When it comes to major powerhouses in animation, it is impossible not to think of DreamWorks Animation, a studio that has been entertaining audiences for decades with movies that are as innovative as they are enjoyable. Founded in the 1990s as part of Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen's DreamWorks Pictures, the studio kicked off its journey into the spotlight by developing Antz and The Prince of Egypt, the first productions in a highly successful career that is still going strong today with over 45 films released and many more in the pipeline for the future.
Over the years, DreamWorks has delivered some of the highest-grossing and most popular films in the history of cinema, leaving an indelible mark on popular culture with animated franchises such as Shrek, Chicken Run, and Madagascar, among many, many others. One thing is for sure: DreamWorks definitely knows how to craft a good blockbuster that is loved by critics and audiences alike. Here are their highest-grossing films so far.
10 Madagascar — $556.5 Million
Madagascar
- Release Date
- May 25, 2005
- Director
- Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath
- Cast
- Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer
- Rating
- PG
- Main Genre
- Animation
Madagascar is one of the first hits delivered by DreamWorks Animation after achieving international stardom with Shrek. It premiered in 2005 introducing Alex, Gloria, Marty, and Melman, four animals who spent their entire lives at the Central Park Zoo that end up stranded on the island of Madagascar left with no choice but to embrace the unknown.
What Makes It Great
Although it didn't get the best reviews from critics, Madagascar managed to win over audiences and became a box office hit that fueled the development of a popular franchise. Among the elements that contributed to its great success are its visuals, its charismatic and memorable characters and its amusing concept, which manages to keep audiences hooked.
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9 The Croods — $587.2 Million
The Croods
- Release Date
- March 15, 2013
- Director
- Kirk De Micco, Chris Sanders
- Cast
- Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman, Clark Duke
- Rating
- PG
- Main Genre
- Animation
The Croods is another DreamWorks Animation film that boasts an all-star cast. This 2013 film, written and directed by Kirk DeMicco and Chris Sanders, follows a prehistoric family who must embark on the exciting yet dangerous adventure of finding a new home after their cave was destroyed.
What Makes It Great
In the film, the Croods are constantly discovering new things as they travel through a world they don't quite know, something that keeps the audience entertained. To top it all off, the production benefits from its impressive visual effects and the way it tackles themes such as adapting to changes and the importance of family, which resonate with many viewers. These are some of the things that turned The Croods into a box-office hit with many accolades under its belt.
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8 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa — $599.6 Million
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
- Release Date
- October 30, 2008
- Director
- Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath
- Cast
- Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer
- Rating
- PG
- Main Genre
- Animation
In the wake of Madagascar's success in 2005, Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath teamed up once again to deliver its first sequel, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. In this production, the franchise's beloved characters are getting ready to head back to New York City. However, technical malfunctions in their aircraft leave them stranded in Africa, where their newfound adaptive skills won't do them much good.
What Makes It Great
Madagascar 2 proved to be even better than the original film, improving the critics' opinion for its plot, animation, and voice cast. It delves even deeper into the already familiar characters, allowing audiences to really connect and empathize with them. Plus, the fact that they find themselves stranded in unfamiliar territory again brings an added thrill to the story while leading to some very amusing scenes.
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7 How to Train Your Dragon 2 — $614.5 Million
How to Train Your Dragon 2
- Release Date
- June 5, 2014
- Director
- Dean DeBlois
- Cast
- Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill
- Rating
- PG
- Main Genre
- Action
How to Train Your Dragon 2 is the second installment of the franchise inspired by Cressida Cowell's book series, and it proved to be an even bigger hit than the original film. It once again features the village of Berk, where dragons are now threatened by a dangerous warlord who wants to turn them into soldiers. Convinced that peace is the only way out, Hiccup sets out on a journey to bring the warlord to his senses, unaware that, along the way, he will run into his long-lost mother.
What Makes It Great
The film presents a story as engaging as the original How to Train Your Dragon, but with a slightly darker tone that earned it widespread acclaim. It focuses on the evolution of the main characters, who are now dealing with increasingly complex issues. To top it all off, its marvelous voice cast once again features Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, and Gerard Butler, and welcomes Cate Blanchett, Djimon Hounsou, and Kit Harington.
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6 Kung Fu Panda — $631.9 Million
Kung Fu Panda
- Release Date
- June 4, 2008
- Director
- Mark Osborne, John Stevenson
- Cast
- Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Ian McShane, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen
- Rating
- PG
- Main Genre
- Animation
2008 marked the release of Kung Fu Panda, a film that launched one of DreamWorks Animation's most successful franchises. It is set in ancient China and features Po, a panda who dreams of becoming a kung-fu master. His life takes an unexpected turn when he is selected as Dragon Warrior to fulfill an ancient prophecy and must face a dangerous rival who is threatening his community.
