Box office numbers are fromThe Numbers. Figures have been rounded up or down to the nearest million.
A beloved and long-running staple of cinema,animatedofferings have accounted for some of thegreatest movies of all time. While many of these movies are primarily targeted at younger audiences, the innate overall quality, sidesplitting humor, and universal themes that can be found in thebest animated movies ever madestill make for timeless films that appeal to audiences of all generations. In many cases, the wildfire success of these outings has spawned multi-film franchises that have gone on to become some of the most commercially successful ventures in cinematic history.
While it’s interesting to note that no animated entries make up the all-time top ten list of highest-grossing movie franchises, cinema’s top fifty is still peppered with standout offerings, ranging from beloved classics likeToy Storyto exciting new arrivals likeInside Out. Earning eye-watering commercial returns to rubber-stamp their status as box-office titans, the highest-grossing animated movie franchises of all time encompass some of the most influential and significant movies that popular culture has ever witnessed.
Madagascar
TheMadagascarfranchise is a popular animated comedy series produced by DreamWorks Animation. The story follows a group of zoo animals—Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe, and Gloria the hippo—who escape their comfortable life in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves in the wilds of Madagascar. The films are known for their humor, vibrant animation, and lovable characters, blending animal antics with heartfelt friendship themes.
Penguins of Madagascar(2014)
$366.9 Million
The rare example of a series that improved from a critical and commercial perspective with every subsequent release,Madagascarbeats out the likes ofThe IncrediblesandMoanato land as the tenth-highest-grossing animated movie franchise of all time (viaThe Numbers). From a financial perspective, this trend continued until 2014’s spin-off film,Penguins of Madagascar, which regrettably ended up underperforming at the box office.
Every Madagascar Movie Ranked From Worst To Best
The Madagascar movies have improved since the 2005 original, but could the franchise be a rare case of each new movie being better than the last?
However, whilePenguins of Madagascarmay not have lived up to financial expectations, the movie’s gross of just under $367 million worldwide was still enough to elevateMadagascaraboveFinding Nemointo cinema’s top ten highest-grossing animated franchises of all time. However, consideringMadagascar 4has failed to materializemore than a decade later, the franchise looks to be dead and buried as of 2025. Accordingly, don’t be surprised to eventually see this long-time top ten fixture overtaken in the coming years.
Worldwide Box Office Gross: $2.3 Billion
Kung Fu Panda
The Kung Fu Panda franchise is a comedic martial arts adventure series centered around the unlikely hero Po, a clumsy panda who dreams of becoming a kung fu master. With a blend of humor, heart, and action, the franchise follows Po’s journey as he overcomes self-doubt and embraces his destiny as the Dragon Warrior.
Kung Fu Panda 4(2024)
$547.8 Million
Whilerumblings over a potentialKung Fu Panda 5have yet to be confirmed, the Jack Black-led martial arts comedy series is still one of the most financially lucrative animated offerings that cinema has ever witnessed. Grossing more than $2.3 billion worldwide across four movies to land as the ninth-highest-grossing animated franchise of all time (viaThe Numbers), the whopping returns from 2024’sKung Fu Panda 4saw the series return to cinema’s animated top ten after an absence of nearly a decade.
Kung Fu Panda 4 Set Up 5 Furious Five Spinoffs I’m Desperate To See Next
The Furious Five barely appeared in Kung Fu Panda 4, but the most recent installment in the franchise opened the door to five exciting spinoffs.
One of popular culture’s most well-known and prominent animated offerings for the better part of two decades,Kung Fu Panda’sremarkable box-office returns are a testament to just how much of a fan favorite this franchise remains to this day. The eye-watering returns from the series' latest installment would indicate that it’s highly unlikely that we’ve heard the last of Po and Company, although it’s worth noting that the franchise risks sullying its sterling wider reputation, should future installments run out of steam.
Inside Out
TheInside Outfranchise explores the inner workings of a young girl named Riley Anderson, focusing on her five primary emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust—that personify her thoughts and actions. Created by Pete Docter and Ronnie del Carmen, the franchise is praised for its innovative portrayal of emotions and mental processes. It began with the 2015 filmInside Out, which became a critical and commercial success, leading to sequels, a short film, video games, and theme park attractions.
Inside Out 2(2024)
$1.7 Billion
Depicting the inner workings of a young girl’s mind through an array of personified emotions, the critically acclaimedInside Outmovies have earned status as one of the most profitable animated franchises of all time in the space of just under a decade. The eighth-highest-grossing animated series ever made (viaThe Numbers),Inside Out’sbox office gross of just over $2.5 billion from two movies is nothing short of staggering.
How Inside Out 2 Just Lost Its Highest Grossing Animated Movie Box Office Record Only 7 Months After $1.6 Billion Performance
Disney’s sequel Inside Out 2 is one of the highest grossing movies ever, but its record has been broken by another sequel just days after its release.
While the 2015 original’s return of more than $850 million was nothing to sniff at,2024’sInside Out 2broke multiple box-office records. Taking a little shy of $1.7 billion, Kelsey Mann’s sequel almost doubledInside Out’sworldwide box office gross to land as the highest-grossing movie of 2024 and the ninth-highest-grossing movie of all time. It was also briefly the highest-earning animated movie ever made, before being surpassed by 2025’sNe Zha 2.
