List of highest-grossing openings for animated films


The following is a list of the highest-grossing opening weekends for animated films. The list is dominated by recent films due to steadily increasing marketing budgets, and modern films opening on more screens. Another contributing factor is inflation not being taken into account.

Biggest worldwide openings for an animated film since 2002

This list charts animated films that had openings in excess of $100 million worldwide. Since animated films do not open on Fridays in many markets, the 'opening' is taken to be the gross between the first day of release and the first Sunday. Figures prior to 2002 are not available.
Figures are given in United States dollars. 2013 is the most represented year, with four films. The Ice Age and Despicable Me franchises are the most represented franchises, with three films each. Disney is the most represented studio with eleven films.
This list does not take into account country-by-country variations in release dates. Therefore, in some cases opening weekend grosses from many, or even most countries may not be included.
RankFilmWorldwide opening YearRef
1Zootopia 2560.32025
2Ne Zha 2431.32025
3Moana 2389.32024
4The Super Mario Bros. Movie375.62023
5Frozen II358.52019
6Inside Out 2294.22024
7The Lion King (2019)245.92019
8Toy Story 4244.52019
9Minions: The Rise of Gru2412022
10Incredibles 2235.82018
11Despicable Me 4229.52024
12Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs218.42009
13Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse208.72023
14Finding Dory185.72016
15The Simpsons Movie170.92007
16Jiang Ziya: Legend of Deification151.72020
17Despicable Me 2147.42013
18Toy Story 3145.32010
19Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted137.62012
20Monsters University136.92013
21Shrek the Third136.82007
22Shrek 2131.12004
23Minions128.32015
24Ralph Breaks the Internet1272018
25Ice Age: Continental Drift126.92012

Timeline of biggest worldwide openings for an animated film since 2001

At least eight animated films have held the record of highest-grossing animated film at different times. Pixar has held the record the most of any time with three films in 2001, 2018, and 2019.
FilmEstablishedRecord-setting opening Ref
Monsters, Inc.200184.8
The Simpsons Movie2007170.9
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs2009218.4
Incredibles 22018235.8
Toy Story 4June 2019244.5
The Lion King (2019)July 2019245.9
Frozen IINovember 2019358.5
The Super Mario Bros. Movie2023375.6
Moana 22024389.3
Ne Zha 2January 2025431.3
Zootopia 2November 2025560.3

Biggest opening weekend in U.S. and Canada for an animated film

This list charts the top 50 highest-grossing opening weekends in the U.S. and Canada for an animated film.
Figures are given in United States dollars. Ninety-eight percent of the films in the top 50 were released after 2000 with 2015 and 2016 being the most represented years, with six films each. Despicable Me is the most represented franchise, with 5 films.
DreamWorks Animation and Pixar are the most represented studios with 17 films each on the list.
RankFilmGross YearRef
1.The Lion King (2019)191.82019
2.Incredibles 2182.72018
3.Inside Out 2154.22024
4.The Super Mario Bros. Movie146.42023
5.Moana 2139.82024
6.Finding Dory135.12016
7.Frozen II130.32019
8.Shrek the Third121.62007
9.Toy Story 4120.92019
10.Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse120.62023
11.Minions115.22015
12.Toy Story 3110.32010
13.Shrek 2108.02004
14.Minions: The Rise of Gru1072022
15.The Secret Life of Pets104.32016
16.Zootopia 2100.32025
17.Inside Out90.42015
18.Despicable Me 283.52013
19.Monsters University82.42013
20.Zootopia75.12016
21.Despicable Me 4752024
22.The Simpsons Movie742007
23.Despicable Me 372.42017
24.Shrek Forever After70.82010
25.The Incredibles70.52004
26.Finding Nemo70.32003
27.The Lorax70.22012
28The Lego Movie69.12014
29.Up68.12009
30.Ice Age: The Meltdown682006
31.The Grinch67.62018
32.Frozen67.42013
33.Brave66.32012
34.Cars 266.132011
35.Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa63.112008
36.WALL-E63.102008
37.Monsters, Inc.62.32001
38.Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted60.32012
39.Kung Fu Panda60.22008
40.Cars60.12006
41.Monsters vs. Aliens59.32009
42.Kung Fu Panda 457.92024
43.Toy Story 257.41999
44.Moana56.62016
45.Despicable Me56.42010
46.Ralph Breaks the Internet56.22018
47.Big Hero 656.22014
48.The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water55.42015
49.Cars 353.72017
50.The Lego Batman Movie532017

Opening weekend record holders in U.S. and Canada since 1982

These are the films that, when first released, set the opening three-day weekend record after going into wide release.
At least 14 animated films have held the record of highest-grossing animated film at different times since 1982. Two of these were in the DreamWorks animations Shrek franchise. Disney and Pixar held the record five times each as of 2018.
FilmEstablishedRecord-setting opening Ref
The Secret of NIMHJuly 19821.4
The Last UnicornNovember 19822.3
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs19836.0
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs19877.51
The Land Before Time19887.52
Aladdin199219.3
The Lion King199440.9
Toy Story 2199957.4
Monsters, Inc.200162.6
Finding Nemo200370.3
Shrek 22004108.0
Shrek the Third2007121.6
Finding Dory2016135.1
Incredibles 22018182.7
The Lion King (2019)2019191.8

