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Some animated movies don’t just perform well. They become cultural events. They break box office records, win Academy Awards, inspire entire generations of filmmakers, and stay in the public conversation for decades. Those are the films on this list.
We ranked the top 10 best animated movies of all time based on popularity, which means we weighted box office performance, audience reach, cultural impact, awards recognition, and lasting fan love. This isn’t about which film has the highest critic score. It’s about which animated movies became the biggest, most beloved, and most talked-about films in the world. From Disney and Pixar classics to Japanese anime that shattered global records, these 10 films changed what animation means to audiences everywhere.
The Full Top 10 at a Glance
| # | Movie | Year | Studio | Box Office | RT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spirited Away | 2001 | Studio Ghibli | $395M | 97% |
| 2 | The Lion King | 1994 | Disney | $968M | 93% |
| 3 | Inside Out 2 | 2024 | Pixar | $1.69B | 91% |
| 4 | Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse | 2018 | Sony | $375M | 97% |
| 5 | Toy Story | 1995 | Pixar | $373M | 100% |
| 6 | Your Name | 2016 | CoMix Wave | $380M | 98% |
| 7 | Frozen | 2013 | Disney | $1.28B | 90% |
| 8 | Demon Slayer: Mugen Train | 2020 | ufotable | $504M | 98% |
| 9 | WALL-E | 2008 | Pixar | $521M | 95% |
| 10 | Ne Zha 2 | 2025 | Beijing Enlight | $1.7B+ | N/A |
The Top 10 Ranked
1. Spirited Away (2001)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki | Studio: Studio Ghibli | Box Office: $395M | RT: 97%
Spirited Away sits at #1 because no animated movie has ever combined critical acclaim, audience love, cultural influence, and historical significance the way this film does. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It’s the highest-grossing film in Japanese box office history. And it opened the door for anime to be taken seriously as a global art form.
Hayao Miyazaki’s story follows 10-year-old Chihiro who stumbles into a spirit world and must work in a witch’s bathhouse to save her parents. The world-building is staggering. Every frame contains hand-drawn detail that CGI still struggles to match. The emotional journey of a scared child finding her courage resonates with audiences of every age, culture, and background.
Spirited Away consistently tops every “best animated movie” list published by Rotten Tomatoes, Empire, Time Out, Rolling Stone, and IMDb user rankings. More than two decades later, it hasn’t aged a day. It’s the movie that proved animated films can be genuine art, and its influence on everything from Pixar to modern anime is immeasurable.
2. The Lion King (1994)
Directors: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff | Studio: Walt Disney Animation | Box Office: $968M | RT: 93%
The Lion King is the most popular animated movie Disney ever made. It grossed $968 million worldwide (including re-releases), spawned a Broadway musical that became the highest-grossing show of all time, generated billions in merchandise, and its songs are embedded in global pop culture permanently. “Circle of Life” and “Hakuna Matata” are known by people who’ve never watched the movie.
The story of Simba, a young lion prince who loses his father Mufasa and must reclaim his kingdom from his treacherous uncle Scar, is essentially Shakespeare’s Hamlet set on the African savanna. Mufasa’s death scene remains one of the most devastating moments in cinema, animated or otherwise. Hans Zimmer’s score and Elton John’s songs give the film an emotional grandeur that few movies of any kind have matched.
Disney released a photorealistic CGI remake in 2019 that earned $1.6 billion, proving the story’s enduring appeal. But the 1994 hand-drawn original is the version fans love. The warmth and expressiveness of the traditional animation gave the characters a soul that the remake couldn’t replicate.
3. Inside Out 2 (2024)
Director: Kelsey Mann | Studio: Pixar | Box Office: $1.69B | RT: 91%
Inside Out 2 didn’t just succeed at the box office. It became the second highest-grossing animated film of all time with $1.69 billion worldwide, only recently surpassed by Ne Zha 2. After a rough stretch for Pixar’s theatrical releases, this sequel proved the studio’s emotional storytelling still connects with massive global audiences.
The film introduces new emotions, including Anxiety, as Riley hits puberty and faces the social pressures of becoming a teenager. Where the original explored how a child processes change, the sequel tackles the messier, more complicated emotional landscape of adolescence. It’s a natural evolution that resonated with the kids who grew up with the first film and are now teenagers themselves.
Inside Out 2’s box office dominance made it the highest-grossing film of 2024, period. Not just animated, but overall. That kind of crossover success puts it in rare company and cements its place among the most popular animated movies ever released.
4. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Directors: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman | Studio: Sony Pictures Animation | Box Office: $375M | RT: 97%
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse rewrote the rules for what animated movies could look like. The comic-book visual style, combining 3D animation with hand-drawn textures and variable frame rates, created something that had never been seen before. Every frame looks like a poster. It won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature and influenced an entire wave of animated films that followed.
The story introduces Miles Morales as Spider-Man and brings in multiple Spider-People from alternate dimensions. The box office ($375M) doesn’t reflect its true cultural impact, which exploded through word-of-mouth, streaming, and its massive influence on animation style across the industry. The sequel, Across the Spider-Verse, earned $690M, confirming the franchise’s growing mainstream popularity.
Spider-Verse proved that animation doesn’t need to look “polished” to be beautiful. It needs to be bold. The film sits at or near the top of nearly every critic and audience ranking of the best animated movies, and its visual DNA is already visible in ads, music videos, and other studios’ films.
5. Toy Story (1995)
Director: John Lasseter | Studio: Pixar | Box Office: $373M | RT: 100%
Toy Story changed everything. The first fully computer-animated feature film arrived with a story so good that the technology was almost secondary. Woody and Buzz Lightyear’s rivalry and eventual friendship became the emotional backbone of an entire franchise that spans five films (with Toy Story 5 releasing June 2026).
Pixar proved that CGI could sustain a feature-length story, and they did it with characters that audiences of all ages genuinely cared about. The film holds a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. Nearly three decades later, the original still works. The animation looks dated compared to modern Pixar, but the storytelling is timeless. “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” is one of the most recognized movie songs in history.
Toy Story’s popularity isn’t just about the first film. It launched a franchise that has grossed over $3.3 billion combined, making it one of the most commercially successful animated properties ever. Toy Story 5, arriving in summer 2026, pits the toys against the digital age when Bonnie gets a tablet, proving the franchise’s cultural relevance is still evolving.
6. Your Name (2016)
Director: Makoto Shinkai | Studio: CoMix Wave Films | Box Office: $380M | RT: 98%
Your Name is the film that proved anime could be a global mainstream event, not a niche interest. Makoto Shinkai’s body-swapping romance between two teenagers became the highest-grossing anime film at the time of release, earning $380 million worldwide. It broke records in markets where anime had never performed at that level.
The animation is staggering. Tokyo cityscapes, rural mountain villages, and celestial events are rendered with a level of beauty that borders on surreal. But the film’s popularity comes from its emotional core. The themes of connection, fate, and the fear of losing someone important hit a universal nerve that transcended language and cultural barriers.
Your Name opened the door for anime films to compete at the global box office alongside Hollywood productions. It paved the way for the theatrical success of films like Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, Jujutsu Kaisen 0, and the Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc movie. If Spirited Away introduced the world to anime, Your Name made it mainstream.
7. Frozen (2013)
Directors: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee | Studio: Walt Disney Animation | Box Office: $1.28B | RT: 90%
Frozen wasn’t just a movie. It was a global phenomenon. The film earned $1.28 billion worldwide, making it the first animated film to cross the billion-dollar mark. “Let It Go” became one of the most streamed and performed songs in modern history. Elsa and Anna became the most popular Disney characters since The Lion King’s Simba.
The story reimagines Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen” through a tale of two sisters, one with uncontrollable ice powers and the other determined to save her. Disney’s decision to center the story on sisterhood rather than a traditional romance was groundbreaking for the studio and resonated powerfully with audiences who were ready for something different from the Disney princess formula.
Frozen’s cultural reach extended far beyond the movie itself. Merchandise sales were astronomical. The Broadway adaptation followed. Frozen II earned $1.45 billion, making the franchise one of the highest-grossing in animation history. Love it or feel overexposed to it, Frozen’s popularity is undeniable and historically significant.
8. Demon Slayer: Mugen Train (2020)
Director: Haruo Sotozaki | Studio: ufotable | Box Office: $504M | RT: 98%
Demon Slayer: Mugen Train became the highest-grossing film in Japanese box office history, dethroning Spirited Away’s nearly 20-year reign. It earned $504 million globally during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period when most theatrical releases struggled. That performance alone makes it one of the most remarkable box office stories in cinema.
The film continues directly from the anime’s first season, following Tanjiro and the Flame Hashira Rengoku aboard a train controlled by a powerful demon. ufotable’s animation is spectacular, and Rengoku’s arc delivers one of the most emotionally impactful climaxes in recent anime. The final act had audiences across the world crying in theaters.
Mugen Train’s success signaled a new era for anime at the global box office. It proved that anime films could compete with Hollywood blockbusters when backed by a popular franchise and world-class production values. The follow-up Infinity Castle trilogy (first film released 2025) continues to build on this momentum, with ufotable delivering the franchise’s final battle in theatrical format.
