The Highest Grossing Animated Movies Of All Time Are Also Works Of Art

Highlights

• Animated films have become a major force in the entertainment industry, consistently grossing billions at the box office and proving to be a massive source of revenue for studios.
• Zootopia, Finding Dory, and Despicable Me 3 are among the highest-grossing animated films, each earning over $1 billion worldwide.
• These films, along with Toy Story 3, Toy Story 4, Minions, Incredibles 2, and Frozen, have received critical acclaim for their storytelling, animation, and characters, solidifying their place as successful and beloved animated movies.

Animation rapidly evolved from simple flip book stories to the intricate computer-generated images on our screens today.

With the medium's ability to take viewers to fantastical worlds and tell relatable stories in a way live-action frequently cannot, animated films have become a mainstay in the entertainment industry.

The history of modern animation can be traced back to the late 19th century, with pioneers like French caricaturist Emile Cohl experimenting with line drawings and cel animation.

However, it was Walt Disney who perfected the art in the 1930s, creating timeless characters like Mickey Mouse and Snow White.

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In recent times, animated films have become a major force at the box office, consistently raking in billions like a vacuum cleaner in a bank vault.

These ten highest-grossing animated films have collectively earned over $11 billion, proving that animation is not only a form of art, but also a massive source of revenue for the studios producing it today.

10 Zootopia (2016)

Box Office: $1.023 Billion

An animated film featuring an animal cast, Zootopia takes viewers on a thrilling adventure through the eyes of an optimistic country rabbit's move to a bustling metropolis inhabited by anthropomorphic animals.

In a city where predators and prey coexist, Judy Hopps, a lively rabbit with big dreams, arrives to join the police force. However, facing prejudice and skepticism due to her size and species, Judy is determined to prove herself.

Zootopia garnered critical acclaim for its witty dialogue, heartwarming story, and timely exploration of social issues.

It earned a near-perfect Tomatometer score of 98 percent on the authoritative review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes, and received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award for "Best Animated Feature."

One striking factor about the film was its attention to detail. Disney reportedly hired IT engineers who worked with software to generate millions of hairs to be used as furs on the animals – leaving little ambiguity regarding why its production cost was $150 million.

It paid off at the box office, grossing $341 million domestically and $683 million in other territories, for a total of $1.024 billion worldwide.

9 Finding Dory (2016)

Box Office: $1.028 Billion

When Finding Nemo hit theaters in 2003, it was instantly embraced by audiences of all ages, and evolved into a cultural sensation.

Although it ended its theatrical run a few dollars shy of a billion, its impact was undeniable.

With that in mind, it came as no surprise that the sequel, Finding Dory, enchanted fans through nostalgia.

Finding Nemo premiered in 2016, taking audiences on an emotional journey alongside the forgetful but endearing blue tang fish, Dory (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres).

Finding Dory opened at $135.1 million, a record for the highest opening weekend for an animated movie.

Finding Dory found success, earning $486 million at the domestic box office and $542 million in other countries, for a worldwide total of $1.029 billion.

It was the third highest-grossing film of 2016; Deadline Hollywood calculated the film's net profit as $296.6 million, accounting for production budgets.

8 Despicable Me 3 (2017)

Box Office: $1.034 Billion

The third installment in Illumination's popular Despicable Me franchise, Despicable Me 3, hit theaters in 2017.

In this iteration, audience darling Gru faces a formidable foe in the form of Balthazar Bratt, a former child star turned super villain seeking revenge on Hollywood for rejecting him.

Despicable Me 3 received mixed reviews from critics – some praised its humor and entertaining characters, while others deemed it a less inspired addition to the franchise.

Despite a mixed critical reception, the film performed exceptionally well at the box office.

It grossed $29.2 million on its first day, and during its opening weekend, Despicable Me 3 grossed $75.4 million.

On the back of an $80 million production budget, it earned $264.6 million in the United States and Canada and $770.2 million in other territories, for a global total of $1.032 billion.

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7 Toy Story 3 (2010)

Box Office: $1.067 Billion

Pixar's now legendary Toy Story franchise arguably ushered in this golden age of animated blockbusters, and it returned in 2010 with its third installment, Toy Story 3.

Toy Story's third installment takes fans on an emotional journey as Andy, now a young man preparing for college, bids farewell to his childhood toys.

Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and Andy's other toys are accidentally donated to Sunnyside Daycare (a child care center) by Andy's mother, and the toys must decide where their loyalties lay.

Toy Story 3 received widespread critical acclaim for its heartwarming story, emotional depth, and groundbreaking animation.

It received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award for "Best Animated Feature" and "Best Original Song" at the 83rd Academy Awards, and the Annie Award for "Best Animated Feature."

Toy Story 3 was also the first animated film to reach $1 billion at the box office.

