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In 1937, the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs marked a significant milestone as the first feature-length animated film. This groundbreaking event established that well-crafted animated movies have the potential to captivate audiences and achieve remarkable success at the box office. Over the years, animated films have become a consistent and influential presence in the dynamic landscape of cinema economics.
What sets animated movies apart is their ability to transcend generational boundaries, making them a timeless and adaptable form of entertainment. The enchantment of a compelling animated film extends to audiences of all ages, whether it be children fascinated by vibrant characters and whimsical adventures or adults drawn to sophisticated storytelling, advanced animation techniques, and clever adult humor. Animated movies possess a unique power to engage and bring joy to viewers across different age groups and life experiences.
Examining the most lucrative animated movie franchises based on their global box office earnings, it becomes evident that many of these franchises rank among the highest-grossing across all genres and mediums. This attests to the universal appeal and enduring success of animated titles.
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Top 10 Highest-Grossing Animated Movie Franchises
Doraemon — $1.7 Billion
Doraemon, a popular Japanese animated series, revolves around the adventures of a robotic cat sent from the future to assist a young boy named Nobita Nobi using advanced gadgets. Despite its immense success in Japan, Doraemon movies haven’t gained comparable recognition in the Western world, possibly due to cultural differences and specific themes.
The Doraemon movie franchise, with over 40 films, reflects its significant domestic popularity. In 2015, it surpassed Godzilla as Japan’s top film franchise, earning over ¥100 billion and selling 100 million tickets domestically. Over time, Doraemon movies have globally grossed over $1.7 billion, making it the highest-grossing film in Japan and a leading non-English film franchise worldwide. This success cements Doraemon’s status as a highly lucrative animated film franchise with international acclaim.
The Incredibles — $1.87 Billion
The Incredibles film series comprises two films: The Incredibles (2004) and Incredibles 2 (2018). Beyond being animated superhero movies, they delve into family dynamics and societal norms, interweaving thrilling action with humor and heartfelt moments.
The 2004 debut received widespread acclaim for cleverly subverting superhero tropes. Its 2018 sequel continued this success, striking a perfect balance between satire, action, and emotion. Pixar’s storytelling prowess not only solidified both movies as classics but also positioned them as benchmarks for animated and superhero genres.
In terms of box office performance, the first film garnered over $631 million globally. Incredibles 2 not only met but exceeded expectations, reaching a staggering worldwide gross of over $1.2 billion. The series’ combined box office stands at an impressive total of over $1.8 billion, underscoring the global enthusiasm for Pixar’s distinct mix of action, humor, and heartfelt storytelling.
Finding Nemo — $1.96 Billion
The Pixar Animation Studios produced two captivating films set in the enchanting world of the ocean: Finding Nemo (2003) and its sequel, Finding Dory (2016). Finding Nemo follows Marlin, a clownfish, on a heartfelt journey through the vast sea to rescue his son, Nemo, captured by a diver and placed in a fish tank. The film’s poignant exploration of father-son relationships, paired with stunning underwater visuals, captivated audiences globally.
Shifting the focus to Dory, the forgetful royal blue tang fish, Finding Dory explores her quest to reunite with her long-lost family. The sequel’s success lies in its engaging narrative, humor, and emotional impact, making it a worthy addition to the beloved underwater universe introduced in Finding Nemo.
In terms of box office performance, the Finding Nemo franchise made a significant impact. The original film, Finding Nemo, earned over $940 million globally, while Finding Dory surpassed $1 billion in global box office revenue. Together, these films propelled the Finding Nemo series to a cumulative total of nearly $2 billion, highlighting its widespread popularity and strong connection with audiences.
Madagascar — $2.27 Billion
The Madagascar film series, created by DreamWorks Animation, embarked on an entertaining journey enriched by its stellar cast of voice actors. Starting in 2005, Madagascar introduced audiences to the comedic antics of a group of zoo animals voiced by renowned actors such as Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, and Jada Pinkett Smith.