9. WALL-E (2008)
Director: Andrew Stanton | Studio: Pixar | Box Office: $521M | RT: 95%
WALL-E is Pixar’s most artistically ambitious film and one of the most beloved animated movies in history. The first 30 minutes contain almost no dialogue. Just a lonely robot sifting through garbage on an abandoned Earth, collecting trinkets, and watching old musicals. That silent opening is studied in film schools worldwide as a masterclass in visual storytelling.
When WALL-E meets EVE and follows her to space, the film transforms into a love story with humanity’s survival at stake. The romance between two robots who communicate through beeps and body language is more authentic than most live-action love stories. Pixar’s social commentary about consumerism and environmental destruction gives the film surprising depth beneath its charming surface.
WALL-E won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and frequently appears near the top of every “best animated films” ranking. It’s the kind of movie that makes you laugh, cry, and think, sometimes within the same scene. Its combination of artistic risk and emotional payoff represents Pixar at their absolute peak.
10. Ne Zha 2 (2025)
Director: Yu Yang | Studio: Beijing Enlight Media | Box Office: $1.7B+ | RT: Pending
Ne Zha 2 is the newest and perhaps most surprising entry on this list. Released in early 2025, this Chinese animated film has become the highest-grossing animated movie of all time, surpassing Inside Out 2 with over $1.7 billion at the global box office. That number is staggering and represents a seismic shift in the global animation landscape.
Based on Chinese mythology, Ne Zha 2 continues the story of the rebellious deity Ne Zha and his companion Ao Bing as they face new threats following a great catastrophe. The film’s massive success was driven primarily by the Chinese domestic market, where it shattered records and became a cultural event on the scale that Disney and Pixar films achieve in the West.
Ne Zha 2’s inclusion on this list is about acknowledging that the animated movie landscape is no longer dominated solely by Hollywood and Japan. Chinese animation has arrived as a global commercial force, and this film’s box office performance demands recognition regardless of how Western critics eventually receive it. Any honest ranking of the most popular animated movies in the world needs to account for a film that earned $1.7 billion.
What Made These Films Global Phenomena
Looking at the top 10 best animated movies of all time by popularity, a few patterns emerge. First, emotional universality. Every film on this list tells a story that works regardless of the viewer’s age, language, or cultural background. A lonely robot falling in love, a father searching for his son, a girl discovering a magical world. These aren’t culturally specific stories. They’re human stories told through animation.
Second, visual innovation. Toy Story pioneered CGI. Spider-Verse reinvented it. Spirited Away showcased the peak of hand-drawn craft. Demon Slayer’s Mugen Train pushed TV-to-film anime production to cinematic quality. Ne Zha 2 demonstrated that Chinese studios can produce animation on par with global standards. Each of these films looked different from everything that came before them.
Third, timing and cultural readiness. Frozen arrived when audiences were hungry for a Disney princess story that wasn’t about a prince. Inside Out 2 landed after years of cultural conversation about mental health. Your Name broke through at a moment when streaming had made anime more accessible than ever. Great movies matter, but the right movie at the right moment becomes something bigger than entertainment.
Why Anime Movies Keep Breaking Records
Three of the ten films on this list are anime: Spirited Away, Your Name, and Demon Slayer: Mugen Train. That representation would have been unthinkable 15 years ago when anime films rarely crossed $100 million globally. The shift happened because of three converging trends.
First, streaming platforms like Crunchyroll and Netflix made anime accessible to mainstream audiences worldwide. Fans who discovered series like Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen through streaming then showed up for their theatrical releases. Second, anime production quality reached a level that rivals and often surpasses Hollywood animation. ufotable’s work on Demon Slayer and MAPPA’s work on Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man set visual standards that attract audiences beyond the traditional anime fanbase.
Third, anime studios learned to treat theatrical films as event-driven extensions of popular series. Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, Jujutsu Kaisen 0, One Piece Film: Red, and the Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc movie all benefited from massive built-in audiences who treated these films as must-see events. The Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle trilogy, currently in theatrical release, is continuing this trend with enormous global box office numbers.
Animated Movies That Could Join This List in 2026
The 2026 animated movie calendar is loaded with potential record-breakers. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie released in April 2026 as the sequel to the $1.3 billion Super Mario Bros. Movie. With the returning voice cast plus Brie Larson as Rosalina, it’s positioned for massive numbers.
Toy Story 5 arrives June 2026, pitting Woody and the gang against the digital age. The franchise has never produced a critical or commercial miss, and the premise of toys vs. screens feels culturally timely. Zootopia 2 follows Disney’s Zootopia, which recently crossed $1 billion with its sequel. Minions 3 drops in July from the highest-grossing animated franchise of all time (Despicable Me at $5.6B total).
