By Sarmind Safi
Over the past century, animated films have won over many people’s hearts and minds. It has steadily gained traction over the previous few decades as advancements in technology continue. Animation is no longer exclusively for kids. It has become a recognized genre in movies.
Animation has the rare capacity to unleash the creative potential of its creators. Anything that can be imagined is sketchable and animated for the screen. Some of the most stunning worlds and images in all of cinema have come from animation. The appeal of animation has grown due to its exceptional storytelling combined with gorgeous visuals, appealing to a wide age range of viewers.
In this article, we are bringing a list of the highest grossing animated movies of all time. Stay tuned because you may find your favorite on the list.
Highest Grossing Animated Movies Of All Time
Animation has reached a point where it can give tough competition to some of the biggest films produced in the industry today. Here are the IMDb-approved highest-grossing animated movies of all time.
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse
After receiving high marks for its 2018 prequel, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse had a lot to live up to. Fortunately, it exceeded expectations when it debuted earlier this year. Across the Spider-Verse, an expansion of Miles’ story, explores various areas of the Multiverse and introduces the protagonist to a number of Spider-People who band together to defend existence itself. He quickly finds out a startling truth about his involvement in it all.
The 2023 movie has received high praise for its stunning visuals, and each frame serves as a tribute to the strength and elegance of animation at its finest. The film’s strikingly emotional plot is perfectly junctured with moments of mesmerizing creativity and originality. Fans and critics alike will hopefully be able to support this superhero film trilogy when it comes to the much-awaited Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.
Spirited Away
The stunning artwork and exquisite rendering of landscapes that Studio Ghibli is renowned for completely immerse the viewer in their fantastical worlds. This movie follows Chihiro, ten, and her family while they move to a rural area. The sulky little girl’s parents turn into pigs, and she transports into a fantastical world of spirits and gods.
A captivating fairy tale, Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpiece is full of fascinating characters and breathtaking imagery. It’s one of those animated films that, even after you’ve seen it, lingers in the back of your mind. It makes you want to take a magical journey into the world of spirits and magic.
The Lion King
One of the all-time great animated films is Disney’s The Lion King. The Lion King is based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It centers on Simba, a young cub who is eager to succeed his father, Mufasa, as a great king. However, Scar, Scar’s evil uncle, has other plans for the throne and will stop at nothing to get it.
The Lion King is Disney at its finest. It has a vibrant cast of recognizable characters, a catchy Disney soundtrack, musical numbers, and themes directly borrowed from Shakespeare. Animation at its finest, this work creates a stunning world of fate, treachery, and accountability.
Coco
Miguel is a young musician who just wants to play the guitar. But he has to keep his talent a secret because his family has always prohibited music. The urge to follow in the footsteps of his great-great-grandfather Ernesto de la Cruz, a musician, drives him forward. He ends up in the vibrant, chaotic realm of the Land of the Dead.
Miguel travels to the enchanted afterlife with his faithful friend Dante in search of his idol. But he ends up discovering a horrifying secret about Miguel’s family. The whole family will love Coco, a vibrant, humorous, animated movie with amazing music.
Your Name
This exquisitely animated anime film chronicles the mysterious connection and subsequent body-swapping of two teenagers: 17-year-old Mitshua from the countryside and Taki, a high school student in Tokyo. They both want a change in their lives because they are unhappy with them.
The movie is a heartfelt, enchanted, and romantic story that deftly combines fantasy and reality. Your Name tells a novel, thought-provoking story of two star-crossed people growing up with its beautiful animation and themes of love, youth, and destiny.
Toy Story
Toy Story, a Pixar production that revolutionized the animation industry, showcased the pinnacle of the genre’s advancements during its release. The protagonist is Woody, a cowboy doll who likes to be Andy’s most loved toy. Buzz Lightyear is a flashy newcomer, who threatens Woody’s position, and chaos ensues, taking the two of them far from home.
Toy Story, which debuted in 1995, is still one of Pixar’s greatest animated films and a rewatch favorite that many generations have loved. In addition, the critically acclaimed movie is now an incredibly popular franchise that is still going strong today. The eagerly awaited Toy Story 5 is set to bring fans’ favorite characters back to the big screen.
Up
Up tells the heartwarming tale of an elderly widower named Carl Fredricksen who, in order to keep a promise he made to his late wife, Ellie, sets out on an adventure through the South American wilderness. A talking dog named Dug and an overeager Wilderness Explorer, Russell, join Carl on his house ride as it glides through the sky with hundreds of balloons.
The film is hilarious, gorgeous to look at, and sometimes heartfelt—all the qualities that make Pixar productions so popular. Mature audiences will value its message that it’s never too late to go on an adventure, while younger audiences will enjoy the crazy journey. It has held up remarkably well and is worth seeing again with family and friends.
Howl’s Moving Castle
In the animated film Howl’s Moving Castle, Emily Mortimer plays Sophie, a young hatmaker who meets a malicious witch and turns into an elderly woman. Sophie searches for the enigmatic wizard Howl (voiced by Christian Bale) and his mysterious moving castle in hopes of breaking the curse.
A beloved Studio Ghibli film, Howl’s Moving Castle tells a fantastic story of magic, romance, and war while introducing viewers to beloved characters like Billy Crystal’s Calcifer. All of this combines a potent message against war while also emphasizing feminist ideas about aging well and being empowered.
Finding Nemo
Finding Nemo is a Pixar classic that hardly needs an introduction. It revolves around the heroic journey that a jaded clownfish named Marlin (Albert Brooks) sets out on after his son Nemo (Alexander Gould) is taken to Sydney by humans. Marlin encounters a variety of bizarre characters along the route, including eccentric sharks, amiable sea turtles, and Ellen DeGeneres’s Dory.
One of the most rewatchable Pixar movies ever made, it has a family-focused plot that is even more engaging for its relatable and frequently humorous characters. All ages can enjoy this animated film, but older audiences may find it insightful to see Marlin’s perspective—and unexpectedly tragic past—in a new light when they rewatch it years later.
Wrapping Up
We have honorable mentions for animated classics that we also suggest. They are:
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Treasure Planet, The Emperor’s New Groove, Lilo & Stitch, Tarzan, The Ice Age series, Disney’s Lady and the Tramp, The Emperor’s New Groove, Madagascar, and One Hundred and One Dalmatians. For adults only, we highly recommend the hilarious musical South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut.
These have been the highest-grossing animated movies of all time. If you have thoughts to share or questions to ask, please leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you!
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