Animation sets box office records in 2025

Animation Dominates 2025 Box Office, Sets Stage for Major 2026 Sequels

The animated film industry closed 2025 with record-breaking achievements across multiple studios and platforms, from Netflix’s streaming phenomenon to theatrical blockbusters that rewrote box office history, signaling robust momentum heading into a sequel-heavy 2026 lineup.

Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters, produced with Sony Pictures Animation, became the streaming giant’s most-watched original film ever with over 325 million views in its first 91 days. The movie about demon-hunting K-pop singers achieved unprecedented success beyond viewership—its soundtrack topped the Billboard 200 and earned Platinum certification, with the track “Golden” by the fictional group Huntr/x spending six weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the longest run for a soundtrack hit in over a decade.cartoonbrew

Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 emerged as 2025’s highest-grossing movie worldwide, earning approximately $2.2 billion. The sequel became the first animated film to cross the $2 billion mark and set a single-territory record by grossing over $1.9 billion in China alone, surpassing Star Wars: The Force Awakens‘ previous North American record.eonline

Disney’s Zootopia 2 dominated the Thanksgiving corridor with a $100.3 million opening weekend, accumulating over $1.46 billion globally by late December to become Walt Disney Animation Studios’ highest-grossing film of all time. Meanwhile, anime continued its theatrical surge as Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle shattered opening records with $70 million domestically and reached approximately $718 million worldwide.deadline

Sequels Dominate 2026 Slate

The industry’s 2026 calendar features prominent franchise returns, led by Pixar’s Toy Story 5 on June 19, with Tom Hanks and Tim Allen reprising their iconic roles as the toys confront the challenge of electronic devices threatening traditional playtime. Illumination follows with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie on April 3, starring Chris Pratt and introducing Brie Larson as Rosalina, after the 2023 predecessor earned over $1.3 billion.people

Additional major releases include Minions 3 on July 1—moved up a full year from its original 2027 date—and PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie on August 14. Pixar also debuts original sci-fi comedy Hoppers on March 6, featuring a teenager who transfers her consciousness into a robotic beaver to save an animal habitat.imdb

“A great story, at its core, is about connecting with the audience,” said Usamah Zaid Yasin, head of Malaysia’s WAU Animation, in an interview with Malay Mail. “Once you strip away all the eye candy, the bottom line is you need to make the audience care.”yahoo