With Cars 2 racing into theaters this weekend, it gives us a chance to look back at the long, storied and quite successful existence of Pixar. While the first Cars movie ranks as one of the least profitable on the animation studio’s resume, it has more than made up for the lack of box office receipts with an impressive array of licensed products. This week, we take a look at The Five Pixar movies which have made the most money worldwide. Is your favorite on the list? Let’s check 'em out…
Hard to believe the story of monsters generating their city’s power by scaring children came out 10 years ago, but Monsters Inc. managed to scare up $525 million in worldwide ticket sales. The comedy also managed to earn four Oscar nominations, winning one for Randy Newman’s original song, “If I Didn’t Have You,” which you can hear below over the Monsters Inc. blooper reel. A sequel is set to hit theaters in June 2013 with Billy Crystal and John Goodman reprising the roles of Mike and Sulley.
In 2004, Pixar took on the superhero genre featuring a family who are forced into action to save the world when all they want to do is to try and live a quiet suburban life. Behind the direction of Brad Bird (and Edna Mode’s costumes), the Parr family helped save the day, rake in $631 million worldwide and win two Oscars, including Best Animated Feature.
The story of 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen and his amazing flying house (with the help of thousands of balloons, of course) soared to become the third highest grossing Pixar movie of all-time. Carl, his enthusiastic, impatient 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer partner Russell and a certain lovable “talking” golden mutt named Dug raked in $731 million worldwide to go along with two Oscars, including Best Animated Feature. Up was also nominated for Best Picture in 2010, but lost out to The Hurt Locker. The movie also featured one of the most poignant sequences in any animated film – the five minute story of Carl and his wife Ellie, which you can see below.
A year before The Incredibles hit the big screen, Pixar unleashed one their most beloved movies of all-time. Featuring the voices of Albert Brooks and Ellen DeGeneres as Marlin and Dory who set out to find Marlin’s lost son Nemo, the underwater Pixar comedy grossed $867 million worldwide and, yep, brought home the Best Animated Feature Oscar for Pixar. DeGeneres also won several supporting actress awards for her portrayal of Dory, a fish with short term memory loss. Take a look below at a fan-made montage of some of Dory’s most unforgettable moments.
Last summer, Toy Story 3 went on to become the first and only Pixar movie to gross over $1 billion worldwide. In the third installment, the toys are delivered to a day-care center instead of the attic before Andy leaves to go away to college. It’s up to Woody to convince the rest of the gang that they weren’t abandoned and they need to return home. Toy Story 3 earned five Oscar nominations, winning Best Animated Feature and yet another statue for Randy Newman’s original song, “We Belong Together.” Cars 2 features a six-minute Toy Story short featuring many of the favorites from this third movie and a second Toy Story short will be attached to The Muppets movie in November.
OK, there you have it. Was your favorite Pixar movie on the list and will you be seeing Cars 2 this weekend?
Derrick Deane, Fandango Content Personnel/Movie Blogger, joined Fandango in 2010, bringing more than 10 years of filmmaking and writing experience with him. While The Godfather, Rear Window and 12 Angry Men are all favorites, he will always have a soft spot for Die Hard, Leon: The Professional and B
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