Disney/Pixar’s Inside Out 2 has become the fastest animated film to gross $1 billion worldwide on Sunday, its 19th day in release which is faster than any animated pic in history. Directed by Kelsey Mann, Inside Out 2, after 19 days of release grossed $469.3 million in North America and $545.5 million global market for a worldwide tally of $1.015 billion, per The Hollywood Reporter.
Inside Out 2. Image Credit: Disney/Pixar
However, this is the 11th animated movie to cross the $1 billion mark. Let’s continue reading to know about the other 10.
Zootopia ($1.025 Billion)
Zootopia, which debuted in 2016, became Disney’s second movie to gross over $1 billion at the box office. According to The Numbers, the film earned $341.2 million domestically and a total of $1.025 billion globally. Everything that a good animated movie ought to have was in Zootopia. Despite having a nearly $150 million budget, the movie made more than $1 billion at the box office. Zootopia 2 is confirmed and will be released on November 26th, 2025.
Finding Dory ($1.029 Billion)
Finding Dory, a direct follow-up to Finding Nemo, was a fitting successor to the legendary animated picture. Pixar’s Finding Dory, which debuted in what was arguably one of the best years ever for animated films, shared the heart, soul, and charm of its predecessor. Globally, the film brought in $1.029 billion. Of that total, $542.9 million, or slightly less than 53%, came from theaters outside of North America only. The winning formula for Finding Dory was the charming storyline combined with a hint of nostalgia.
Despicable Me 3 ($1.034 Billion)
Arriving just before the Fourth of July holiday in 2017 helped the film, which according to Deadline made $266 million worldwide in its first week of release. The domestic portion was $98 million. Throughout its lifetime, that trend continued to hold true, with $770 million, or 74%, coming from overseas sales. Per Box Office Mojo, the Illumination movie brought in $1.034 billion worldwide. The movie was praised for its positive aspects even though it didn’t receive the same level of praise as its two predecessors.
Toy Story 3 ($1.067 Billion)
When Pixar first released the first Toy Story film in 1995, they hardly ever released sequels. When Disney released a sequel to one of its big hits, it usually went straight to video and wasn’t meant to bring in a lot of extra money. Toy Story 2 did, however, demonstrate the potential of successful sequels, but even that was insignificant in comparison to Toy Story 3.
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As the first animated film to gross over $1 billion, this third installment created history. Perhaps more mature than anyone had realized, the film was both significant and emotional. At a production cost of over $200 million, Toy Story 3 is one of the most expensive animated films ever made. It is an emotional journey.
Toy Story 4 ($1.073 Billion)
Toy Story 4, which debuted in June 2019, was a huge hit with both critics and audiences, despite not being the best film in the franchise. Its impressive box office performance is evidence of this. The Pixar film brought in a total of $1.073 billion worldwide, of which $434 million was earned domestically, according to Box Office Mojo.
The story of the movie was carefully and tastefully wrapped, in case its performance suggested that it was time to move on from the adventures of Woody and Buzz. Even though it had a large budget—roughly $200 million—it more than made up for it by turning into a huge hit.
Minions ($1.159 Billion)
When Minions first appeared in Despicable Me, they quickly won over fans of all ages. It would be difficult to find someone who didn’t find these characters cute. An exclusive film for these tiny yellow creatures was inevitable in an era of endless spin-offs. The solution to fans’ craving for more of these creatures to watch was Minions. Naturally, Illumination delivered on this promise, making Minions its first $1 billion project and the third animated movie to do so overall.
Despite being funny and a pleasant watch once, the film failed to receive the same level of critical acclaim as previous entries in the franchise. The film showed that, despite being an essential component of the franchise, Minions works best as side characters rather than in stand-alone films.
Incredibles 2 ($1.243 Billion)
After its 2004 release, The Incredibles quickly gained fame. It offered fans a new perspective on superhero films by showcasing the relationship between a family of superheroes. But it took Pixar fourteen years to release its sequel, which the company considers to be among its best.
Incredibles 2, like its predecessor, was an incredible ride. It featured several heart-pounding moments and kept the family dynamic while putting more of an emphasis on the characters. Despite having a substantial $200 million budget, it lived up to the makers’ expectations. According to Box Office Mojo, Pixar’s Incredibles 2, which debuted in 2018, became the studio’s most successful film after grossing an astounding $1.243 billion worldwide.
Frozen ($1.284 Billion)
Disney princess movies were naturally regarded as classics when they were released, but Frozen achieved this on a whole new level. According to Box Office Mojo, Disney’s Frozen made a total of $1.284 billion worldwide from its debut in November 2013 and multiple rereleases in the years that followed.
The movie exceeded everyone’s expectations. and kept up its excellent quality the entire time, from the plot to the emotions. Of course, no one can ignore Let It Go, the soundtrack from the film that went on to win an Oscar.
The Super Marion Bros Movie ($1.36 Billion)
Deadline reported that during its first five-day weekend (Easter holiday), the Chris Pratt-starring animated film made at least $377 million, with more than $204 million of that figure coming from the United States.
Within a month of opening in theaters, the film would surpass the $1 billion milestone, grossing $1.356 billion ($547 million domestically,) according to Box Office Mojo.
Frozen 2 ($1.453 Billion)
There were forecasts that the Disney animated fantasy musical Frozen 2 would bring in a huge amount of money at the box office even before it opened in November 2019, and those projections came true. The sequel had an impressive $130 million opening weekend in the US, according to Box Office Mojo. According to Deadline, the film took in an incredible $358.2 million worldwide in its first few weeks of release.
It was going to be difficult to top the plot twists and visually spectacular musical sequences found in Frozen, but Frozen 2 succeeded in completely outperforming its predecessor. The Disney movie had a compelling story that would interest fans of all ages, and it was skillfully made. Frozen 2 grossed $1.453 billion worldwide by the time its theatrical run ended in March 2020, with $477 million of that amount coming from American audiences only.
Honorable Mention: The Lion King ($1.664 billion)
The Lion King, a remake of the 1994 film of the same name, transported viewers back to the kingdom of animals ruled by Mufasa, the rightful king. Disney refuses to refer to the film as animated even though it is entirely created through hyper-realistic computer animation. Even so, it is thought to be the all-time highest-grossing animated film. Aside from Tangled, it is the highest-budget animated film, having been produced on a $260 million budget.
