Highest-Grossing Disney Movies Ever
Disney churns out hit after hit at the box office.Disney knows what it’s doing when it comes to making big money with good storytelling. The company first became well known in the feature world for its family fun and heartwarming animated features, but in recent decades, it has acquired a number of incredibly lucrative franchises and companies, including Lucasfilm, Marvel, and Pixar.
With those powerhouse properties under their belt, Disney has been churning out hit after hit at the box office, and huge numbers of people are turning out at theaters worldwide for the experience.
These are the top-grossing Disney movies of all time.
24. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
This "Pirates" installment did extremely well overseas.Year: 2007
Worldwide gross: $963,420,425
Domestic gross: $309,420,425
Overseas: $654,000,000
Note: The listed numbers are from Box Office Mojo and don’t adjust for inflation. These massive numbers also don’t account for any of the other major sources of income a successful property can bring in, like spin-offs, TV shows, Broadway plays, park attractions, video games, branded experiences, and merchandise, all of which bring in even more profit for each franchise.
Bottom Line: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End" was released in 2007.This movie smartly capitalized on the popularity of its predecessors and incorporated even more elements of the high seas franchise that people had come to expect (and clearly love).
While this "Pirates" installment maybe wouldn’t have made the top 20 list based on domestic gross alone, it did extremely well overseas, which brought its overall gross to nearly one billion dollars.
23. The Jungle Book
This 2016 remake was not a faithful retelling on its animated film predecessor.Year: 2016
Worldwide gross: $966,554,929
Domestic gross: $364,001,123
Overseas: $602,553,806
Bottom Line: The Jungle Book
The updated "Jungle Book" paid off big.Delving again into their archives, Disney once again revamped one of the 2D animated films and rebooted it for current times.
Unlike some of the others, this remake took a lot more liberty from the animated film rather than staying relatively closer to the original like some others had done.
But, clearly, the deviation paid off big.
22. Zootopia
Along with it's box office success, "Zootopia" won an Oscar.Year: 2016
Worldwide gross: $1,023,792,558
Domestic gross: $341,268,248
Overseas: $682,524,310
Bottom Line: Zootopia
"Zootopia" exceeded expectations."Zootopia" not only blew away expectations at the box office, making a ton of money and introducing a completely new world to moviegoers that they hadn’t yet experienced from Disney, but it also won an Oscar.
A sequel is scheduled to be released in November 2021, so we’ll get to see more of these animated animals in the future.
21. Alice in Wonderland
The 2010 "Alice in Wonderland" is a live-action reboot of the beloved children’s story.Year: 2010
Worldwide gross: $1,025,468,216
Domestic gross: $334,191,110
Overseas: $691,277,106
Bottom Line: Alice in Wonderland
Johnny Depp starred in this "Alice in Wonderland."The live-action reboot of the beloved children’s story expressed all the weirdness and wonder that audiences hoped for.
It was also one of the first live-action reboots Disney that delved into its own animated intellectual property vault, and the big payoff made the filmmakers more confident about doing the same to other popular animated stories in the future.
20. Finding Dory
"Finding Dory" was a spin-off sequel to the underwater adventure "Finding Nemo."Year: 2016
Worldwide gross: $1,028,570,942
Domestic gross: $486,295,561
Overseas: $542,275,381
Bottom Line: Finding Dory
Dory searched for her long-lost parents in the spin-off sequel.The spin-off sequel to the wildly popular underwater adventure "Finding Nemo" was well-loved by audiences both domestically and internationally.
Ellen Degeneres stole the show during the original movie, so it only seemed appropriate that her live-in-the-moment optimistic fish character would get a chance to tell her own story.
19. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
"Rogue One" was the first standalone "Star Wars" installment for Disney.Year: 2016
Worldwide gross: $1,056,057,720
Domestic gross: $532,177,324
Overseas: $523,880,396
Bottom Line: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
"Rogue One" was very popular.The first standalone "Star Wars" installment, this movie was a bit of an experiment that paid off for Disney.
Unlike any of the other series that pick up in particular timelines with well-known characters, this movie introduced a completely new set of heroes who you knew played into a small part of the main storyline, even if they were never going to get any sort of sequel.
18. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
"Dead Man's Chest" was an even more successful follow-up to the original 2003 "Pirates of the Caribbean."Year: 2006
Worldwide gross: $1,066,179,747
Domestic gross: $423,315,812
Overseas: $ 642,863,935
Bottom Line: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) raced to recover the heart of Davy Jones to avoid enslaving his soul to Jones' service.The intensely popular follow-up to the original 2003 "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie gave audiences more of what they wanted — pirates, pirate talk, pirates fighting, and Johnny Depp as the wobbly yet charming Jack Sparrow.
