cloudy with a chance of billions: the 5 most lucrative animated films

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Cloudy With a Chance Of Billions: The 5 Most Lucrative Animated Films

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Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 is set to open next weekend, giving distributor Sony (NYSE: SNE) an opportunity to get back on track after an underwhelming year at the box office. The timing could hardly be better. Despicable Me 2, from Comcast’s (Nasdaq: CMCSA) Universal Pictures, recently became the first animated film in three years to earn at least $300 million at the U.S. box office. Walt Disney’s (NYSE: DIS) Monsters University also outperformed, earning more than any of 2012’s biggest animated hits. The toons are back on top, it seems. The following slideshow reveals the top 5 grossing animated features of all time and reveals why Disney, still animation’s undisputed king, is seeing more competition than ever. We also name the two best opportunities for investors right now.

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Cloudy With a Chance of Billions: The 5 Most Lucrative Animated Films

Cloudy With a Chance Of Billions: The 5 Most Lucrative Animated Films

Page 2: Cloudy With a Chance of Billions: The 5 Most Lucrative Animated Films

Animated Features Are Winning Again

Are animated blockbusters back?

● Despicable Me 2 became the first animated feature since 2010’s Toy Story 3 to earn at least $300 million at the U.S. box office.

● Pixar’s Monsters University also outperformed each of last year’s biggest animated winners: Brave, Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, and Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax.

The average nationally-released animated feature grosses $87.7 million at the domestic gate, according to Box Office Mojo.

Sources: Disney Pixar via Wikia.

Page 3: Cloudy With a Chance of Billions: The 5 Most Lucrative Animated Films

An Evil Plot to Make More Money?

Sources: Illumination Entertainment via Empire Magazine.

Though big in scale, animated features tend towards reasonable or even small budgets.

● Universal partner Illumination Entertainment spent less than $80 million in producing each of the Despicable Me films.

● Toy Story 3 is a rare exception, costing Walt Disney and Pixar $200 million.

No wonder Universal commissioned a sequel! A third installment, Minions, is planned for summer 2015.

Page 4: Cloudy With a Chance of Billions: The 5 Most Lucrative Animated Films

Toy Story 3

Source: Wikimedia Foundation.

THE BREAKDOWN

Summary: “The toys are mistakenly delivered to a day-care center instead of the attic right before Andy leaves for college, and it's up to Woody to convince the other toys that they weren't abandoned and to return home.” (source: IMDb)

Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack

Directors: Lee Unkrich

Worldwide Box Office: $1,063.2 million

Production Budget: $200 million

Page 5: Cloudy With a Chance of Billions: The 5 Most Lucrative Animated Films

The Lion King

Source: Walt Disney.

THE BREAKDOWN

Summary: “Tricked into thinking he killed his father, a guilt ridden lion cub flees into exile and abandons his identity as the future King.” (source: IMDb)

Starring: Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons

Directors: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff

Worldwide Box Office: $961.5 million

Production Budget: $45 million

Page 6: Cloudy With a Chance of Billions: The 5 Most Lucrative Animated Films

Finding Nemo

Source: Pixar Animation.

THE BREAKDOWN

Summary: “After his son is captured in the Great Barrier Reef and taken to Sydney, a timid clownfish sets out on a journey to bring him home.” (source: IMDb)

Starring: Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould

Directors: Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich

Worldwide Box Office: $921.7 million

Production Budget: $94 million

Page 7: Cloudy With a Chance of Billions: The 5 Most Lucrative Animated Films

Shrek 2

Source: DreamWorks Animation.

THE BREAKDOWN

Summary: “Princess Fiona's parents invite her and Shrek to dinner to celebrate her marriage. If only they knew the newlyweds were both ogres.” (source: IMDb)

Starring: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas

Directors: Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, Conrad Vernon

Worldwide Box Office: $919.8 million

Production Budget: $150 million

Page 8: Cloudy With a Chance of Billions: The 5 Most Lucrative Animated Films

Despicable Me 2

Sources: Universal and Illumination Entertainment.

THE BREAKDOWN

Summary: “Gru is recruited by the Anti-Villain League to help deal with a powerful new super criminal.” (source: IMDb)

Starring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt

Directors: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud

Worldwide Box Office: $840.6 million

Production Budget: $76 million

Page 9: Cloudy With a Chance of Billions: The 5 Most Lucrative Animated Films

What about Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2? The first film earned Sony $243 million worldwide on a $100 million budget. The studio must be aiming higher this time.

Tooning In to a Profit

Disney isn’t the only option for investors. Other inhabitants of Wall Street’s Toontown include ...

● DreamWorks Animation (NYSE: DWA). Home to the Shrek and Madagascar franchises. Will release Mr. Peabody & Sherman, based on the TV cartoon, in March.

● Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA) and studio subsidiary Universal Pictures. Distributor of the Despicable Me films and increasingly relevant producer of comic book adaptations.

Toontown street from Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Source: Walt Disney.

Page 10: Cloudy With a Chance of Billions: The 5 Most Lucrative Animated Films

3 Big Brands With Worldwide Appeal

Movies -- especially animated movies -- are one of America’s great exports. But there are also opportunities outside the entertainment industry. Here’s a closer look at three other U.S. stocks our analysts like right now ...

● One still dominates the fast food landscape here in the U.S., but which may be best known for inspiring a quip in an Oscar-winning film.

● Another is best known for outfitting some of the world’s biggest stars.

● Another has created a whole series of combo fast food joints that mash together different brands in a single store. This company is also slowly improving operations in China.

Want to know more about these stocks? We tell you all you need to know in a just-released special report. Click here to claim your FREE copy now.