10 Highest Grossing Pixar Movies Of All Time At The U.S. Box Office

Pixar is a leading animation studio, and the following films have earned the most money in the United States. The studio has many more movies planned for 2026 and beyond, starting with the next installment, Toy Story 5. This sequel is expected to be a major success when it’s released in 2026.

It’s difficult to pinpoint a consistent formula for Pixar’s most successful films. They’ve excelled with both completely new stories and sequels, and while you might assume sequels dominate their biggest hits, that’s not quite the case.

This breakdown aligns with how Pete Docter, the creative leader at Pixar, views sequels. He believes Pixar should prioritize making excellent films, both original ones that can launch new series, and continuations of existing stories that already have a built-in audience. Currently, this list includes six original films and four sequels.

Pixar has consistently delivered high-quality films, becoming a benchmark for the industry. While some of their most popular and culturally significant original stories, like Coco, Ratatouille, and the original Toy Story, didn’t generate enough revenue to be considered top earners, their influence is undeniable. The films that did earn significant revenue further highlight Pixar’s massive importance in animation.

10. The Incredibles (2004)

Released in 2004, The Incredibles was a major success, bringing in $261 million in the United States and becoming the fifth highest-grossing movie of the year, only slightly behind Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The film continued Pixar’s streak of original, critically acclaimed hits.

It’s clear that The Incredibles was inspired by classic Marvel comics like Fantastic Four, and the similarities are often noted. But with its sleek animation, thrilling superhero sequences, and heartwarming portrayal of family life, The Incredibles continues to be a standout film from Pixar.

Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl are still iconic characters for Pixar. The family will return in Incredibles 3, which is scheduled for release in 2028.

9. Monsters University (2013)

As a big Pixar fan, I always felt Monsters University didn’t quite reach the heights of some of their other films, but it was still a huge hit! It made a fantastic $268 million here in the US, and actually ended up being the fifth highest-grossing movie that year – which is pretty amazing, considering The Incredibles had a similar run back in its day.

The movie Monsters University shows how Sulley and Mike became friends before they worked at the scare factory in Monstropolis. Instead of changing what happened in the first movie – where the practice of scaring children was revealed – this film goes back to tell the story of how these two very different monsters learned to get along.

Although some viewers considered the movie a less impressive addition to the franchise, it was still a big hit. Demonstrating the strong reputation Pixar had at the time, it also received positive reviews, with an 80% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

8. Up (2009)

The critically acclaimed animated film Up achieved both artistic recognition and commercial success. Notably, it was one of the few animated films to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. Released in 2009, it grossed $293 million domestically, making it the third-highest-grossing film of that year, surpassed only by Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Up is a deeply moving and funny film about the power of friendship. It’s charming and emotionally resonant, beginning with a poignant look at a lifelong love story. As the story continues, Carl rediscovers joy and connection thanks to an unlikely duo: Russell and Dug.

Few movies have captured hearts and achieved box office success quite like Up. Its compelling characters and wonderful story made it a hit with viewers of all ages.

7. Finding Nemo (2003)

When Finding Nemo came out, it was Pixar’s most successful film to date, bringing in $339 million in the United States and $871 million around the world. Building on the popularity of Toy Story and Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo really cemented Pixar’s reputation as a leading animation studio.

Finding Nemo is a heartwarming story about a father clownfish searching for his son. Its success comes from relatable emotions and stunning animation. The film is celebrated for its beautiful visuals, memorable characters, and remains a beloved classic in Pixar’s impressive filmography.

This film is both hilarious and thoughtfully complex, making it a standout in animated storytelling. It also marked Pixar’s first time winning an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

6. Inside Out (2015)

The original Inside Out was a huge hit for Pixar, especially considering it wasn’t a sequel. Pixar had started making more sequels, but Inside Out stood out with its unique story, becoming one of the most beloved children’s films of the 2010s and grossing $356 million in the United States.

A lot of the praise for Inside Out comes from its ability to explain complex ideas about emotions – like accepting sadness or anger – in a way that’s both fun and easy to understand. By showing feelings as characters, the movie connected with viewers of all ages.

With a talented voice cast, including Amy Poehler, Inside Out is still considered one of Pixar’s best movies, and it nearly ranks among their five highest-grossing films.

5. Toy Story 3 (2010)

Pixar first achieved major success with the Toy Story movies, and the series has remained incredibly popular ever since. While Toy Story and Toy Story 2 were huge successes, Toy Story 3 took the studio to a new level, earning $415 million and receiving widespread critical acclaim.

As the series became more popular, the writers reflected that growth in the story. Andy’s decision to give away Buzz and Woody, and let them bring joy to a new generation of kids while he went to college, was a heartwarming story about letting go and passing the torch that resonated with viewers.

Although this would have been a satisfying conclusion to the series, the creators decided to continue, allowing for further adventures and ultimately leading to the next installment.

4. Toy Story 4 (2019)

Despite many fans feeling that Toy Story 3 was the perfect ending, Toy Story 4 earned a strong $434 million at the box office, proving the series still resonated with audiences. Whether Toy Story 5 can maintain this momentum is yet to be seen, but Pixar hasn’t disappointed fans so far.

Toy Story 4 marked a fresh direction for the series, focusing on the connection between Woody and Bo Peep. It also gave us Forky, a wonderfully funny character voiced by Tony Hale, who’s convinced his purpose is to end up in the garbage.

I remember when Pixar first blew everyone away with Toy Story, and it quickly became obvious they weren’t afraid to take risks and tell really unique stories. Seeing Toy Story 4 do so well just proves how much we all still love these characters – even after all these years, the magic hasn’t faded at all!

3. Finding Dory (2016)

With a domestic gross of $486 million and over $1 billion worldwide, Finding Dory proved Pixar had created another incredibly successful movie series. Continuing the story from the beloved 2003 film Finding Nemo, the sequel delivered a heartwarming tale of friendship and family.

Finding Dory is a hilarious movie with beautiful animation that builds on the already amazing visuals of the original film. The story follows Dory as she searches for her family, hoping to discover where she truly belongs.

Although a third Finding Nemo movie hasn’t been released yet, its strong box office performance, along with that of the first film, suggests one could happen in the future. For now, fans can look forward to a new Finding Dory short.

2. Incredibles 2 (2018)

Everyone was excited for Incredibles 2, and it showed at the box office! The movie continued the story right after the first one, arriving at a time when superhero films were incredibly popular. As a result, Incredibles 2 earned a remarkable $608 million in the United States.

While Incredibles 2 isn’t seen as one of Pixar’s best sequels, it’s still a solid continuation of the original. For many viewers, simply revisiting these well-loved characters was enough to make it enjoyable.

There’s no shortage of stories waiting to be told, and with Incredibles 3 currently being made, we can expect another exciting film in theaters – and likely a major success – in just a few years.

1. Inside Out 2 (2024)

Although Inside Out 2 is no longer the highest-grossing animated film worldwide—that title now belongs to Ne Zha 2 and then Zootopia 2—it still holds the record for the highest-grossing animated movie in the United States and Canada, having earned $652 million.

Released in 2015, Inside Out told a moving and simple story about a girl learning to deal with her feelings. The sequel logically followed this, depicting how Riley’s emotions evolve as she enters her teenage years.

Inside Out 2 is brilliantly funny, insightful, and genuinely connects with audiences – it’s no surprise it’s become Pixar‘s biggest hit in the US. Its strong performance shows the studio is still thriving and hints that future sequels could be just as popular, or even more so.

2026-04-30 16:22