On the anime side, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 2 continues the franchise’s final battle, and if it performs anywhere near the first installment, it will be one of the biggest animated releases of the year. The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender animated film arrives in Fall 2026 with a stacked voice cast including Steven Yeun. Any one of these could crack the all-time popularity rankings.
Can Animated Movies Compete with Live Action?
The box office numbers on this list answer that question definitively. Inside Out 2 was the highest-grossing film of 2024, beating every live-action release. Ne Zha 2 outgrossed virtually every Hollywood blockbuster in 2025. Frozen and its sequel combined for over $2.7 billion. The idea that animated movies are somehow “lesser” than live-action films has been financially and critically demolished.
Animation actually has structural advantages over live action for certain types of stories. It ages better because it doesn’t depend on special effects technology that becomes outdated. Toy Story from 1995 still entertains kids today. The CGI in most 1995 live-action films looks laughable now. Animation also allows directors to visualize emotions, abstract concepts, and fantastical worlds with a freedom that live action can only approximate with expensive (and often unconvincing) VFX.
The Academy Awards have recognized this with the Best Animated Feature category, but many fans argue that films like Spirited Away, WALL-E, and Spider-Verse deserve consideration for Best Picture, not just Best Animated Feature. Up and Toy Story 3 both received Best Picture nominations, proving that the industry is slowly recognizing animation’s artistic legitimacy at the highest level.
These 10 Films Changed Animation Forever
Every movie on this list didn’t just succeed at the box office or impress critics. They shifted the cultural conversation about what animated films can be. Spirited Away proved anime is art. Toy Story proved CGI is the future. Spider-Verse proved animation can break every visual rule. Frozen proved animated musicals can dominate global pop culture. Demon Slayer proved anime films belong in multiplexes worldwide. And Ne Zha 2 proved that the next wave of animated blockbusters won’t only come from Hollywood or Tokyo.
The top 10 best animated movies of all time aren’t just great films. They’re landmarks. They defined eras, created franchises, and inspired millions of people to take animation seriously as a storytelling medium. And with 2026 delivering potential new entries from Pixar, Disney, and anime studios, this list will only keep evolving.
Which animated movie do you think deserves a spot in the top 10? Tell us your pick and we’ll make the case for or against it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest-grossing animated movie of all time?
As of 2025, Ne Zha 2 holds the record with over $1.7 billion at the global box office, surpassing Inside Out 2 ($1.69 billion) and Frozen II ($1.45 billion). The record has changed hands multiple times in recent years, showing how competitive the animated movie market has become.
What animated movie has the best Rotten Tomatoes score?
Toy Story (1995) and Toy Story 2 (1999) both hold perfect 100% scores on Rotten Tomatoes. Among films on this list, Demon Slayer: Mugen Train and Your Name both sit at 98%, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse holds 97%.
Are anime movies included in animated movie rankings?
Yes. Anime is a form of animation, and anime films compete in the same categories at the Academy Awards and major film festivals. Spirited Away won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Your Name and Demon Slayer: Mugen Train both performed at levels that rival Hollywood animated releases.
What animated movie should I watch first?
For a universally loved experience, start with Spirited Away, Toy Story, or Inside Out (the original). If you prefer something visually groundbreaking, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is hard to beat. For an anime starting point, Your Name is accessible and emotionally powerful.
What animated movies are coming out in 2026?
Major 2026 releases include The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (April), Toy Story 5 (June), Minions 3 (July), Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 2, The Legend of Aang animated film (Fall), and Zootopia 2. It’s one of the most packed years for animated films in recent memory.
Why is Ne Zha 2 on this list?
Ne Zha 2 is the highest-grossing animated film of all time at over $1.7 billion. Its box office success, primarily driven by the Chinese market, represents a significant shift in global animation. Any popularity-based ranking must acknowledge a film that earned more than Inside Out 2 and Frozen II combined.
Is Frozen still popular?
Yes. The Frozen franchise has earned over $2.7 billion at the box office across two films. “Let It Go” remains one of the most streamed songs in history. The Broadway musical continues to perform globally. Frozen’s merchandise sales alone generate hundreds of millions annually, making it one of Disney’s most valuable properties.
What’s the best animated movie for adults?
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and WALL-E both appeal strongly to adult audiences while remaining family-friendly. For something more mature, Spirited Away offers layers of meaning that adults appreciate more deeply than children. If you want a film that’s specifically adult-oriented, Grave of the Fireflies (not on this top 10 but a masterpiece) is devastating and powerful.