What Makes It Great
Kung Fu Panda features, arguably, the greatest cast in the history of DreamWorks Animation. This, combined with an innovative animation style, spectacular fight scenes, and lots of humor, turned this homage to Chinese culture into a box-office hit loved by all ages.
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5 Kung Fu Panda 2 — $664.8 Million
Kung Fu Panda 2
- Release Date
- May 25, 2011
- Director
- Jennifer Yuh Nelson
- Cast
- Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogen, Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, David Cross, Lucy Liu
- Rating
- PG
- Main Genre
- Animation
Kung Fu Panda's success with audiences in 2008 led to the release of its first sequel three years later. Kung Fu Panda 2 features all the stars of the original voice cast, and also incorporates actors such as Gary Oldman, and Michelle Yeoh. Here, Po has to face another villain that threatens his community, but this new mission will also force him to confront his own past.
What Makes It Great
Kung Fu Panda did everything right, but its sequel actually did it better, which is why it became such an award-winning blockbuster. Its animation and cast performance exceeded everyone's expectations, and the story depicted in this new film served to delve even deeper into the main character's complex background, endearing him even more to the audience.
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4 Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted — $746.9 Million
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
- Release Date
- June 6, 2012
- Director
- Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath, Conrad Vernon
- Cast
- Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer
- Rating
- PG
- Main Genre
- Animation
After winding up stranded in Madagascar and subsequently landing in Africa, this franchise's well-loved characters are now faced with a major problem: they have become Europe's Most Wanted. Now, with a fearsome animal-control officer on their trail, the group is left with no choice but to disguise themselves among the members of a traveling circus.
What Makes It Great
Madagascar 3 managed to surpass its predecessors to become the biggest hit in the franchise. Not only did the film build on the success of the previous installments, it also enhanced its popularity by bringing in major stars while capitalizing on technological advances to deliver a higher quality of animation.
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3 Shrek Forever After — $756.2 Million
Shrek Forever After
- Release Date
- May 16, 2010
- Director
- Mike Mitchell
- Cast
- Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews, Jon Hamm
- Rating
- PG
- Main Genre
- Animation
Shrek Forever After hit theaters in 2010, nine years after the film that kicked off the franchise. This Mike Mitchell movie, promoted as the last in the film series, follows the audience's favorite ogre that, weary of his mundane existence, makes a deal with Rumpelstiltskin that results in terrible consequences.
What Makes It Great
Everyone knew that Shrek Forever After would be the final installment in the film series even before it hit theaters, so audiences were eager to discover how each character's tale would wrap up. On top of this, the storyline introduced an interesting twist by forcing Shrek to navigate an alternate reality in which he doesn't exist in order to get his wife and family back, all while maintaining the franchise's signature sense of humor. The film fare considerably better than its predecessor, wrapping up DreamWorks' most popular franchise on a high note.
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2 Shrek the Third — $813.3 Million
Shrek the Third
- Release Date
- May 17, 2007
- Director
- Chris Miller, Raman Hui
- Cast
- Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews, John Cleese
- Rating
- PG
- Main Genre
- Animation
2007's Shrek the Third is set directly after King Harold's death, at which point Fiona and Shrek must take on the task of ruling Far, Far Away. Shrek has no interest in leading the kingdom, so he sets out to find the next heir to the throne, his wife's teenage cousin Archie. But his mission will be harder than it seems, for the young man is not king material, and to make matters worse, Prince Charming is eager to avenge his mother's death.
What Makes It Great
Shrek 2's premiere back in 2004 set the bar extremely high for subsequent productions, and while Shrek the Third managed to become an even bigger box office hit, it was nowhere near the critical acclaim of its predecessor. Still, the film is a solid entry in the franchise that explores some deep issues while retaining its humor, such as Shrek's own evolution regarding fatherhood.
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1 Shrek 2 — $935.3 Million
Shrek 2
- Release Date
- May 19, 2004
- Director
- Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, Conrad Vernon
- Cast
- Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Julie Andrews, Antonio Banderas, John Cleese
- Rating
- PG
- Main Genre
- Animation
Shrek 2 holds steady as DreamWorks Animation's highest-grossing film ever, and it is also regarded as one of the best sequels ever made. This 2004 movie is set directly after the events of the original film, and introduces Fiona and Shrek as they travel to Far Far Away to meet her parents, clueless about her marriage to an ogre.
What Makes It Great
Shrek walked so that Shrek 2 could run. This film is, hands down, the finest of the entire franchise, featuring some top-notch humor, brand new characters that are just as charismatic as the established ones, a story that keeps you gripped to the screen, and one of the best soundtracks ever.
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