The Biggest Animated Blockbusters: Top 10 Opening Weekends Around the Globe

When the lights dim and the first frame rolls, there’s a palpable buzz in theaters worldwide. Animated features, in particular, have a knack for drawing families, kids, and even die‑hard cinephiles into seats en masse. Over the past few years, a handful of these movies have turned that buzz into pure cash‑flow, racking up jaw‑dropping numbers during their debut weekends.

Below is our look‑through of the ten animated titles that currently hold the crown for the biggest opening weekends on a global scale. The list isn’t just about raw dollars – it also reflects cultural moments, massive marketing pushes, and the sheer power of beloved characters returning to the screen.

10. "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" (2023) – While technically a hybrid live‑action/animation, its cartoon‑style world earned a staggering $95 million worldwide in its opening weekend. Fans of the iconic plumber finally saw his universe come alive in 3D, and the numbers proved the hype was justified.

9. "Frozen II" (2019) – The icy sequel glided into theaters with $183 million globally, only a shade behind its predecessor’s debut. Disney’s marketing machine and a handful of new songs kept the snowball effect rolling.

8. "Minions: The Rise of Gru" (2022) – Those mischievous yellow beans amassed $112 million on day one, driven by nostalgic adults and giggling youngsters alike.

7. "Spider‑Man: Across the Spider‑Verse" (2023) – Though a superhero flick, its vibrant animation style pulled in $147 million worldwide, proving that the medium can blur genre lines and still dominate opening charts.

6. "Zootopia 2" (2024) – The long‑awaited follow‑up to the city‑of‑predators‑and‑prey saga exploded onto the scene with a $210 million opening weekend, outpacing even the original’s debut. Critics praised its fresh take on social commentary, while audiences simply wanted to reunite with Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde.

5. "Toy Story 5" (2025) – When Pixar announced another adventure for Woody, Buzz, and the gang, ticket lines stretched for miles. The film vaulted to a $226 million global opening, edging past the previous record‑holder in the franchise.

4. "Avatar: The Way of Water" (2022) – Animated Sequences – While primarily live‑action, the film’s extensive CG‑heavy sequences earned it a spot on many animated‑focused lists, pulling in $269 million worldwide in its first weekend.

3. "The Lion King" (2019) – Photorealistic Animation – Disney’s ambitious remake, rendered entirely in photorealistic animation, opened to $247 million globally, demonstrating that a classic can be reborn with cutting‑edge tech and still dominate the box office.

2. "The Incredibles 2" (2018) – The superhero family returned with a vengeance, netting $183 million in its opening weekend and surpassing the original’s debut by a comfortable margin.

1. "Spider‑Man: Into the Spider‑Verse" (2018) – Topping the list is this wildly inventive animated superhero film, which earned a staggering $356 million worldwide in its first seven days. The unique visual style, fresh humor, and multiverse storytelling struck a chord across age groups, cementing its place at the very top.

What’s striking about these figures is not just the sheer volume of cash, but the variety of styles – from classic 2‑D hand‑drawn aesthetics to cutting‑edge photorealism and hybrid live‑action. It shows that audiences will flock to animated worlds, no matter the technique, as long as the story feels fresh and the characters are beloved.

Looking ahead, studios are already gearing up for more sequels and original concepts, promising that the race for the biggest opening weekend is far from over. If you’re planning your next movie night, consider these juggernauts – they’ve already proven they can turn a simple popcorn run into a global box‑office phenomenon.