The film earned $1.067 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of 2010.

6 Toy Story 4 (2019)

Box Office: $1.073 Billion

Nine years after the poignant conclusion of Toy Story 3, Pixar's beloved Toy Story franchise returned with a long-awaited fourth installment, Toy Story 4, in 2019.

This time, the toys find themselves adjusting to life under Bonnie, their new owner, following Andy's departure for college.

Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and the other toys go on a road trip with Bonnie, who creates Forky, a spork made with recycled materials from her school.

As was the case with all three of its predecessors, Toy Story 4 received acclaim from critics, with praise for its story, musical score, vocal performances, and animation.

Toy Story 4 grossed $1.073 billion worldwide on a production budget of $200 million, making it the highest-grossing film in the franchise.

Deadline Hollywoodcalculated the film's net profit at $368 million.

5 Minions (2015)

Box Office: $1.157 Billion

Minions, the adorable and mischievous yellow creatures from the Despicable Me franchise, took center stage in their own 2015 spin-off film, Minions.

Minions ' instantly recognizable, titular characters are incredibly popular in various memes. In particular, Minions related memes are associated with "boomers," or "baby boomers."

Set long before they met Gru, the film follows the minions as they embark on a journey through time, seeking a new evil leader to serve.

Along the way, they encounter a variety of historical figures and landmarks – from dinosaurs and cavemen to the Egyptian pyramids.

Fans and critics praised the film for its visual gags, charming characters, and score. Minions passed the $1 billion mark in just over a month of its release.

It ended its theatrical run earning $336 million in domestic theaters and $821 million in other territories, for a global total of $1.157 billion.

4 Incredibles 2 (2018)

Box Office: $1.243 Billion

After a 14-year wait, the highly anticipated sequel to the beloved 2004 original picks up where its predecessor left off.

The Parr family returned to the big screen in 2018's Incredibles 2, taking viewers on an action-packed adventure as they navigate the challenges of superpowered family life.

Despite a slightly muted critical reception compared to the first installment, Incredibles 2 soared at the box office.

In fact, Incredibles 2 surpassed the original film just 15 days after it premiered. It became the fastest animated film to gross $1 billion, doing so in less than two months.

Incredibles 2 grossed $1.243 billion worldwide, surpassing Toy Story 4 ($1.073 billion) to become the highest-grossing Pixar film worldwide.

3 Frozen (2013)

Box Office: $1.284 Billion

Frozen first took the world by storm in 2013 with its memorable characters and enchanting songs, becoming a global phenomenon that appealed to a general audience.

Loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale The Snow Queen, Frozen follows two sisters, Elsa and Anna, who must overcome their differences and embrace their unique powers to save their kingdom from an eternal winter.

Frozen received generally positive reviews from critics and won numerous accolades, including "Best Original Song" for its hit "Let It Go."

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Disney's animated blockbuster also iced out its competition to bag "Best Animated Feature" at the 86th Academy Awards. Frozen also holds the distinction of being the first Disney film to win "Best Animated Feature."

Frozen grossed $110.6 million worldwide in its opening weekend and ended its run with $1.284 billion – which was massively profitable against a production cost of $150 million.

2 The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

Box Office: $1.362 Billion

After literal decades of anticipation, Nintendo's iconic video game characters Mario and Luigi finally made their grand cinematic debut in Illumination's 2023 animated film, The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Following the adventures of Mario after he travels through a portal to the Mushroom Kingdom, the film takes audiences on an adventure filled with familiar faces, iconic locations, and plenty of nods to the widely played video game series on which it was based.

Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, The Super Mario Bros. Movie proved to be a commercial juggernaut.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie premiered in April 2023. Just one week after its release, it became the highest-grossing film based on a video game.

The film currently holds the title for the biggest worldwide opening weekend for an animated movie, raking in over $375 million in its first weekend.

It overtook Minions to become the highest-grossing film released by Illumination. The Super Mario Bros. Movie ended its run with a worldwide total of $1.362 billion.

1 Frozen 2 (2019)

Box Office: $1.453 Billion

Six years after the enchanting world of Arendelle enthralled audiences worldwide, Disney returned with Frozen 2, a sequel that delved deeper into the mysteries of the kingdom's past and Elsa's powers.

In terms of both critical and commercial reception, Frozen 2 was every bit as popular as the original in every respect. Critics praised its stunning and improved visuals, emotional depth, vocal performances, and themes.

The film debuted in late November 2019, and by mid-December, it had already passed the $1 billion mark at the global box office.

Frozen II grossed $477 million in the United States and Canada and $976.3 million in other territories, for a total of $1.453 billion worldwide.

Deadline Hollywoodestimated the film's net profit at $599 million, considering its cost of $150 million, and accounting for production budgets and marketing.

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