5 billion for Despicable Me, #1 animated franchise

Gru is at the top of the Top 10 most lucrative animated sagas in the history of cinema.

Illumination is on top of the world. One year after the huge success of Super Mario Bros. The Moviethe studio is making a huge splash with Despicable Me 4topped the US and international box offices this July. While Gru’s new adventures grossed $437.8 million in two weeks, the franchise Despicable Me has just passed the $5 billion mark in global revenue, making it the first animated franchise in history to do so.

What are the Top 10 most lucrative animated sagas in the history of cinema?

10) The Incredibles : $1.874 billion in 2 films

This is mainly due to the success of the sequel, The Incredibles 2which has long been the highest-grossing Pixar film of all time, with a jackpot of $1.242 billion alone, while the first one made $600 million.

9) Nemo : $1.964 billion in 2 films

Little fish in the water swim, swim, swim and bring back big fish! If The world of Nemo earned $936 million at the box office, Finding Dory upped the ante by earning $1.028 billion.

8) Madagascar : $2.270 billion in 4 films

The Dreamworks Animation saga has been missing from the big screens for a decade. The latest film, a spin-off on The Penguins of Madagascar (in 2014) had made less than 400 million, while the third installment of the saga, in Europe, had brought in 746 million dollars (2012).

7) Vice versa : $2.3 billion in 2 films

And it will continue to climb! Of course, the exceptional success of Inside Out 2 weighs heavily in the balance: released last June, the sequel to Riley’s adventures has already earned $1.4 billion worldwide. It is now the most profitable Pixar film of all time.

6) Kung Fu Panda : $2.3 billion in 4 films

A particularly stable saga. Each film has brought in between 500 and 600 million since 2008. The last part, Kung Fu Panda 4, released earlier this year, ended its career with $545 million in worldwide revenue.

5) Frozen : $2.743 billion in 2 films

With the highest grossing animated film of all time, the Disney franchise is flying high. $1.2 billion at the box office for the first and $1.453 billion for the second. In the meantime Frozen 3already announced, which should make the saga rise much higher in this Top 10.

4) The Ice Age : $3.219 billion in 5 films

Studio Blue Sky closed its doors, but still delivered the biggest animated saga of the 2010s, with two huge hits (for the 2nd and 3rd installments). Ice Age: The Laws of the Universereleased in 2016, ended up marking time, raking in just $400 million.

3) Toy Story : $3.270 billion in 5 films

Even with the flop of Lightyearthe last part of the saga, Woody and his toy friends remain on the podium, thanks in particular to Toy Story 3 which had crossed the billion mark. And when we know that Toy Story 5 is already announced…

2) Shrek : $4.022 billion in 6 films

None of the films have passed the billion mark. The biggest success being Shrek 2which grossed $928 million at the global box office. But with the spin-offs on The Puss in BootsDreamworks’ green Ogre is racking up the greenbacks. And it’s not about to stop since Shrek 5 will arrive in 2026.

1) Despicable Me : $5 billion in 6 films

Minions (in 2015) gave Gru a huge boost, grossing $1.159 billion. But the franchise Despicable Me was already in great shape. And Minions 3 should allow Illumination to pass the 6 billion mark!