Worldwide Box Office Gross: $2.7 Billion
Frozen
Frozen is a multimedia franchise developed within Disney by Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee, and Shane Morris. Originally based on the tale by Hans Christian Andersen, the core of Frozen tells the story of the two sisters of the kingdom of Arendelle, the warm-hearted Anna and the stern but kindly Elsa, who has the power to control ice. Together with their friends, the two sisters unravel the mysteries that surround their kingdom as they learn to manage their royal duties.
Frozen II(2019)
$1.45 Billion
A critical and commercial smash hit of the highest order, both ofFrozen’sinstallments to date have broken the $1 billion mark at the box office to complement an array of glowing reviews, prompting the commission of 2027’supcoming third entry,Frozen 3. As such, don’t be surprised ifFrozen’sstanding as the seventh-highest-grossing animated franchise of all time (viaThe Numbers) is subject to change down the line.
Why Frozen 3 Couldn’t Be Released Earlier Than 2027 Explained By Olaf Star, Even Though Frozen 2 Came 6 Years Ago
Six years after the release of Frozen 2, Olaf voice actor Josh Gad explains why audiences won’t be getting the announced Frozen 3 sooner than 2027.
Frozenproved to be the highest-grossing film of 2013, while the sequel landed in the number three spot for 2019. The animated musical fantasy also bears the prestigious distinction of being the only franchise outside ofAvatarto have all of its entries listed in the top 25 highest-grossing movies of all time, withFrozenandFrozen IIclocking in at the 24th and 15th spots, respectively.
$742.7 million
$243.8 million
Ne Zha 2(2025)
$1.98 billion
An extremely recent addition to the top ten highest-grossing animated franchises of all time, the Fengshen Cinematic Universe is likely the most profitable film series that you’ve never heard of. The Chinese animated fantasy adventure films currently make up the sixth-highest-grossing animated franchise in cinematic history (viaThe Numbers), charging in ahead of storied names such asFinding Nemo, How to Train Your Dragon,orThe Incredibles.
Disney Has 2 Upcoming Chances To Beat Ne Zha 2’s Box Office & Reclaim Inside Out 2’s Lost Box Office Record
After Ne Zha 2’s unparalleled box office success, only two Disney sequels have a chance to surpass it — but they could fall short of its high gross.
2019’sNe Zhahad already landed as one of the most successful pieces of Chinese cinema ever made, courtesy of a stellar box office gross of more than $742 million, a state of affairs that wasn’t hurt by 2020’s spin-off entryLegend of Deificationtaking home just under $244 million a year later. However, it was the release of2025’s box office titanNe Zha 2that has really got people taking notice. Grossing a whopping $1.98 billion to date, the sequel is already the fifth-highest-grossing movie of all time.
Ice Age
TheIce Agefranchise is a popular animated film series produced by Blue Sky Studios, centering around a group of prehistoric animals surviving the Pleistocene ice age. Led by a woolly mammoth named Manny, the films feature his adventures alongside a sloth named Sid and a saber-toothed tiger named Diego. Known for its humor, heartwarming themes, and memorable characters, the series has expanded to include spin-offs, short films, and TV specials. The franchise continues to captivate audiences with its colorful animation, family-friendly humor, and ongoing stories of friendship and survival.
Ice Age: Collision Course(2016)
$402.2 Million
After a hiatus that will have lasted a decade, one of the most profitable animated franchises in cinematic history is set to finally make its return whenIce Age 6is released in 2026. While the series made a comeback of sorts through a standalone spin-off, 2022’sThe Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild, the upcoming entry will mark the sixth official chapter in the fifth-highest-grossing movie franchise of all time (viaThe Numbers.)
This One Scene In Ice Age Predicts Every Movie In The Series
The original Ice Age movie’s ice cave scene shows Sid looking at creatures frozen in ice, which foreshadows events in the later Ice Age movies.
It says a lot aboutIce Age’simpressive box-office returns that the franchise has retained such a high placing among its peers, despite not having produced a movie from the original series for the better part of a decade. Furthermore,Ice Ageis virtually neck and neck with its closest competitor inToy Storywith an approximate worldwide total gross of $3.2 billion. As such, the box office returns from each storied franchise’s upcoming installment will be key in seeing who comes out on top by the time 2026 rolls to a close.
Toy Story
Toy Storyis a beloved animated franchise created by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The series centers on the secret life of toys, primarily focusing on the friendship between Woody, a cowboy doll, and Buzz Lightyear, a space ranger action figure. The films explore themes of friendship, loyalty, and growing up, resonating with audiences of all ages.Toy Storyis widely credited with revolutionizing animation, as the first film was the first fully computer-animated feature. The franchise is not only a critical success but also a cultural icon, influencing a generation of films and storytelling in animation.