17. Toy Story 3
"Toy Story 3" was a tear-jerking addition to the beloved Pixar toy tale.Year: 2010
Worldwide gross: $1,066,970,811
Domestic gross: $415,004,880
Overseas: $651,965,931
Bottom Line: Toy Story 3
Woody had to convince the other toys to return home in "Toy Story 3."The tear-jerking third installment of the beloved Pixar toy tale was wildly popular, and understandably so.
The original movie was released in 1995 and basically redefined 3D animated storytelling.
Each movie of the series proved to be as beloved as the next, with the third one beautifully telling the story of these toys and the childhood of Andy, the boy who loved them, while many of the people who originally saw the first movie as children embraced the fact that they, too, were now grown up.
16. Toy Story 4
Year: 2019
Worldwide gross: $1,073,394,593
Domestic gross: $434,038,008
Overseas: $639,356,585
Bottom Line: Toy Story 4
If it's ain't broke, don't fix it. And release another sequel. That is the Disney/Pixar motto. And it works.
The fourth movie of the "Toy Story" franchise was another home run. Will there be a fifth version with Woody and friends?
The smart money says yes.
15. The Lion King
The 1994 "Lion King" is one of the most record-breaking animated films of all time.Year: 1994
Worldwide gross: $1,083,720,877
Domestic gross: $422,783,777
Overseas: $660,937,100
Bottom Line: The Lion King
Over 60 percent of the worldwide gross for the 1994 "The Lion King" version came from overseas.Considering these numbers aren’t adjusted for inflation, it’s almost mind-boggling to think about how much of a hit this mid-1990s movie was.
It spawned all sorts of TV spin-offs, an incredibly popular Broadway show, and a ton of intellectual properties that continue to be popular today.
It’s easily one of the most record-breaking and impressive animated movies of all time.
14. Captain America: Civil War
"Captain America: Civil War" picked up a large percent of its revenue generated at the international box office.Year: 2016
Worldwide gross: $1,153,337,496
Domestic gross: $408,084,349
Overseas: $745,253,147
Bottom Line: Captain America: Civil War
A rift between Captain America and Iron Man added a new twist to the Marvel franchise.The promise of both introducing new popular characters like Ant Man, plus having the beloved Avengers fight against each other meant that people wanted to get out and see this movie.
Like many of the Marvel franchise, it did really well domestically, but annihilated overseas with almost twice as much revenue generated at the international box office.
13. Iron Man 3
"Iron Man" was one of the first superhero movies of the Marvel world.Year: 2013
Worldwide gross: $1,214,811,252
Domestic gross: $409,013,994
Overseas: $805,797,258
Bottom Line: Iron Man 3
Tony Stark went on an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution in "Iron Man 3."Iron Man was one of the first superheroes of the Marvel world, and it paved the way for the rest.
His popularity remains extremely high, so it’s no big surprise that the third installment of this superhero trilogy story garnered a lot of interest from moviegoers.
12. The Incredibles 2
"The Incredibles 2" box-office revenue is still growing.Year: 2018
Worldwide gross: $1,243,089,244
Domestic gross: $608,581,744
Overseas: $634,507,500
Bottom Line: The Incredibles 2
Audiences love the Incredibles family."The Incredibles" are a pretty popular animated family.
Don't be surprised if it's already impressive overall gross number continues to grow.
11. Beauty and the Beast
The 2017 live-action revamp of the original animated movie was a huge success for Disney.Year: 2017
Worldwide gross: $1,264,434,525
Domestic gross: $504,014,165
Overseas: $759,953,360
Bottom Line: Beauty and the Beast
"Beauty and the Beast" got better with age.The live-action revamp of the original animated movie proved to be a major success for Disney.
It didn’t hurt that the wildly popular Emma Watson, who already had the "Harry Potter" franchise under her belt, starred and sang as the beloved Belle.
Plus, the fact that technology finally made it possible to create a believable-looking CGI characters made the film feel like you were bringing the magic of your childhood back to life.
10. Frozen
"Frozen" employs the winning formula of magical and talking inanimate object sidekicks and, of course, princesses.Year: 2013
Worldwide gross: $1,281,835,246
Domestic gross: $400,953,009
Overseas: $880,882,237
Bottom Line: Frozen
"Frozen" used 3D animation.Anyone living in 2013 likely heard the breakout hit song (and at some point had the chorus stuck in their head), "Let It Go" from this Disney musical.
This animated film wasn’t the traditional 2D animation that put Disney first on the map. But it was the 3D style that Disney has embraced in recent decades.
The storyline was similar to the more classic Disney style involving magical and talking inanimate object sidekicks and, of course, princesses.