The success of the first film paved the way for Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa in 2008 and Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted in 2012, maintaining the comedic synergy of the ensemble cast. Additionally, the series expanded with the spin-off Penguins of Madagascar in 2014, focusing on the espionage exploits of the penguin characters.
In terms of box office performance, the original Madagascar film grossed over $542 million worldwide. Building on this success, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa reached new heights, contributing significantly to the series’ overall performance with a global box office figure surpassing $603 million. The spin-off Penguins of Madagascar (2014) added to the franchise’s success with a healthy $373 million at the box office.
Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted continued the trend, achieving a global box office gross of over $746 million. Collectively, these films propelled the Madagascar series to an impressive total worldwide gross, surpassing the $2.27 billion mark. This success affirmed the franchise’s ability to entertain audiences globally, solidifying its place as one of the most successful and unique animated film series.
The Lion King — $2.63 Billion
The original Lion King has earned its place as one of the most successful and respected movies of all time, thanks to its emotionally compelling coming-of-age story, memorable soundtrack, and a cast of wild supporting characters. In 2019, a “live-action” remake stirred debate due to its use of advanced animation techniques, blurring the lines between live-action and animation. Despite being marketed as live-action, it is argued that it is, in fact, an animated movie.
The franchise expanded with direct-to-video spin-offs and sequels, exploring additional chapters of the Pride Lands’ saga. The 1994 original set records, earning $968.5 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing animated film of its time. The 2019 remake further elevated the franchise’s success, grossing over $1.6 billion globally. Combining earnings from the original, re-releases, and the remake, the Lion King franchise surpassed $2.6 billion at the box office, solidifying its status as a cinematic powerhouse.
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Frozen — $2.74 Billion
The Frozen franchise began with the release of the animated musical Frozen in 2013, captivating audiences worldwide with its touching story of sisterhood, love, and self-discovery. The unforgettable anthem “Let It Go” became a global sensation, often joyfully sung by children, much to the delight of parents.
Building on this success, Disney introduced the sequel, Frozen II, in 2019, expanding the enchanting journey of Elsa, Anna, and their companions. This installment explored the origins of Elsa’s powers and introduced new memorable songs. Given the immense success of the series, it’s not surprising that Disney is reportedly working on additional sequels to sustain the momentum.
In terms of box office performance, Frozen proved to be a monumental success, grossing over $1.2 billion worldwide. It broke records, becoming Disney’s highest-grossing animated film and the top-grossing movie of the year. The sequel, Frozen II, continued the franchise’s incredible success, surpassing its predecessor with a global gross of over $1.45 billion. It set a record for the highest-grossing worldwide opening of all time for an animated film.
With a cumulative gross of $2.74 billion and more movies in development, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the franchise climb even higher on the list of top-grossing films in the future, potentially reaching the top spot.
Ice Age — $3.21 Billion
The Ice Age franchise, produced by Blue Sky Studios (now under Disney ownership), took audiences on a prehistoric journey filled with humor, emotion, and beloved characters. Beginning with the first film in 2002, Ice Age introduced Manny the woolly mammoth, Sid the sloth, and Diego the saber-toothed tiger, forming an unlikely trio navigating a world on the brink of a massive ice age. The series expanded with sequels like Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006), Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009), Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012), and Collision Course (2016), each contributing new layers to the characters’ adventures.
More recently, the franchise explored a spin-off, The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild, focusing on the side character Buck (voiced by Simon Pegg), which premiered exclusively on Disney+. Unfortunately, the spin-off fell short of expectations, receiving negative reviews for its unoriginal plot and humor that didn’t quite land.
