Animal Box Office Collections – A Look at the Highest Grossing Animal Movies of All Time

Animals have always captivated audiences globally with their charm and antics. It is no surprise that movies featuring adorable furry animals tend to do exceptionally well at the box office, from animated talking animals to live-action films featuring man’s best friend, movies that star our furry and feathered friends consistently top box office charts worldwide. Let’s look at some of the highest-grossing animal movies of all time based on their worldwide box office collections.

Finding Nemo (2003)

Finding Nemo remains one of Pixar’s most beloved films to date. The heartwarming story of a clownfish named Marlin who embarks on an epic journey to find his son Nemo captured audiences of all ages. With its memorable characters, emotional storytelling and breathtaking underwater scenes, Finding Nemo became the highest-grossing G-rated movie of all time at the time of its release. The film made over $380 million in the US and a whopping $936.7 million worldwide, cementing its place as one of the most successful animated movies featuring animals. animal box office collection

The Lion King (1994)

Disney’s 32nd animated feature, The Lion King, was a critical and commercial success. Based on William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the film takes place in the African savannah. It revolves around the adventures of Simba, a lion cub who is to succeed his father, Mufasa, as King. The Lion King’s magical story, vibrant musical numbers and themes of reinvention, redemption and the circle of life captured people’s hearts worldwide. At the global box office, the movie earned over $763.4 million. It has also received several awards, including two Academy Awards. The Lion King remains the highest-grossing hand-drawn (non-CGI) animated film.

Madagascar (2005)

DreamWorks Animation delivered another crowd-pleasing animated film about animals in Madagascar. The movie follows four Central Park Zoo animals -Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Gloria the Hippopotamus- who have lived their whole lives in captivity. They find themselves on an unexpected detour to the madcap world of Madagascar when the bird they were being transported with crashes. Full of comedic capers and featuring the vocal talents of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer and Jada Pinkett Smith, Madagascar was lapped up by families worldwide. It collected $532.7 million globally, making it one of DreamWorks’ most commercially successful films at that point.

The Secret Life of Pets (2016)

Illumination Entertainment scored big with their animated comedy, The Secret Life of Pets. Set in a Manhattan apartment building, the movie explores what pets do when their owners leave them alone for the day. It featured an all-star vocal cast including Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart, Jenny Slate and Lake Bell. Children and adults related to the humorous insight into a dog and cat’s daily activities away from their owners. The Secret Life of Pets charmed viewers globally with its heartwarming story and hilarious moments. The film raked in over $875 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing original film from Illumination.

1. The Jungle Book (2016)
2. Disney’s live-action/CGI version of Rudyard Kipling’s classic tale The Jungle Book was a roaring success. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film stars Neel Sethi as Mowgli and impressive CGI creations of the animals that help raise him. Featuring an ace voice cast of Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong’o and Scarlett Johansson, the film’s visual splendour, emotion, and true-to-source storyline wowed both critics and audiences. It made over $966 million at the global box office, becoming Favreau’s highest-grossing film and one of the biggest box office hits in in 2016.
3. The Adventures of Milo and Otis (1986)
4. While not a blockbuster animated feature, the Japanese family film The Adventures of Milo and Otis holds a special place in many people’s hearts. Revolving around the friendship between a pug puppy, Milo, and a kitten, Otis, the movie follows their adventures in the countryside. Despite controversies over its production, the film developed a strong cult following internationally thanks to its heartwarming story and footage of kittens and puppies playing. It has become one of the highest-grossing non-English language animal films worldwide, with earnings of over $150 million adjusted for inflation.
5. Dr. Dolittle (1998)
6. Eddie Murphy led this big-screen adaptation of Hugh Lofting’s classic children’s books about a doctor who can converse with animals. While critically panned, Audiences lapped up the comedic antics between Murphy’s Dr. Dolittle character and the array of computer-generated animals he interacts with, voiced by stars like Mike O’Malley and Chris Rock. Released during the holiday season, the film resonated strongly with family crowds. Its whimsical story and Murphy’s charming performance helped it collect $294 million globally to become one of the top 10 highest-grossing movies that year.
7. Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001)
8. The lukewarm critical response to this Stephen Herek-directed sequel didn’t stop families from returning for more of Eddie Murphy’s doctor with a special gift. In Dr. Dolittle 2, Murphy’s John Dolittle character is called upon by animals to help save their forest home and help with a threatened fox and bear relationship. Although a drop from the original, the film made $176 million worldwide based on brand recognition and Eddie Murphy’s star power, making it a financial success.
9. Babe (1995)
10. Chris Noonan’s family film Babe, about a little pig who wants to be a sheepdog, was a sleeper international hit. Starring James Cromwell and Magda Szubanski with voices by Christine Cavanaugh and Roscoe Lee Browne, the film charmed audiences with its heartwarming story of finding one’s place in the world. Babe demonstrated how animals don’t need talking to connect with people emotionally. It ended up grossing $254 million globally on a $30 million budget, becoming the highest-grossing independent film of 1995. Earning seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Babe remains a celebrated cinematic triumph.

While blockbuster franchises and animated features tend to dominate box office charts today, simple, heartfelt stories starring animals continue garnering worldwide affection. From the comic adventures of talking animals to passionate portrayals of the bond between humans and other species, movies such as these consistently attract mass family viewership. With innovative technology enhancing how animals are brought to the big screen, the streak of animal films earning big at global ticket counters looks likely to continue for a while. Their universal appeal transcending generations and borders will ensure furry and feathered movie stars maintain box office pull globally in years to come.