20 Highest-Grossing Disney Animated Movies of All Time

Ever since it was founded way back in 1928, Walt Disney Motion Pictures Studios has been an icon of mainstream cinema, with the production company’s history in animated cinema defining the medium’s longevity and prosperity in Hollywood. As such, it should come as no great surprise that many Disney animated movies have become not only instant classics, but monumental box office hits as well.

In fact, Walt Disney Animation Studios has produced seven films that have gone on to gross over $1 billion so far, with the company’s reputation for wondrous stories, beautiful visual spectacles, and charming family entertainment only enhancing as time goes by. Spanning from imaginative original hits to brilliant adaptations, and sequels that allowed fans to venture back into the story worlds they love, these 15 movies mark Disney’s greatest animated successes thus far.

20 ‘Cars 2’ (2011)

Box Office: $559.8 million

While 2006’s Cars has become a beloved classic of Disney animation, Cars 2 has largely been forgotten as a cheap sequel. Sadly, as is often the case, the successor proved to be a more lucrative prospect, capitalizing on the popularity and charm of the first film as it traded the simple, character-driven sports story for an international Grand Prix adventure that even includes a detour into global espionage.

Despite being a critical disaster and faring only marginally better with the general public, the animated adventure proved to be a glimmering financial success for Disney, grossing $559.8 million against a budget of $200 million. Interestingly, Cars 2 is by far the highest-grossing movie in the Cars franchise, not only trumping its predecessor but outperforming its stronger successor, Cars 3, to the tune of over $150 million.

19 ‘Monsters, Inc.’ (2001)

Box Office: $579.7 million

One of the studio’s most successful and enduring cultural sensations, Monsters, Inc. stands as a beloved classic that has enjoyed a long-lasting appeal to fans while appealing to new generations of kids as well. It famously follows two monsters who work together as “scarers” and venture into the human world to harvest children’s fear as a power source. However, their lives are completely upended when a young girl travels into their world.

Not only a monumental commercial success with its $579.7 million box office haul, Monsters, Inc. also won over critics and moviegoers en masse. With its inventive and clever premise that puts an appealing spin on the monsters in the closet, the film still stands as a glistening example of Pixar animation’s ability to present fun-loving and creative stories that can charm adults and children alike.

18 ‘Tangled’ (2010)

Box Office: $592.4 million

When animated studios take to putting fun-filled spins on classic fairy tales, the results are often nothing short of iconic. That was the case when Disney released Tangled in 2010, with the animated children’s adventure movie offering a visually stunning reworking of the classic tale of ‘Rapunzel’. Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) is an innocent girl locked in a tower whose hopes of escape are brought to fruition when a notorious though good-hearted thief takes refuge in her tower.

With whiffs of screwball comedy, swashbuckling adventure, and classic fairy tale charm, the Disney film has become one of the company’s most celebrated hits of all time. In addition to winning widespread critical acclaim, the movie also performed well at the box office, raking in $592.4 million (a good thing considering Tangled‘s enormous budget) while garnering plenty of fans who would watch the movie again and again over the years.

17 ‘Ratatouille’ (2007)

Box Office: $623.7 million

Another of Disney’s most vibrant and energetic animated hits in recent decades, Ratatouille became an instant success upon release with a box office intake of $623.7 million. It follows a Parisian rat with a refined palette who dreams of one day becoming a chef. While he is oblivious to the way humanity views rodents, he forms an unlikely bond with a struggling, young kitchen worker in a gourmet restaurant.

While its basic premise is rife with brilliant character comedy and fun and engaging plot beats, Ratatouille’s true genius resides in its tale of Remy’s (Patton Oswalt) pure love for the craft of cooking and the passion with which he pursues his dream. Wonderful, wistful, and willing to coast on the most unlikely yet endearing of protagonists, Ratatouille continues to endure as one of Disney’s best films this century, one that earned five Academy Award nominations, even winning for Best Animated Feature.

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16 ‘The Incredibles’ (2004)

Box Office: $631.6 million

Ahead of the curb in regard to the 21st century’s superhero craze, The Incredibles manages to excel as both a playful comedy that riffs on superhero tropes and an earnest and exciting genre film as well. Set in a world where superheroes have been forced to live as ordinary citizens, it follows a superhuman family as they are lured back into action by the emergence of a supervillain named Syndrome.

