We are facing the last of 2024, twelve months that have managed to accumulate all kinds of releases if we talk about the world of cinema, but particularly the animation part has shone more, since box office hits arrived that perhaps not even the producers of the industry they saw coming. In fact, to close with a flourish, a special count has been made in which those films that captured the public’s attention are placed, and therefore, earned a lot of money in the process.
This has been a banner year for the business, with Inside Out 2, Moana 2 and Despicable Me 4 leading both the domestic and international box office. Pixar and Disney dominated the rankings with the sequel to Inside Out, which grossed $652.9 million in the United States and a worldwide total of $1,698 million, establishing itself as the highest-grossing animated film of the year. It was followed by Moana 2 with $395.3 million in the US market and Despicable Me 4 with $361 million, showing that sequels are still a safe bet for major studios.
Other notable titles include Universal’s Kung Fu Panda 4, which grossed $193.5 million in the U.S. and $547.6 million worldwide, and Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King, with $113.1 million at the domestic box office and a global total of $327.5 million. Movies like Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and The Wild Robot also managed to sneak into the top 10, although with more modest numbers. Notably, Sonic 3 closed the year with $210.5 million worldwide, while The Wild Robot racked up $324.2 million worldwide.
The list was dominated by sequels, with a few exceptions like Universal’s Migration and Paramount’s Transformers One. This phenomenon highlights the tendency of studios to bet on established franchises that guarantee a solid audience. On the other hand, titles like Coraline: 15th Anniversary and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba had a more modest impact, but stood out in specific niches thanks to their unique styles and cultural legacies.
Globally, the numbers reflect the continued appetite for familiar stories and iconic characters. Although the original films managed to capture attention, the success of the sequels underlines the value of already established brands. With these figures, 2024 makes it clear that animation continues to be an essential driving force for the film industry, offering something for all audiences and ensuring unforgettable moments on screen.
Here the complete list:
United States Box Office:
Inside Out 2 $652,980,194
Moana 2 $395,307,280
Mi Villano Favorito 4 $361,004,205
Kung Fu Panda 4 $193,590,620
The Wild Robot $143,173,410
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 $136,564,198
Mufasa: The Lion King $113,187,659
The Garfield Movie $91,956,547
Migration $73,202,330
Transformers One $59,054,170
Coraline: 15th Anniversary $33,626,425
Demon Slayer: Kimestu No Yaiba $17,657,658
World box office:
Inside Out 2 $1,698,641,117
Mi Villano Favorito 4 $969,274,793
Moana 2 $883,763,735
Kung Fu Panda 4 $547,689,492
Mufasa: The Lion King $327,536,694
The Wild Robot $324,282,410
The Garfield Movie $234,562,638
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 $210,564,198
Transformers One $129,364,141
Detective Conan: Mil. Dollar Pentagram $108,136,957
Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle $100,255,784
Coraline: 15th Anniversary $52,371,887
Via: AM
