10 Forgotten Animated Blockbusters, Ranked By Box Office

Despite earning a lot of money in theaters, many animated movies quickly fade from public memory. Animation is a tough business, and creating these films is generally expensive. While computer-generated imagery (CGI) has helped lower costs and simplify production, it’s still a costly process.

It’s interesting how some critically acclaimed animated movies don’t make much money, while others that critics dislike can be huge hits. There’s no sure way to predict an animated film’s financial success, although the truly popular ones often remain beloved over time. Of course, there are always a few surprises that break the mold.

Many animated movies have been huge financial successes, but haven’t really left a lasting impression on the art form. They became popular ‘blockbusters,’ but were often quickly forgotten. A few have gained a small, devoted following as cult classics, but most have largely disappeared from public awareness.

Just because these movies aren’t super famous doesn’t mean they’re bad! Honestly, a lot of them are really good and I think they deserve way more love. We’re talking everything from hilarious comedies that pushed boundaries, to those awesome Disney movies you kinda forgot about, and even some animated blockbusters that just slipped under the radar. There’s a surprising amount of variety here!

10. A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969) – $12 Million

While $12 million might not seem like much now, A Boy Named Charlie Brown was a major success in 1969, ranking among the year’s top ten highest-grossing films. The movie brought the beloved comic strip to life, following Charlie Brown’s journey to the national spelling bee. It delighted both audiences and critics, all while being made on a modest $1 million budget.

This film is a beloved part of the Peanuts series and remains popular with longtime fans. Surprisingly, though, it didn’t have a major influence on the world of animation, despite being a huge success in the 1960s. A Boy Named Charlie Brown was the last truly massive hit for Peanuts until the release of The Peanuts Movie in 2015.

9. Fritz The Cat (1972) – $90 Million

Most Western viewers tend to think of animation as just for kids and families. But animator Ralph Bakshi tried to break that mold with films like Fritz the Cat. This adult-rated, darkly funny movie was intentionally controversial and incredibly successful, earning almost $100 million despite only costing $700,000 to make.

The movie satirizes the self-indulgence and lack of direction often associated with baby boomers, but it hasn’t remained popular over time. It relies on offensive and outdated tropes to make its arguments, which haven’t held up well. While Fritz the Cat was groundbreaking for animation, it’s probably best viewed as a product of its time.

8. Oliver & Company (1988) – $121 Million

Released just before Disney’s big comeback in the late 80s and early 90s, Oliver & Company was a major hit after a period of less successful films. This animated take on Oliver Twist replaces human characters with animals and features a pop soundtrack with songs by artists like Billy Joel and Huey Lewis. While the movie made a lot of money, critics weren’t particularly enthusiastic about it.

Many people have forgotten about Disney’s Oliver & Company, and for good reason – it’s not considered one of their best films. It feels rushed and calculated, like Disney was trying too hard to compete with other animation studios that were gaining popularity. The movie was essentially Disney’s attempt to stay current and relevant in a changing animation landscape.

7. Anastasia (1997) – $140 Million

As a huge animation fan, I remember Anastasia being a really big deal when it came out. It was Don Bluth’s most successful film financially, though some felt it was a bit too conventional for him. The movie – a beautifully animated take on the story of the Russian princess – had fantastic songs and a really impressive voice cast. Honestly, it sparked some debate about whether it was a little insensitive to the historical events, but audiences loved it! It made $140 million at the box office, which was amazing considering it only cost $50 million to make.

Many millennials fondly remember the movie Anastasia, but it’s become less well-known over time. It’s easy to confuse with a Disney film, given its beautiful animation and catchy songs. However, it doesn’t really break the mold of the typical Disney princess story. Still, Anastasia deserves to be remembered and appreciated.

6. The Prince Of Egypt (1998) – $218 Million

Traditional animation is becoming rare, and DreamWorks’ The Prince of Egypt is considered one of the last truly stunning examples from Western animation. The film was a grand, ambitious project, resulting in a visually rich experience. Despite being a box office success, it only barely broke even after factoring in all production and marketing expenses.

Many people fondly remember The Prince of Egypt, though it’s often eclipsed by DreamWorks’ more recent successes. It was once the highest-grossing animated film not made by Disney, but that record has since been broken. While its initial blockbuster status may be forgotten, the film remains a beloved classic.

5. Bolt (2008) – $310 Million

Movie theaters were doing very well in the late 2000s and early 2010s, and Disney’s Bolt benefited from that positive trend. The animated film is about a dog who stars as a secret agent on television, but believes his action hero persona is real life. While Bolt isn’t a bad movie, it doesn’t really stand out as particularly memorable.

Despite mixed reviews, the movie earned a strong $310 million in theaters. However, with a production cost of $150 million, it likely only just covered its expenses. Today, Bolt is mostly remembered for influencing Disney to focus more on classic fairy tale stories, leading to popular films like Tangled and Frozen.

4. Over The Hedge (2008) – $339 Million

In the 2000s, while Disney was facing challenges, DreamWorks became the leader in animated films. One of their often-forgotten hits was Over the Hedge, a funny story about a group of forest animals who venture into a suburban neighborhood. Surprisingly, DreamWorks wasn’t thrilled with the film’s performance, despite it earning almost $340 million on an $80 million investment.

I have to be honest, while Over the Hedge was a big hit when it came out in 2008, it just hasn’t stuck with me like some other animated movies. It wasn’t the prettiest to look at, and honestly, the jokes felt a little mean-spirited. DreamWorks has made so many fantastic films, it’s easy to forget about this one – and I think that’s okay! There are just better options when I’m looking for a fun family movie.

3. Dinosaur (2000) – $349 Million

Despite earning nearly $350 million, the movie Dinosaur was actually a financial failure. This was unusual for a blockbuster! The film, Disney’s first completely 3D animated movie, tells the story of a dinosaur leading his herd to safety, but its high production cost of $127 million—plus extra expenses—meant it didn’t make enough to cover its costs.

As a movie fan, I think this film was really ahead of its time – you can definitely see how it paved the way for things to come. But honestly? It’s also pretty easy to spot why it didn’t quite stick the landing. The beginning is fantastic, but the story just kind of… meanders. It doesn’t really have a strong drive, and it’s missing that special Disney sparkle in the way the story unfolds.

2. The Adventures Of Tintin (2011) – $374 Million

Based on the classic comic books, The Adventures of Tintin brought the famous Belgian reporter to the movies using cutting-edge motion capture. The brave young journalist searches for a hidden treasure and encounters numerous dangers during his quest. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the film was a huge success, earning over $374 million worldwide.

Despite being a big hit, The Adventures of Tintin seems to have been largely forgotten. It’s surprising, considering its initial success. Perhaps the character isn’t well-known in North America, or maybe the animation style doesn’t look as fresh as it once did. Whatever the reason, it’s remarkable how quickly a popular movie can disappear from public memory.

1. Rio 2 (2014) – $498 Million

As a huge animation fan, I wasn’t surprised to hear Rio 2 made almost half a billion dollars at the box office – it clearly struck a chord with audiences! It’s funny, though, after the first Rio movie did so well – raking in around $400 million – the studio seemed to rush this sequel out. And honestly, most critics didn’t think it was quite as good as the original.

Even though Rio 2 made a lot of money, it’s largely been forgotten. While the movie wasn’t great, that hasn’t stopped other films from becoming popular. The main reason people don’t remember it is probably because a third movie never happened. Now that Disney owns Fox, it’s unlikely we’ll ever see Rio 3.

2026-04-13 00:49