Reaching one billion dollars is a monumental accomplishment for any film, let alone animated ones. However, there have been multiple animated films that have reached this astonishing feat, many of which were viewed by both kids and adults alike. Disney and Pixar make up a majority of the highest-grossing animated films, though Dreamworks and Universal have their share of heavy hitters, too. Here are a few of the extraordinary animated films that were able to reach a worldwide box office of over one billion dollars.
Frozen 2
As the highest-grossing animated film of all time, Frozen 2 also manages to break the top ten highest-grossing films of all time, period, just barely scraping by in the number ten slot. The film raked in a staggering 1.4 billion dollars, with its original film not far behind at 1.2 billion. The original film was an instant hit, spawning a plethora of merchandise and guaranteeing the sequel a chance to hit the big screen. The original film earned itself an academy award for Best Animated Feature, the first Walt-Disney Studios film to do so, two golden globes, as well as two Grammys. The films were a hefty droplet in Disney’s lake of ever-growing profit, and with an Oloff spin-off and the company’s streaming service taking off, we have assuredly not seen the last of the franchise.
Zootopia
This original film follows animals that live their lives much as we do: they go to work, play sports, and run a government. It’s a film that is both hilarious and thought-provoking. Audience psychographics and demographics play a large role in determining a film’s target audience, and despite being aimed towards predominantly younger viewers, the film manages to shed light on very mature issues, such as racism, social classes, and corruption. These themes, accompanied by a stellar story and gorgeous animation, make it easy to see how the film was as successful as it was, earning just over a billion dollars at the box office and snagging itself an Oscar in the process.
Incredibles 2
Are you feeling incredible? You will after having watched this sequel to the 2004 film. After fourteen years of waiting, fans were granted a follow-up to the super-powered family, and boy did it make some money. 1.2 billion dollars, to be more specific. With a returning cast of actors and updated visuals, this movie was a delight to younger audiences as well as those that watched the original as children and have since grown up. Will we get a third film in the future? It’s possible, especially since Pixar seems to be in an era of sequels, what with Toy Story getting four films. Let’s just hope it doesn’t take a decade to happen.
And Many More . . .
There have been several more animated films to cross the one billion dollar threshold, such as Minions, Finding Dory, Despicable Me 3, along with Toy Story 3 and 4, plus countless others that are just shy of reaching the ten-figure mark. These films are well-written, voice acted, and beautifully animated, making them enjoyable for children as well as adults.
