You might assume Disney’s most popular franchise is Marvel or Star Wars, but surprisingly, it’s something else entirely – and it’s poised for even greater success this fall, with a full return planned for 2027. Disney owns so many huge franchises, including Marvel, Lucasfilm, and Pixar, that it’s hard to pinpoint which one is currently the biggest hit. With major releases like The Mandalorian & Grogu, Toy Story 5, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Avengers: Doomsday all scheduled for 2026, any of these could easily become the most talked-about franchise.
Despite the success of many Disney franchises, the one consistently performing best actually comes from Walt Disney Animation Studios. While other franchises have faced challenges or inconsistent results, this one remains strong and continues to grow in popularity and success, setting it apart from the rest.
Despite Being Between Movies, Frozen Is Disney’s Biggest Franchise Right Now
Although a new Frozen movie isn’t coming out this year, it remains one of Disney’s most successful franchises, and Disney is intentionally taking its time with sequels. Frozen has been incredibly profitable for Disney – the original film earned over $1.3 billion globally, and the sequel made almost $1.5 billion (according to Box Office Mojo). Disney has expanded the Frozen universe with shorts on Disney+, park attractions, and a Broadway show. A third Frozen movie is planned for 2027, and it’s expected to attract a new audience.
While other Disney franchises have also been very successful, the story of Anna and Elsa isn’t unique in that regard. What sets the Disney princesses apart is their lasting popularity – it continues to grow and doesn’t appear to be stopping anytime soon.
Unlike Other Franchises, the Hype Surrounding Frozen Isn’t Dying Down
Disney owns many popular franchises, but some of its biggest ones are starting to lose their appeal. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), for example, hasn’t been consistently well-received since the conclusion of the Infinity Saga. While upcoming movies like Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday aim to recapture the excitement, many fans are unsure if they’ll ever live up to the MCU’s previous success.
Like Star Wars, many franchises are finding success with some projects while others struggle to connect with audiences. Shows like Andor and The Mandalorian are popular, but the more recent Star Wars movies and other Disney+ series have been inconsistent. Pixar is also relying heavily on sequels to maintain its success. While Toy Story is a beloved franchise like Frozen, it’s unclear if the newer sequels have lived up to the quality of the original films.
Unlike some other Disney franchises, Frozen has only had two movies so far, which means it still enjoys a generally positive reputation. Most people expect Frozen 3 to do well financially, and there’s a lot of excitement about its upcoming release. This anticipation is something other Disney properties currently lack, as they’ve either been overdone or haven’t had enough time to build positive momentum.
Disney Is Adding Another Release to Its Franchise Later This Year
Fans of Frozen have the third movie to anticipate, and there’s also a new short film coming in October 2026. While details are scarce – the title and story are still a secret – Disney revealed it will serve as a preview for Frozen 3. This shows how important the Frozen franchise is to Disney, as they’re actively working to maintain interest between major movie releases. The continued popularity suggests this strategy is working well, and it could be a good model for other Disney franchises.
Frozen 3 arrives in theaters on November 24, 2027.
As a huge fan of Frozen, I’m really curious to see where the story goes next! I’d love to hear what you all think – head over to the ComicBook Forum and let’s chat about it!
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2026-04-07 04:44