Imbued with an abundance of wit, genuinely engaging action sequences, and a vast array of brilliant characters, The Incredibles became a cultural sensation, even going on to win two Academy Awards from four nominations, an impressive figure for an animated film. Naturally, it played well with audiences as well, with its box office earnings of $631.4 million making it an incredible commercial achievement.

15 ‘Big Hero 6’ (2014)

Box Office: $657 million

Excelling as an enthralling and emotionally powerful marriage of superhero spectacle and Disney’s trademark animated charm, Big Hero 6 was a striking adventure defined by its exciting action moments and its heartfelt story of love and grief. Loosely based on the Marvel Comics character, it follows Hiro (Ryan Potter), a young robotics engineer grieving the death of his older brother who forms a bond with his healthcare provider robot, Baymax (Scott Adsit).

Desperate to avenge his brother’s death, Hiro is joined by his friends to form a super squad of high-tech heroes as he rises against the masked villain who caused his brother’s death. While the film’s financial success was impressive in its own right, it has also endured as one of the most celebrated animated Disney films of the 21st century so far, making it all the more baffling that Big Hero 6 still doesn’t have a sequel.

14 ‘Moana’ (2016)

Box Office: $687 million

Meshing adventure excitement and enjoyable musical numbers with Polynesian mythology, Moana excelled as a fresh and vibrant animated film from Disney when it was released in 2016. Set in ancient Polynesia, it follows the young daughter of a tribal chief as she ventures out to sea to reunite a powerful relic with the goddess Te Fiti to stave off a curse that is impacting her people.

On her journey, Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) is joined by her beloved pet rooster and Maui (Dwayne Johnson), the temperamental trickster Demigod who incurred the goddess’ wrath to begin with. Bringing the notion of the traditional Disney princess into the modern age, Moana was an empowering and fun-loving success that dominated the market as one of Disney’s best films released this century. Its box office triumph and lasting appeal have seen Moana earn a live-action remake.

13 ‘Up’ (2009)

Box Office: $735 million

As one of Disney’s most critically acclaimed and universally admired movies, one which had an instant impact as a beautiful, heartfelt story, it is quite surprising that Up doesn’t rank inside the studio’s ten highest-grossing animated movies of all time, but it still proved to be an almighty success. It famously follows a grieving old widower who ties balloons to his house to fly to his wife’s dream destination of Paradise Falls, only to find he has been accompanied by a young stowaway.

The animated adventure became an immediate Disney classic largely thanks to Up‘s devastating yet tender opening sequence which depicted the history of Carl’s (Edward Asner) relationship with his late wife. It is still widely regarded to be one of, if not the best, animated films of the 21st century, a notion which is supported by the fact that it won two Academy Awards from five nominations.

12 ‘Monsters University’ (2013)

Box Office: $743 million

Released in 2001, Monsters, Inc. fast became a huge sensation with its fun-filled twist on the notion of monsters as well as its brilliant story and characters. In 2013, fans of the fantasy adventure were able to return to the wonderful world of monsters with the prequel, Monsters University, which followed a young aspiring “scarer” in Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) as he enrolled in Monster University and befriended Sully (John Goodman).

Not dissimilar from the original film, Monsters University‘s biggest strength, aside from its creative story world, proved to be its accessibility, with its appeal spanning from little kids to adults who may have been familiar with its predecessor when they were younger themselves. While it doesn’t surpass the first film, it does manage to be a rewarding and amusing animated adventure.

11 ‘Coco’ (2017)

Box Office: $814 million

Managing to be one of Disney’s most acclaimed and successful animated films while also being a somewhat underrated movie as well, Coco is among the strongest films the studio has released in the past decade. It follows a young boy who defies his family’s long-running ban on music and pursues his passion, venturing into the Land of the Dead where he befriends a charming trickster and learns his great-great-grandfather was a renowned singer.

The film was rich with everything that Disney does extraordinarily well, from its gorgeous animation, charming characters, and wondrous story, to its brilliant musical display and even the deft touch with which it explores the story’s darker elements. The film became a huge financial success in Mexico particularly and also went on to win two Academy Awards.

