By Movieguide® Staff
Disney is finishing out a major year; the studio made over $6 billion in ticket sales in 2026.
“This is Disney’s fifth time crossing the $6 billion benchmark — and first since COVID — having previously achieved these box office heights in 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016,” Variety noted, adding, “No other studio has managed to reach $6 billion since 2015.”
Related: ZOOTOPIA 2 Smashes into Box Office: Breaks 8 Global Records
So, what was behind this major box office record? LILO & STITCH and ZOOTOPIA 2, which made $1.03 billion and $1.3 billion (and counting), respectively. Both movies are the only projects that have crossed the $1 billion mark at the box office this year.
“Everyone at Disney Animation put their heart, soul and passion into this film to tell a story full of joy, imagination, and incredible thoughtfulness,” Jared Bush, Chief Creative Officer at Walt Disney Animation Studios, said in a statement celebrating ZOOTOPIA 2’s success. “This milestone means the world to us, because more than anything, it means audiences are coming to theaters for a shared experience of watching this movie on the big screen, everyone together, from all walks of life around the world — and that is a ZOOTOPIA dream come true.”
Disney’s commitment to family-friendly movies that stressed positive themes of family, friendship and love helped push their projects to the top of the box office in 2025.
2026 will likely be a good year for Disney, too. The studio is set to release AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY, TOY STORY 5 and the live-action version of MOANA next year.
“I’m really excited to embrace this character because Moana is one of my favorites,” Catherine Laga‘aia, who plays Moana in the movie, shared with Deadline. “My grandfather comes from Fa‘aala, Palauli, in Savai‘i. And my grandmother is from Leulumoega Tuai on the main island of ‘Upolu in Samoa. I’m honored to have an opportunity to celebrate Samoa and all Pacific Island peoples, and to represent young girls who look like me.”
MOANA director Thomas Kail added, “I am thrilled to have met Catherine…through this casting process. I am humbled by this opportunity, and I cannot wait to all be on set together. And there’s no better pair to be in a canoe with than Catherine and Dwayne [Johnson, who plays Maui] — actually, trio: Heihei is ready, too.”
If Disney continues to release movies that emphasize positive, family-friendly plot lines, they’ll surely see the same success rate in the new year!
Read Next: Once Upon a Stream: Disney’s Year on Streaming
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