Disney’s “Inside Out 2” Becomes the Highest-Grossing Animated Film Ever

Disney reclaims the animation box office crown with “Inside Out 2” surpassing “Frozen II” as the highest-grossing animated movie of all time.

Soaring Past the Competition

As of July 24, 2024, “Inside Out 2” has raked in a staggering $1.46 billion globally, dethroning Disney’s own “Frozen II” that previously held the record. This impressive feat is further bolstered by the fact that the film has yet to open in Japan, a territory that significantly contributed to the original “Inside Out’s” global success in 2015.

A Box Office Milestone

This record-breaking achievement for “Inside Out 2” comes after a period of mixed box office results for Disney’s animated releases. The COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly played a role, with theatrical closures and the studio’s decision to release some animated films directly on Disney+ impacting performance. In fact, prior to “Inside Out 2,” no Disney animated feature, whether from Pixar or Walt Disney Animation Studios, had surpassed $480 million globally since 2019.

It’s important to note that Disney categorizes their 2019 remake of “The Lion King,” despite its near-entirety being computer-generated, as a live-action film. Under this classification, “The Lion King” remains the highest-grossing animated feature with a box office haul exceeding $1.6 billion. Box office analysts generally adhere to Disney’s categorization.

Looking Ahead

With “Inside Out 2” still playing in theaters and its Japanese debut on the horizon, the film’s total box office revenue is poised to climb even higher. This achievement signifies a potential return to dominance for Disney animation and Pixar, solidifying their position as leading forces in the animation industry.