10 ‘Inside Out’ (2015)

Box Office: $858 million

One of Disney’s most insightful and creative animated adventures from any time period, Inside Out focused on the five primary emotions of a young girl as her family embarks on a difficult move to San Francisco (with this challenge being the film’s abstract antagonist). As Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) begins to grow angry and upset about the move, the emotions in her head, led by Joy (Amy Poehler), struggle to navigate her actions.

Interestingly, one of the directors, Pete Docter, got the story idea after noticing changes in his own daughter’s personality as she grew older. Its wonderful screenwriting and world-building done by Docter truly stood out. Inside Out brilliantly transforms emotional conflict as if it’s an adventure and gives a physical reason as to why we feel the way we do.

9 ‘Finding Nemo’ (2003)

Box Office: $941 million

One of the true Disney classics of the early 2000s, Finding Nemo is considered to be one of the most heartfelt and genuine of Pixar’s animated films, one which meshed its touching story with a wondrous, underwater aesthetic to be an enchanting journey for viewers of all ages. It follows Marlin (Albert Brooks), an overprotective clown fish who embarks on a desperate journey to retrieve his son Nemo (Alexander Gould) after he is caught by a diver, all the while Nemo plots his escape from a dentist’s fish tank with the other fish trapped inside.

The Disney film truly excelled on all fronts, with Finding Nemo running as a breathtaking technical feat of animation while also offering as much thrills, fun, suspense, humor, and action as it could pack onto the screen, mixing all its elements together to be a masterful story bolstered by an impeccable voice cast. With its powerful focus on the core father-son relationship, Finding Nemo became the first ever Pixar film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

8 ‘The Lion King’ (1994)

Box Office: $968 million

A timeless classic of Disney animation, The Lion King has become an icon of cinema in general with its epic adventure tale serving as a unique, modern, and brilliant adaptation of Hamlet. It tells the story of Simba (Matthew Broderick), a young lion cub destined to succeed his father, Mufasa (James Earl Jones), as the King of the Pride Lands, but he is cast out of the kingdom when his conniving, murderous uncle, Scar (Jeremy Irons), seizes the throne. Living in exile, Simba makes two unlikely friends before fate calls on him to return to the Pride Lands and avenge his father.

It remains as powerful and gripping a movie today as it was upon release in 1994, and it seems to only grow greater with every rewatch. With its memorable characters and vast array of unforgettable songs, the cherished Disney classic stands among the greatest animated movies of all time, while its legacy has been carried on as it has been adapted into an award-winning stage musical.

7 ‘Zootopia’ (2016)

Box Office: $1.02 billion

Yet another Disney classic to reap rewards for combining a fun and catchy story with a creative use of animal characters, Zootopia became just the third Disney animated movie to surpass $1 billion at the box office. It also received widespread critical acclaim for its imaginative narrative and its developed, well-realized story world, as well as the depth with which Zootopia explored its central themes of diversity and inclusion in a mature yet kid-friendly manner.

Set in a world where animals live in harmony in a civilized, urban society, it follows rookie bunny police officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) as she works with cynical, con-artist fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) to uncover a conspiracy involving the mysterious disappearance of the city’s predatory mammals. Delivering an important message with grace, while still offering an engaging and humorous story with immaculate animation, Zootopia appealed to audiences of all ages to be a defining success of Disney’s revival era.

6 ‘Finding Dory’ (2016)

Box Office: $1.02 billion

Propelling from the launchpad set by the already impressive performance of Finding Nemo, the long-awaited Finding Dory became one of Disney’s highest-grossing films ever. Focusing on Marlin’s trusty though forgetful sidekick from the first Pixar film, this sequel saw Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) set off to find her parents, piecing together what little she could of them from her memories, all while being accompanied by her friends Marlin and Nemo.

The film rehashes elements from the original’s plot, with Dory learning her parents are being held in the Marine Life Institute and vowing to save them from captivity. Delightfully though, the familiar story worked a treat to deliver a funny, cute, and enthralling animated story that fans of Finding Nemo were sure to love. It also cleverly addressed themes such as family, acceptance, and disability to be a powerful entry in Disney’s animated filmography.

