Frozen was the first Walt Disney Animation Studios film to gross more than $1 billion during its initial worldwide theatrical release.
Released in 2013, Frozen passed the milestone on March 2, 2014—its 101st day in theaters. Its original run earned about $1.281 billion worldwide, including roughly $400.7 million in North America and $880 million internationally.
A common mix-up is Toy Story 3, which crossed $1 billion earlier, in 2010. That film was produced by Pixar, another Disney-owned studio, so it was the first animated film overall but not the first Walt Disney Animation Studios feature to reach the mark. Frozen’s success also helped make Elsa, Anna, Olaf, and “Let It Go” global pop-culture fixtures.
The film was directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, with Lee also becoming the first woman to direct a feature for Walt Disney Animation Studios alone. Its financial breakthrough was followed by Frozen II, which also became a billion-dollar animated hit.