Disney’s movie lineup can be confusing. Ask two fans about the 100th Disney animated movie and you’ll probably get two different answers. The reason? Disney actually counts their animated classics differently depending on which branch or list you follow. If you want to get it straight—and figure out which film officially landed as the 100th—it's good to know how Disney tracks them.

For the official count, Disney Animation Studios recognized “Wish” as their 100th movie, which premiered in 2023. There was a big marketing push around this milestone, with all the buzz focusing on that number. But here's where it gets tricky: this count includes everything under the umbrella, from their very first feature “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” right down to all the post-millennium hits. Some lists only count theatrical releases, skipping direct-to-video ones, and sometimes co-productions sneak in (looking at you, “The Wild”).

Knowing which movies are actually counted can help you find the right stats if you’re interested in box office performance, anniversaries, or just bragging rights. Disney put their 100th film front and center for a reason—it wasn’t just about nostalgia, but about cashing in on the box office love, too.

• Clearing Up the Disney Movie Count
• The 100th Disney Movie and Its Place in Box Office History
• Looking at the Numbers: Money Talk
• Misconceptions and Mix-Ups
• Tips for Tracking Disney Releases

Clearing Up the Disney Movie Count

If you go by fan forums, Disney’s official website, or random movie blogs, you’ll notice nobody totally agrees on what counts as a "Disney animated movie." Disney itself has changed its story over time, adding and removing titles from their official list. The biggest confusion comes from mixing up Walt Disney Animation Studios releases with stuff from DisneyToon Studios, Pixar, or movies made in partnership with other studios.

The main list Disney celebrates is their line-up from Walt Disney Animation Studios. This is where you get the official count, including the classics and the more modern CG-animated films. Direct-to-video sequels and spin-offs (like those Tinker Bell movies) do NOT make the cut here. Pixar’s movies, no matter how popular, are always counted separately by Disney. If it didn’t come straight out of Walt Disney Animation Studios, it doesn’t go on the main list.

Want to see how the numbers shake out? Here’s a simplified table showing what Disney usually counts when they mark big milestones like the 100th Disney movie:

It’s easy to see how fans can argue if a movie like "The Wild" or "A Goofy Movie" should count. Disney actually removed "The Wild" from their own list after counting it for years. These shifts usually happen quietly, with Disney updating their website or annual promos without much warning.

If you want the real answer, always check Walt Disney Animation Studios’ latest list. That’s the list Disney uses during anniversaries and to name those big milestone films, including what they officially called their 100th entry, "Wish." So next time you see a different number tossed around online, you’ll know why it doesn’t always add up.

The 100th Disney Movie and Its Place in Box Office History

So, the big question—what exactly was Disney’s 100th animated feature? The honor goes to “Wish,” which dropped in 2023. Disney hyped this release for months, calling it both a celebration of their storytelling legacy and a nod to fans who stuck around for the first 99 adventures. The milestone wasn’t just a media event, it became part of Disney's marketing to bring families back to the theaters post-pandemic.

When it comes to box office stats, “Wish” didn’t break records like “Frozen” or “The Lion King,” but it still had a respectable run. Opening weekend in the US pulled in around $49 million, which is solid—especially since family movies were in a tough spot after COVID-19. Globally, “Wish” made a little over $250 million during its theatrical run, showing that Disney's reach is still strong, even if not every movie smashes the billion-dollar ceiling.

What really set “Wish” apart was how Disney leaned hard into nostalgia. They included Easter eggs and subtle nods to classics like “Pinocchio” and “Cinderella.” Even the marketing campaign showcased moments from past films, making sure everyone knew this wasn’t just another cartoon but the official number 100.

It’s worth pointing out that if you follow the big list of Disney movies, “Wish” marks a full century of feature-length animated films under the Disney Animation Studios brand. This number is different from the overall Disney-owned catalog, but for fans of the traditional animated lineup, this was the big one.

Why does the 100th Disney movie matter for box office watchers? Hit numbers like this are often used for promotions, re-releases, and even cross-merchandise with streaming launches. Disney knows how to play the numbers game to boost ticket sales and keep their movies in the conversation for years—even if the box office haul isn’t a new record.

Looking at the Numbers: Money Talk

Let’s get real about the box office numbers for Disney’s 100th big milestone, “Wish.” People had high hopes for it, but the money story is mixed. On paper, the film cleared a worldwide gross of about $253 million. For context, that’s not even close to the top of the Disney animated food chain—“Frozen II” exploded with over $1.4 billion, and “The Lion King” made history with $1 billion even back in the ‘90s (if you adjust for inflation, it’s even wilder).