9. Star Wars: The Last Jedi
"The Last Jedi" was the first follow-up to the record-breaking reboot of the "Star Wars" franchise.Year: 2017
Worldwide gross: $1,332,698,830
Domestic gross: $620,181,382
Overseas: $712,517,448
Bottom Line: Star Wars: The Last Jedi
"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" had a lot of great action scenes.The first follow-up to the record-breaking reboot of the "Star Wars" franchise, this movie promised (and delivered) a whole lot more of the OG force-user, Luke Skywalker.
The storylines between the old and new continued to effortlessly meld, and people who wanted elements of the original trilogy were satisfied as were people who enjoy all the delightful nuances of the newer characters and their world.
8. Black Panther
"Black Panther" was a surprise hit for Marvel, spurring talk of a sequel.Year: 2018
Worldwide gross: $1,347,597,973
Domestic gross: $700,426,566
Overseas: $647,171,407
Bottom Line: Black Panther
Chadwick Boseman, who played Black Panther, died in 2020.This movie was a surprise hit for Marvel, blowing any other stand alone superhero character out of the water.
The sequel to the breakout hit is scheduled to hit theaters in July 2022.
Just like the comic books, there are all sorts of ways that characters can continue to exist in the Marvel Universe even after something dramatic happens in one timeline.
7. Avengers: Age of Ultron
"Avengers: Age of Ultron" did twice as well overseas as it did domestically.Year: 2015
Worldwide gross: $1,405,403,694
Domestic gross: $459,005,868
Overseas: $946,397,826
Bottom Line: Avengers: Age of Ultron
"Avengers: Age of Ultron" had great action and laughs.After seeing the Avengers squabble amongst themselves and go through their own battles, this movie helped show where the franchise would go now that the allure of first fighting together had worn off.
It continued to show how new characters would be brought into the fold while keeping that action and laughs that moviegoers (especially those overseas) love.
6. Frozen 2
Year: 2019
Worldwide gross: $1,450,026,933
Domestic gross: $477,373,578
Overseas: $972,653,355
Bottom Line: Frozen II
"Frozen II" was the 58th animated film produced by the Walt Disney Animation Studios, but it's one of Disney's best animated movies.
Not bad for a sequel. This "Frozen" film was released six years after the original 2013 film. And it was worth the wait.
Audiences really love the characters of Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven.
5. Marvel’s The Avengers
The 2012 "Avengers" defined how many of the Marvel franchise films would be produced.Year: 2012
Worldwide gross: $1,518,815,515
Domestic gross: $623,357,910
Overseas: $895,457,605
Bottom Line: Marvel’s The Avengers
"The Avengers" made over $1.5 billion in worldwide gross.After steadily introducing many of the Marvel characters through their own standalone movies, it’s understandable that the first time you see them all work together will get butts in seats.
The original "Avengers" was an action-packed yet highly playful movie that would help define how many of the Marvel franchise would be produced in the future.
4. The Lion King (2019)
Year: 2019
Worldwide gross: $1,657,870,986
Domestic gross: $543,638,043
Overseas: $1,114,232,943
Bottom Line: The Lion King (2019)
What's better than an animated movie about animals that teaches the meaning of responsibility and bravery?
A photorealistic computer-animated remake of the same classic film from 1994.
This version was even more popular.
3. Avengers: Infinity War
"Avengers: Infinity War" was one of most true-to-the-comics movies of the entire franchise.Year: 2018
Worldwide gross: $2,048,359,754
Domestic gross: $678,815,482
Overseas: $1,369,544,272
Bottom Line: Avengers: Infinity War
There were some heart-wrenching moments in "Infinity War."This "Avengers" movie did particularly well overseas.
The story delivered on a promise that there would be some absolutely heart-wrenching moments, and it was one of the most true-to-the-comics movies of the entire franchise.
2. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
"The Force Awakens" was the 2015 reboot of the beloved franchise.Year: 2015
Worldwide gross: $2,068,455,677
Domestic gross: $936,662,225
Overseas: $1,131,793,452
Bottom Line: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
"The Force Awakens" lived up to the hype.The much-anticipated reboot of the beloved franchise lived up to all the expectations.
Despite the fact that there was an immense amount of pressure, Disney and the filmmakers totally delivered a captivating story that seamlessly wove the original characters into a totally new world that the franchise has capitalized on.
1. Avengers: Endgame
Year: 2019
Worldwide gross: $2,797,501,328
Domestic gross: $858,373,000
Overseas: $1,939,128,328
Bottom Line: Avengers: Endgame
"Avengers: Endgame" didn't just live up to the hype. It exceeded it as the Avengers came together to reverse Thanos' action and restore order to the universe.
That's why the movie made so much money.
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