Lightyear(2022)
$218.9 Million
Eliciting laughter and tears in equal measure since 1995’s original installment,Toy Storyis as close to a universally beloved animated franchise as one is likely to find. Earning consistently outstanding reviews across four installments of the main series,Toy Storyheld status as the third-highest-grossing animated franchise of all time until as recently as last year, before the success of 2024’sMufasa: The Lion Kingbumped it down to fourth spot (viaThe Numbers.)
10 Popular Movies Referenced In The Toy Story Franchise
Pixar is famous for its brilliant easter eggs, but some of the Toy Story franchise’s references to popular movies are less obvious than others.
While 2022’s spin-off entryLightyeardidn’t receive the same degree of critical acclaim and bombed at the box office,Toy Storyhas proved to be such a commercial titan over the years that it did little to affect the wider franchise’s standing. Boasting two entries that have broken the $1 billion barrier at the box office, the franchise could still rise higher in the pecking order yet with theupcoming release ofToy Story 5.
The Lion King
The Lion Kingis one of Disney’s most iconic animated franchises, beginning with the 1994 film. The story centers around Simba, a lion prince who battles his treacherous uncle Scar for the throne of the Pride Lands. The franchise has expanded into sequels, remakes, and television series.
Mufasa: The Lion King(2024)
$714.1 Million
It speaks volumes to the profitability ofThe Lion Kingthat it’s still the third-highest-grossing animated movie franchise of all time (viaThe Numbers), despite the fact that two of its five entries don’t even factor into consideration when it comes to box office results. Two animated sequels to 1995’s original, 1998’sThe Lion King II: Simba’s Prideand 2004’sThe Lion King 1 1/2were released direct-to-video, meaning the franchise’s figures didn’t truly take off until the photorealistically animated remake dropped in 2019.
Mufasa Settling This 31-Year-Old The Lion King Debate Was Long Overdue
Mufasa officially confirms that The Lion King is set in Kenya, Africa, which finally settles a debate that has spanned across the last three decades.
The quintessential example of abox-office billion-dollar hit with low Rotten Tomatoes scores,The Lion Kingraked in an eye-watering $1.6 billion worldwide to land as the second-highest-grossing movie of the year and the eleventh-highest-grossing movie of all time, despite an array of mixed reviews. 2024’s prequel-sequelMufasa: The Lion Kingdidn’t produce such stratospheric results, but still took home more than $714 million to land as the sixth-highest-grossing movie of 2024, in spite of similar lukewarm reviews to its predecessor.
Worldwide Box Office Gross: $4 Billion
Shrek
The Shrek franchise is a beloved animated series that began in 2001, centering around an ogre named Shrek who lives in a swamp and embarks on various adventures with a cast of quirky and memorable characters. The franchise is known for its humor, parodies of fairy tales, and heartwarming themes about friendship, love, and self-acceptance. The success of the first film led to multiple sequels, spin-offs, and television specials, making Shrek a pop culture icon.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish(2022)
$485.2 Million
Theannouncement of the upcomingShrek 5has signaled the return of one of the most universally beloved and commercially successful animated franchises of all time. While there’s a valid argument to be made that the series focusing on the eponymous ogre has never come close to measuring up to the stellar quality of its first two outings,Shrek’swild popularity has been underlined by an array of consistently stellar box-office results that place it as the second-highest-grossing animated movie franchise of all time (viaThe Numbers.)
Casting Shrek & Fiona’s Other Children: 10 Actors Who Can Join Zendaya In Shrek 5
Zendaya will be playing Shrek and Fiona’s daughter in Shrek 5, but there are many hilarious and dramatic stars who could voice her siblings.
The franchise’s standout levels of longevity and marketability have been further highlighted by the success of thePuss in Bootsspin-off movies, with both entries led by Antonio Banderas' swashbuckling feline earning positive reviews to complement strong box-office performances. Simply put, it’s hard to find an animated franchise that can even begin to giveShreka run for its money.
Worldwide Box Office Gross: $5.6 Billion
Despicable Me
Gru, a villain with ambitions to steal the moon, adopts three orphaned girls to aid his scheme. Unexpectedly, he finds himself growing attached to them, which complicates his plans. As Gru grapples with newfound fatherhood and his villainous aspirations, he discovers that love and family can change even the most hardened hearts.
Despicable Me 4(2024)
$971 Million
The highest-grossing animated movie franchise of all time(viaThe Numbers) by a considerable distance,Despicable Meand its spin-off movie seriesMinionsreign supreme at the box office. While this is a state of affairs that seems set to continue with theupcoming 2026 release ofMinions 3, the franchise already outstrips its nearest animated competitor inShrekby more than $1 billion as of 2025.
10 Best Movies Like Despicable Me
These 10 movies are the perfect next watches for fans of Despicable Me based on their similar characters, messages, tones, and themes.
Remarkably, the franchise just fails to make wider cinema’s top 10, despite a total return of more than $5.6 billion across six entries, landing as the 13th-highest-grossing movie franchise of all time. These exemplary levels of success are even more surprising when one considers thatDespicable Me’sentries have often received a lukewarm critical response, with the sharp contrast in the movies' reviews and box office returns underlining the franchise’s status as one of popular culture’s most prominent fan favorites.
