Highlights

• DreamWorks Animation consistently pushes the envelope with humor and technology, amassing over $17.2 billion in global box office revenue since 1998.
• Successful franchises like Shrek and Kung Fu Panda have contributed significantly to DreamWorks' box office influence and to parent company, NBCUniversal.
• DreamWorks continues to reinvent itself with new projects like The Wild Robot and The Bad Guys 2, sustaining box office momentum with hits like Kung Fu Panda 4.

It would be easy to assume that Disney Animation alone dominates the spotlight in the animation sector.

However, DreamWorks' impressive track record offers a compelling counterpoint, making a strong case for itself as a leading animation studio.

DreamWorks Animation has consistently pushed the envelope in animation technology and storytelling with its distinctive specialty, often favoring irreverent humor and pop-culture references.

Since launching its first film, Antz, in 1998, DreamWorks has released a total of 48 feature films, accruing over $17.2 billion in global box office revenue.

The studio's box office influence extends through its successful franchises like Shrek and Kung Fu Panda, which have notably bolstered the animation sector, contributing robustly to the coffers of its parent company, NBCUniversal, which acquired DreamWorks for $3.8 billion in 2016.

The studio's ability to reinvent itself has resulted in consistent box office hits, most recently with Kung Fu Panda 4.

Looking ahead, DreamWorks plans to sustain its box office momentum with exciting new projects like The Wild Robot and The Bad Guys 2.

Today, we're looking at the highest-grossing DreamWorks Animation, in order of box office gross.

10 Madagascar (2005)

Global Box Office, Madagascar - $542,063,846

This hilarious tale of pampered zoo animals shipwrecked on a tropical island was a gamble for DreamWorks, fresh off the success of the Shrek franchise.

Charting a whimsical journey of zoo animals who find themselves on the wild shores of Madagascar, the film was crafted with a palpable zeal that infused life into its charismatic quartet: Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, and Gloria the Hippo.

Madagascar was met with mixed reviews from critics but excelled at the box office, grossing $542 million worldwide.

Its financial breakdown reveals a domestic haul of approximately $193.6 million, and an international total of about $348.4 million.

The film's success propelled DreamWorks to develop Madagascar into a multimedia franchise.

This included sequels like Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa and Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, alongside a spin-off film, Penguins Of Madagascar.

9 The Croods (2013)

Global Box Office, The Croods - $587,266,745

DreamWorks Animation went prehistoric with The Croods, a boisterous tale of a caveman family outrunning both extinction and their own hilariously outdated ways.

Originally envisioned as a stop-motion film, DreamWorks Animation re-imagined it into a vividly animated feature, employing cutting-edge technology to breathe life into the winsome caveman family and their dynamic, evolving environment.

The film, bursting with color and creativity, not only received widespread acclaim but also earned nominations for an Academy Award for "Best Animated Feature," and a Golden Globe for "Best Animated Feature Film."

The Croods grossed a global total of $587.2 million, with $187.2 million from the United States and Canada and an additional $400 million from international markets.

The Croods delivered a massive return on investment for DreamWorks; Deadline Hollywood calculated the net profit of the film to be $106.5 million when factoring together all expenses and revenues.

8 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008)

Global Box Office, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa - $603,900,354

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa rocketed even higher than its predecessor, clawing its way to the top of DreamWorks' box office food chain.

This follow-up adventure reunited our favorite New York animals, this time crash-landing on the vast plains of Africa.

The animation dazzled even more than the first film, and the laugh-out-loud moments multiplied like meerkats at sunrise. Critics, previously lukewarm, were swayed by the wilder plot and the return of the all-star voice cast.

The film featured new music, including contributions from Will.i.am, who performed five songs, and a score by the renowned Hans Zimmer, adding layers of cultural richness and auditory pleasure.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa achieved a gross of $180 million in the United States and Canada, along with a gross of $424 million in other regions, adding to a worldwide gross total of $604 million.

7 How To Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)

Global Box Office, How To Train Your Dragon 2 - $621,537,519

Building on the rich narrative established in the first film, How To Train Your Dragon 2 expanded the mythical world of Vikings and dragons, introducing darker themes and more complex character developments.

It explored the maturation of its protagonist, Hiccup, and his dragon, Toothless, capturing the nuances of their evolving relationship amid the thrilling backdrop of adventure.

The sequel was DreamWorks' pioneering project in utilizing scalable multicore processing, along with the studio's newly developed animation and lighting software.

How To Train Your Dragon 2 grossed $177 million in North America and $441.9 million in other countries, for a worldwide total of $618.9 million, making it the second-highest-grossing animated film of 2014.

According to Deadline Hollywood, after accounting for all expenses, How to Train Your Dragon 2 realized a profit of $107.3 million.