5 ‘Toy Story 3’ (2010)

Box Office: $1.06 billion

The long-awaited sequel to the beloved Toy Story 2 follows Andy Davis (John Morris) as he prepares to leave for college. As he packs, his mother mistakenly switches the boxes and accidentally donates his favorite toys to Sunnyside Daycare. Woody (Tom Hanks) tries his best to convince his friends that they weren’t simply abandoned while they plan an escape from the kids who don’t play nice.

This movie is made for audiences of all ages with a story that everyone can relate to. Many people have grown up alongside Andy and can feel everything he is feeling. With Andy getting older, Woody and Buzz (Tim Allen) must move on and have another adventure with their new owner, Bonnie. Considered one of the best third movies in a franchise, Toy Story 3‘s incredible animation and strong characters ensure this heartfelt blockbuster will stand the test of time.

4 ‘Toy Story 4’ (2019)

Box Office: $1.07 billion

Another monumental financial achievement from the Toy Story franchise, Toy Story 4 saw Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and the rest of the gang go on another adventure with their new owner, Bonnie (Madeleine McGraw), and her strange creation, Forky (Tony Hale). The toys begin to consider what they want for themselves when they unexpectedly reunite with Bo-Peep (Annie Potts) in their travels, though they must act quickly when Woody and Forky are abducted by Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks).

Marking the end of an era for the beloved franchise, this movie brings the story of Woody and Buzz to a satisfying conclusion that gives closure to long-time fans. It received critical acclaim for its use of cutting-edge technology to create stunning visuals and animation. Its emotional storyline and beloved characters captured the hearts of audiences, especially with nostalgic callbacks to earlier movies.

3 ‘Incredibles 2’ (2018)

Box Office: $1.24 billion

Incredibles 2 picks up right where its predecessor left off, with the Parr family once again using their superpowers to save the world. They are offered hope of rehabilitating the public image of the Supers by the Deavor siblings (Catherine Keener and Bob Odenkirk) after the shutdown of the Super Relocation Program. Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) becomes the face of the campaign while her family must identify and defeat the cyber-criminal, Screenslaver.

Fans had been waiting over a decade for a sequel to The Incredibles and it did not disappoint with its blend of action, humor, and heartwarming family dynamics. Although it doesn’t live up to the original entirely, it did prove to be a landmark success for Disney with its box office figures surpassing $1 billion with ease to be one of the highest-grossing Disney movies of all time.

2 ‘Frozen’ (2013)

Box Office: $1.28 billion

Frozen quickly became a cultural phenomenon during its initial release. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen‘s 1844 fairy tale The Snow Queen, the movie tells the story of Princess Anna (Kristen Bell) as she works with mountaineer Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), his reindeer Sven, and the snowman Olaf (Josh Gad) to find Elsa (Idina Menzel) after she trapped their kingdom in eternal winter with her icy powers.

Considered a game changer for Disney, Frozen is a cultural phenomenon that has strong female leads and an unforgettable soundtrack that features the hit song “Let It Go.” It helped revive the interest in traditional Disney musicals as one of the best animated movies to watch during the holidays. As a touchstone for countless merchandise, stage adaptations, and even a sequel, there’s no question of its influence as Frozen stands as one of the highest-grossing Disney movies ever made.

1 ‘Frozen II’ (2019)

Box Office: $1.45 billion

Springing forward off the record-breaking success of its predecessor, Frozen II exceeded expectations to become the most successful Disney movie of all time. Capitalizing on the reunion of Elsa and Anna which served as the grand finale of Frozen, the sequel sees the two sisters and their friends embark on a journey to an ancient, autumn-bound forest to uncover the secret of Elsa’s powers after she hears a mysterious voice calling out to her.

With its stunning visuals, catchy soundtrack, and touching story of family and self-discovery, Frozen II was able to expand upon its predecessor even if it didn’t surpass it in terms of quality and critical acclaim. Its eagerness to delve deeper into the story world’s mythology and explore meaningful themes while presenting an engaging animated adventure proved to be defining of its success. A third Frozen movie is currently in development, with Disney looking to capitalize on interest in the franchise while also fleshing out more that the wondrous setting has to offer.

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