It's no secret that Disney is at the top of the ladder when it comes to making money among film studios. Almost everything that the company churns out turns into a commercial success to the point where their rare flops don't even seem to impact them all that much.
Obviously, Pixar, and Lucasfilm all deliver box office hits but another hugely profitable section of the brand is Walt Disney Animation Studios. Since the '30s, they've put out some of the most popular and beloved animated films in history, with a handful of them breaking box office records as blockbuster hits.
Updated on February 3rd, 2022 by Kevin Pantoja: There aren't many studios in cinema history that can compete with Walt Disney Animation Studios. They've been around for nearly a century to this point and have been behind some of the most iconic films ever made. However, with the ever-changing landscape of movie theaters, finding out the highest grossing Disney movies can be a bit surprising. Some classics might not have made as much money as you would think, while some newer less memorable ones hit big at the box office.
The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1996) - $325.3 Million
Adapted from the 1831 gotch novel of the same name, Disney's take on The Hunchback of Notre Dame is an interesting one in their history. It could be argued that it's the darkest film ever put out by the studio, tackling themes of genocide, lust, and more.
The story centers on a bell ringer with a look deemed unfit as he works with a gypsy to take down a tyrannical government official and try to fit into society. With great music and a captivating tale, it was a hit. However, the $325.3 million intake might be a surprise given the darker tone of the movie.
Pocahontas (1995) - $346 Million
The Renaissance Era for Disney was a massive one but many will agree that it likely peaked in 1994. Following the massive success that was The Lion King, the studio put out Pocahontas, which was nowhere near that level of hit but still did very well for itself.
Pocahontas is based on the real story of the Powhatan woman who encountered English settlers but it romanticizes things including her relationship with John Smith. It ultimately went on to rack up $346 million though it hasn't aged well due to some of the changes made to the story.
Dinosaur (2000) - $349.8 Million
One of the most forgotten films in the history of Walt Disney Animation Studios is certainly Dinosaur. That's why it is likely pretty surprising to find that it made more money than the likes of Lilo & Stitch, Mulan, The Little Mermaid, and other more beloved and legendary movies.
Dinosaur ended up making $349.8 million and while it might not be fondly ed, the box office intake does make sense. Even if the plot about an orphaned dinosaur who is raised by lemurs but ultimately finds his own kind didn't suck in audiences, the new style of animation brought them to the theater in droves.
Beauty And The Beast (1991) - $424.4 Million
The Disney Renaissance was truly in full swing with the arrival of man cursed to live as a beast and the sweet woman who warms his heart during her time as his prisoner.
The movie was so well-received that it made history by becoming the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Along with its impressive critical success, the film also raced to $424.9 million at the box office and led to a live-action remake and Broadway show.
Tarzan (1999) - $448.1 Million
The story of Tarzan is another one that has been seen and heard plenty of times over the years. However, Disney's take on it might be the most famous and the most memorable thing from the film is the Phil Collins songs on the soundtrack.
Everyone re the iconic tracks Collins made for the movie and it only added to how it reached $448.1 million at the box office. Tarzan centers on the titular man raised by gorillas who must decide which world he belongs in when he meets other humans and falls in love with a woman named Jane.
Wreck-It Ralph (2012) - $471.2 Million
With box office numbers higher than ever during the 2010s, a lot of Walt Disney Animation Studios' most profitable films are from that era. That may mean they aren't considered all-time classics just yet but something like Wreck-It Ralph may earn that reputation down the line.
The film focuses on a video game villain named Ralph who embarks on a quest to become the hero of his own story. It was well-received enough to earn an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature. The $471.2 million it grossed globally was also enough to spawn a sequel a few years later as well.
Aladdin (1992) - $504 Million
There's a reason the '90s is known as the Renaissance Era for the studio. It cranked out movies that were both commercial and critical successes, including Aladdin. Not only did it gross an impressive $504 million but it made history as the first animated film to the half-billion-dollar mark.
To this day, Aladdin, telling the story of a street urchin who gains power when a genie grants his wishes, is a classic. The voice work of Robin Williams is also considered some of the best in any movie. While no sequel hit theaters, the live-action remake in 2019 sured the $1 billion threshold.
Ralph Breaks The Internet (2018) - $529.3 Million
In a lot of cases, sequels manage to make more money than the original film since they build upon the popularity of what came first. That was the case with Ralph Breaks The Internet, which grossed about $50 million more than its predecessor, capping out at $529.3 million.
Though some of the aspects are the same in this follow-up, audiences still adored the bond between Ralph and Vanellope. The film was praised for that pairing being entertaining, as well as the creative way that it depicted various aspects of the internet that the characters traveled through. Plus, it featured a bunch of Disney princesses in one scene.
Tangled (2010) - $592.4 Million
One of the things that Walt Disney Animated Studios has always been good at is taking classic stories and managing to put their own unique twist on them. They did it with Aladdin, Robin Hood, Beauty and the Beast, and more. It happened again at the start of the 2010s with Tangled.
This was a new look at the classic tale of Rapunzel and her legendary long hair, adding in fun bits like Flynn Rider and Pascal. Not only was this a box office hit at $592.4 million but it also scored several Oscar nominations. Its popularity also led to both a short film and a television series down the line.
Moana (2016) - $643.9 Million
In recent years, the studio has shifted part of its focus and has given more shine to different people. 2016 saw the release of Moana, which centered on a strong Polynesian girl who is chosen by the sea to go on an epic quest.