Here’s where “Wish” stands out: Disney wanted it to feel special, so marketing spend was huge. Not every movie gets that, so its box office numbers aren’t just about the movie itself—it’s also about the hype and nostalgia Disney built around hitting the big “100.” The return on all that hype wasn’t as high as Disney wanted in North America, but international markets did give it a boost.

• Opening weekend in the U.S.: $31.7 million (not breaking records, but definitely not bad)
• Lifetime domestic run: Around $64 million
• Biggest wins: “Wish” pulled strong merchandise sales, and streaming revenue helped soften the lower theater numbers

If you compare “Wish” to the usual box office collection of other Disney hits, it’s middle of the pack. Most recent Disney animated movies like “Encanto” and “Raya and the Last Dragon” also had underwhelming box office runs, partly thanks to the streaming-first release strategies after the pandemic. It seems folks are just as happy catching new releases at home as heading to the theater.

So, if you're looking at the box office collection of Disney’s 100th movie as a sign of where animation is headed, it tells you a couple of things. Theatrical numbers aren’t the only score that matters—streaming, toys, and the massive Disney brand play a big role. And honestly, Disney’s real win is sticking in people’s minds, not just at the top of the ticket charts.

Misconceptions and Mix-Ups

Talk to anyone who's tried to keep track of every Disney animated movie, and you'll quickly see where things get messy. One of the biggest mix-ups comes from which movies are on the "official" list. Disney Animation Studios and Disney as a whole don’t always count the same titles. The biggest confusion? People often mix original Disney Animation (the classics) with Pixar movies or the stuff from DisneyToon and other subsidiaries. But when it comes to the 100th Disney movie, we're only talking about the main Walt Disney Animation Studios feature-length releases, not shorts, Pixar, or Marvel, and definitely not live-action remakes.

Here’s a common mistake: movies like "Planes" sometimes get counted just because they look like Disney animated films. But "Planes" was actually made by DisneyToon Studios, not Walt Disney Animation Studios. The same goes for some direct-to-video sequels—those don’t count in the official classics tally either.

Some fans even count Pixar movies (like "Toy Story"), but those have their own list. Pixar is a Disney company, but its releases aren’t counted in the Walt Disney Animation Studios' classic numbering system.

The movie “The Wild” is another headache. It’s animated, Disney released it, but Disney didn’t actually make it—an outside studio did. Even Disney’s marketing teams have disagreed on how to count it, so you’ll see it added or skipped on different lists.

For reference, Disney has a tracked list called the “Animated Canon.” If you want to see how the box office stacked up for each film, it pays to have the official list. Here’s a handy comparison to clear up which movies count:

Here's a quick tip: If you're ever unsure, check the Walt Disney Animation Studios official website or their latest home releases for the up-to-date list.

Tips for Tracking Disney Releases

Keeping up with Disney's releases can be overwhelming—especially when you realize that their movie timeline includes different studios, spin-offs, and bonus movies you never even heard about in theaters. If you want to keep your collection up-to-date or just like having brag-worthy facts on hand, there are some straightforward ways to track every Disney movie as it comes out.

• Check the official Walt Disney Animation Studios list. Disney themselves maintain a running list of what they call their “Animated Classics.” This list is easy to find on the official Disney websites and usually sticks just to mainline animated movies—so random side projects don’t sneak in.
• IMDB is your friend. You can pull up all Disney releases by using IMDB’s filters, sorting by studio, and getting actual release years and theatrical status. This lets you weed out the direct-to-video stuff if you care about the main milestones, like the 100th Disney movie.
• Wikipedia has a “List of Walt Disney Animation Studios films” and an even more massive “List of Disney feature-length home entertainment releases.” These lists are usually up-to-date within days of a new movie dropping, and they break down each movie by animation studio, release method, and country.
• Letterboxd works great if you want something more visual and interactive—fans keep lists, comment, and often flag mix-ups (like if someone adds “Planes” as a core movie).

Release dates can be a pain because some movies get an earlier date in one country but a later one in another. Here’s a quick look at how Disney handles their animated milestones over the years:

For those who like staying ahead, set Google Alerts for upcoming Disney titles or subscribe to Disney’s own newsletters—this way, movie announcements won’t sneak by you. If you love stats, sites like Box Office Mojo break down earnings by studio and movie so you can see which films really smashed it at the box office.

Avoid getting tripped up by straight-to-video releases, Marvel or Pixar movies, or random Disney Channel Originals if you’re focused on the actual studio milestones. Stick to the official lists, double-check your sources, and you’ll never miss a release again.