Biggest opening week in U.S. and Canada for an animated film

This list charts animated films that had openings in excess of $70 million in their first week.
Figures are given in United States dollars. 42.8% of the films in the top 35 were released after 2010, 2016 is the most represented year, with four films. Shrek, Madagascar, and Despicable Me are the most represented franchises with three films. All films in Cars, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, Madagascar main film series, and Despicable Me franchises are on the list. Pixar is the most represented studio with 14 films on the list.
rankfilmgross yearref
1The Lion King (2019)275.22019
2Incredibles 2269.42018
3Inside Out 2255.22024
4The Super Mario Bros. Movie240.22023
5Moana 2239.42024
6Finding Dory213.32016
7Frozen II2022019
8Toy Story 41792019
9Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse1702023
10Zootopia 2169.92025
11Toy Story 3167.62010
12Minions166.52015
13Minions: The Rise of Gru164.52022
14The Secret Life of Pets152.62016
15Shrek the Third149.42007
16Shrek 2143.82004
17Inside Out132.82015
18Despicable Me 2124.92013
19Monsters University124.82013
20The Simpsons Movie102.92007
21Brave97.72012
22Finding Nemo97.52003
23WALL-E94.72008
24Up93.12009
25The Incredibles932004
26Zootopia92.62016
27Cars 290.92011
28Shrek Forever After89.82010
29The Grinch88.42018
30Moana87.62016
31Despicable Me85.62010
32Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted852012
33Kung Fu Panda83.72008
34Cars83.32006
35The Lorax82.92012
36Ice Age: The Meltdown81.92006
37Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa81.82008
38Ratatouille80.52007
39Monsters, Inc.80.32001
40Frozen76.12013
41Big Hero 675.62014
42Cars 374.72017
43Madagascar72.32005
44Monsters vs. Aliens72.22009
45Kung Fu Panda 270.32011

Biggest opening day in U.S. and Canada for an animated film

This list charts animated films that had openings in excess of $16 million on their first day of release in the U.S. and Canada. Figures are given in United States dollars. 64% of the films in this list were released after 2010. 2018 is the most represented year on the list with 4 films.
All films in the main series Cars, Despicable Me, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles are present on this list and Despicable Me is the most represented franchise with 4 films. Pixar is the most represented studios with 13 films on the list.
rankfilmgross yearRef
1The Lion King (2019)77.952019
2Incredibles 271.32018
3Inside Out 263.52024
4Moana 257.92024
5Finding Dory54.772016
6Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse51.82023
7Minions: The Rise of Gru48.232022
8Toy Story 447.422019
9Minions46.072015
10Frozen II42.232019
11Toy Story 341.142010
12The Secret Life of Pets38.52016
13Zootopia 238.52025
14Shrek the Third38.452007
15Despicable Me 235.0052013
16Inside Out34.32015
17The Super Mario Bros. Movie31.72023
18Monsters University30.592013
19Despicable Me 329.022017
20Despicable Me 427.22024
21Cars 225.782011
22Brave24.72012
23WALL-E23.262008
24Ice Age: The Meltdown21.832006
25Up21.512009
26Despicable Me21.32010
27Shrek Forever After20.832010
28Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted20.772012
29The Incredibles20.592004
30Kung Fu Panda20.332008
31Finding Nemo20.22003
32Cars19.742006
33Cars 319.662017
34Zootopia19.52016
35Kung Fu Panda 419.42024
36The Grinch18.682018
37Ralph Breaks the Internet18.532018
38How to Train Your Dragon 218.52014
39Monsters, Inc.17.832001
40Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa17.692008
41Dr. Seuss' The Lorax17.552012
42The Lego Movie17.12014
43Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation16.982018
44Monsters vs Aliens16.822009
45Ice Age Continental Drift16.772012
46Ratatouille16.512007

Biggest opening weekends outside the United States for an animated film since 2002

This list charts the biggest opening weekends outside the United States for an animated film since 2002. Figures are given in United States dollars. 75% of the films in the top 12 were released after 2010. 2011 are the most represented years on the list with 4 films. Films must exceed $40 million.
Pixar is the most represented studios with 5 films on the list.
rankfilmoverseas gross yearRef
1Ne Zha 2431.32025
2Zootopia 2401.52025
3Frozen II228.22019
4The Super Mario Bros. Movie1712023
5Moana 2163.82024
6Jiang Ziya: Legend of Deification151.72020
7Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs151.72009
8Inside Out 21402024
9Toy Story 4123.62019
10Despicable Me 4106.92024
11The Simpsons Movie96.92007
12Ne Zha94.92019
13Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse88.12023
14Ice Age: Continental Drift80.32012
15Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted77.32013
16Kung Fu Panda 375.72016
17The Adventures of Tintin56.22011
18Kung Fu Panda 255.52011
19Rio54.92011
20Monsters University54.52013