for Walt Disney Animation, which had been searching for another megahit after "Frozen."

11. “Finding Dory” (2016)

Worldwide gross: $1,029,266,989

Pixar created a new story for our favorite forgettable fish, which turned out to be a cash cow for the studio.

10. “Despicable Me 3” (2017)

Worldwide gross: $1,034,800,131

Introducing Gru's brother in the third movie gave the "Despicable Me" franchise its first billion-dollar earner. It wouldn't be the last.

9. “Toy Story 3” (2010)

Worldwide gross: $1,067,316,101

Regarded by many as the best movie in the "Toy Story" franchise, Woody and the gang's journey that leads to them almost being incinerated was a winning mix of drama and lighthearted fun for an audience that grew up with the franchise.

8. “Toy Story 4” (2019)

Worldwide gross: $1,073,841,394

Almost a decade after "Toy Story 3" came the fourth installment. Though it wasn't as memorable as the previous release, that clearly didn't matter at the box office.

7. “Minions” (2015)

Worldwide gross: $1,159,457,503

Illumination knew the Minions were popular. But the studio didn't know just how much of a hit the babbling yellow things were until this stand-alone movie made a killing at the box office.

6. “Incredibles 2” (2018)

Worldwide gross: $1,243,225,667

Fourteen years after Pixar released the hit original, "Incredibles 2" came to theaters and delivered a story that in some ways surpassed the Oscar-winning first title.

A main reason for that is its deeper examination of the superhero family ("Why did they change math?!?"), which touches on female empowerment and the rigors of caring for a growing child… that has zany powers.

5. “Frozen” (2013)

Worldwide gross: $1,310,530,830

From its hit song "Let it Go" to Olaf becoming the latest beloved Disney character, "Frozen" was a grand slam for Disney Animation Studios.

4. “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” (2023)

Mario and luigi holding up their fists — Mario and Luigi in "The Super Mario Bros. Movie."
Universal

Worldwide gross: $1,360,879,735

For decades, Illumination was known mostly as the studio that released the "Despicable Me" movies and created the Minions characters. But taking the Super Mario Bros. IP and turning it into a box office smash has made it an animation house that rivals Pixar.

3. “Frozen II” (2019)

Worldwide gross: $1,453,683,476

Though not as memorable as the first "Frozen," that didn't matter at the box office. The first movie was such a sensation that audiences returned in droves to see the story continue.

2. "Zootopia 2" (2025)

Worldwide gross: $1,464,212,160

Nine years after its original release, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde return with another entertaining buddy comedy story that audiences can't get enough of. The sequel has the distinction of being the highest-grossing movie ever for Walt Disney Animation.

1. “Inside Out 2” (2024)

Inside Out feelings characters — Joy has some new feelings to work with "Inside Out 2."
Disney/Pixar

Worldwide gross: $1,698,863,816

After years of being a box office behemoth, Pixar hit a snag during the pandemic. Relegating titles like "Luca" and "Turning Red" to direct-to-streaming led to frustration and low morale within the company.

But those down times are over as "Inside Out 2" is the highest grosser for Pixar yet.

"Inside Out 2" hit the $1 billion global mark in 19 days, the fastest ever for an animated movie. And along with "Deadpool & Wolverine," it's the only other movie released in 2024 that crossed the $1 billion mark.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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The 15 highest-grossing animated movies of all time