6 Kung Fu Panda (2008)

Global Box Office, Kung Fu Panda - $632,091,832

DreamWorks served up a feast of laughs and action with Kung Fu Panda in 2008.

Po, the lovable, clumsy panda with kung fu dreams, tumbled onto screens with a star-studded voice cast, and eye-popping animation inspired by Chinese art.

From a technical standpoint, Kung Fu Panda highlighted DreamWorks Animation's advancement in character animation, which was more complex and detailed than any of their previous projects, setting new benchmarks for the studio.

It seized the top spot during its opening weekend with a haul of $60.2 million in North America.

By the end of its theatrical run, it had grossed $215.4 million in the United States and Canada and $416.3 million overseas, for a total of $631.7 million worldwide.

The success of Kung Fu Panda led to the creation of a franchise, including sequels like Kung Fu Panda 2 and Kung Fu Panda 3, and most recently, Kung Fu Panda 4 in 2024.

5 Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

Global Box Office, Kung Fu Panda 2 - $665,692,281

Kung Fu Panda 2 deepened the narrative and emotional layers of Po's journey, exploring themes of identity and destiny, all while retaining the humor and charm that endeared the original to audiences worldwide.

Produced with an expansive budget of $150 million, Kung Fu Panda 2 utilized DreamWorks's cutting-edge stereoscopic 3D technology, enhancing the film's visual splendor.

The production team sought to enrich the authenticity and appeal of the storyline with Chinese culture by visiting Chengdu, known as the panda hometown.

Kung Fu Panda 2 grossed $165.2 million in the United States and Canada and $500.4 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $665.7 million, making it the highest-grossing film directed by a female director — until Frozen.

4 Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)

Global Box Office, Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted - $746,921,274

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted skyrocketed to become the pinnacle of its series, both in terms of narrative creativity and box office success.

This third installment whisked its beloved characters – Alex, Marty, Melman, and Gloria – on a European adventure that combined high-flying circus antics with their trademark escapades.

Europe's Most Wanted built on the foundation laid by its predecessors and elevated the franchise to new heights, by integrating cutting-edge animation techniques and a vibrant, color-rich palette.

The film was notably produced with substantial contributions from DreamWorks Dedicated Unit in India, a move that leveraged global talent to enhance the visual splendor and detail of the animation.

The result was a spectacle that dazzled viewers with its improved animation quality and dynamic visual effects.

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted earned $216 million in North America and $531 million in other countries, for a total of $747 million worldwide.

3 Shrek Forever After (2010)

Global Box Office, Shrek Forever After - $752,600,867

Everyone's favorite curmudgeonly ogre returned for one last hurrah in Shrek Forever After.

Advertised as the final chapter in the beloved series, this film took a bold turn, exploring what might happen if Shrek never existed at all.

It was a risky but brilliant move by DreamWorks, injecting a jolt of bittersweet nostalgia into the famously irreverent franchise. This mix ensured that the film appealed to long-time fans and attracted new viewers.

Shrek Forever After earned $238.7 million in North America and $513.9 million in other countries, for a worldwide total of $752.6 million.

2 Shrek The Third (2007)

Global Box Office, Shrek The Third - $813,367,380

Shrek 2 was a tough act to follow for Shrek The Third. Think of it as an ogre-sized sequel, facing ogre-sized expectations.

Although the sequel did not match its predecessor's critical acclaim, the film still delivered a hefty dose of laughs, exploring Shrek's anxieties about fatherhood with surprising depth.

From a production standpoint, DreamWorks Animation invested heavily in maintaining the high-quality animation and detailed world-building that fans had come to expect.

Shrek The Third debuted with $121.6 million in its opening weekend, setting a record at the time for the highest-grossing opening weekend for an animated film — a record it held for nine years, until it was surpassed by Finding Dory's $135.1 million debut.

Shrek The Third went on to gross $322.7 million in the United States and $490.7 million overseas, bringing its cumulative total to $813.4 million, against a budget of $160 million.

1 Shrek 2 (2004)

Global Box Office, Shrek 2 - $932,395,557

Shrek 2 took everything audiences loved and cranked it up to eleven, surpassing the original film in every way.

This film is the crown jewel of the franchise. It featured some laugh-out-loud humor, unforgettable new characters, a gripping storyline, and a soundtrack that had the audiences dancing in their seats.

DreamWorks Animation leveraged advanced animation tools that significantly enhanced the visual appeal of the characters, particularly the scene-stealing Puss in Boots.

The lead actors – Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz – received a substantial salary increase to $10 million each, marking one of the highest contracts in their careers at the time.

This boost was a notable upgrade from the $350,000 each had earned for the first film.

Shrek 2 grossed $441.2 million in the US and Canada and $487.5 million in foreign markets for a total of $935.3 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of both 2004 and in its franchise.