MANILA, Philippines — Animated films continue to prove their massive appeal at the global box office, with titles from Hollywood, Japan and China dominating the list of the industry’s biggest theatrical successes.
According to Deadline’s latest ranking of the 30 highest-grossing animated movies of all time, Chinese animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 currently holds the top spot, surpassing a number of major Disney, Pixar and Illumination franchises.
Released in 2025, Ne Zha 2 has earned approximately $2.26 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing animated film in history. Its extraordinary performance also highlights the growing international influence of Chinese animation in a market long dominated by Hollywood studios.
Following closely behind is Disney’s Zootopia 2, also released in 2025, with approximately $1.87 billion worldwide. The film’s performance has strengthened Disney’s position in the global animation market and has already led the studio to announce that Zootopia 3 is in development.
Pixar’s Inside Out 2 ranks among the biggest animated hits, earning nearly $1.70 billion worldwide. The 2024 sequel became a major theatrical success and, before being overtaken by Ne Zha 2, held the record as the highest-grossing animated film worldwide.
Other major titles in the upper tier include Disney’s Frozen II, which earned more than $1.45 billion, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which grossed more than $1.36 billion globally.
The success of these films demonstrates the continuing strength of animated entertainment across generations. Established franchises remain powerful box-office draws, but the rise of Ne Zha 2 also shows that audiences are increasingly embracing animated stories from outside Hollywood.
Animation has also remained a major force at the box office in 2026. Among this year’s releases, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has emerged as a major global hit, while Toy Story 5 has also added to the continued strength of established animated franchises.
For decades, animated films were often viewed primarily as family entertainment. Today, their box-office performance tells a much bigger story: animation has become one of the most commercially powerful forms of global cinema, capable of generating billion-dollar revenues and attracting audiences across cultures.
With major sequels and new animated franchises still on the horizon, the race for the top spot is far from over.