Examining the box office performance, the franchise began on a strong note with Ice Age grossing over $383 million worldwide. Subsequent films experienced increasing success, with The Meltdown surpassing $660 million globally, Dawn of the Dinosaurs reaching over $886 million, and Continental Drift accumulating a staggering $877 million. However, the series faced a decline with Collision Course, which earned $408 million. Nonetheless, the cumulative worldwide gross for the Ice Age franchise exceeds $3 billion, establishing it as one of the most successful animated franchises in history.
Toy Story — $3.27 Billion
Over nearly 24 years, the Toy Story franchise has combined technological innovation with timeless storytelling, making it one of the most cherished movie series. It all started with the groundbreaking Toy Story in 1995, Pixar’s debut feature film that redefined CGI animation. Four years later, Toy Story 2 continued the success, earning widespread acclaim.
A decade later, Toy Story 3 (2010) resonated emotionally, exploring themes of growing up. Toy Story 4 (2019) seemed to conclude the adventures of Woody and Buzz, though recent hints suggest a new installment may be in development. In 2022, Lightyear shifted the focus to Buzz Lightyear in a spin-off, breaking away from the main Toy Story universe. Notably, Buzz is portrayed as a human rather than a toy in this film.
Regarding box office performance, the franchise has amassed over $3 billion globally. Toy Story set the bar with around $373 million, followed by Toy Story 2 at $497 million. The emotionally charged Toy Story 3 exceeded $1.06 billion, and Toy Story 4 matched that with about $1.07 billion. However, Lightyear marked a departure, grossing $226.4 million against a $200 million budget, making it the first critical and commercial disappointment in the series.
Shrek — $4.02 Billion
The Shrek franchise, starting in 2001 with its first film, has become a significant and unconventional presence in the world of animated movies. Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, the original Shrek introduced audiences to the endearing ogre Shrek, voiced by Mike Myers, and his humorous companion Donkey, voiced by Eddie Murphy.
Following the success of the initial film, three more main releases followed: Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), and Shrek Forever After (2010). Each installment expanded the fantastical world of Far Far Away, combining humor and emotion while exploring themes of self-acceptance and friendship. Additionally, the franchise produced two successful spin-offs focused on the adventures of the charming feline character Puss in Boots, voiced by Antonio Banderas.
In terms of box office performance, the original Shrek, released in 2001, achieved significant success with a global gross of $488 million. The sequels, Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, and Shrek Forever After, continued this success, each making substantial contributions to the franchise’s overall prosperity. Shrek 2, in particular, stood out by grossing over $928 million worldwide, establishing itself as one of the highest-grossing animated films ever.
The spin-off film Puss in Boots, centered around the charismatic feline character, further bolstered the franchise’s accomplishments with a global box office gross surpassing $554 million. When combined with its sequel, The Last Wish, which earned $480 million, the Shrek franchise surpassed the $4 billion mark, securing its position as the second-highest-grossing animated movie franchise of all time.
Despicable Me — $4.6 Billion
The Despicable Me franchise, initiated in 2010 by Illumination, has not only been a massive box office success but has also become a cultural phenomenon. Starting with Despicable Me, the series introduced the initially villainous Gru and his Minions, leading to highly successful sequels like Despicable Me 2 and Despicable Me 3, which delve into Gru’s moral complexity.
The 2015 Minions spin-off took the franchise to unprecedented heights. Focused on Gru’s lovable yellow sidekicks, it became an internet sensation, transcending language barriers and borders, solidifying the Minions as a global cultural phenomenon. The success continued with the release of Minions: The Rise of Gru.
In terms of box office performance, the Despicable Me/Minions franchise is the animation industry’s top-grossing juggernaut, exceeding $4.6 billion worldwide. Despicable Me earned over $543 million globally, Despicable Me 2 achieved a remarkable $970 million, and the Minions movie became one of the highest-grossing animated films ever, bringing in over $1.1 billion. The subsequent entries, Despicable Me 3 and Minions: Rise of Gru, each surpassed $1 billion, contributing to the franchise’s status as the most successful animated franchise to date.
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