Disney/Pixar’s “Cars 2” Ranks #1 at the Domestic Box Office Among This Year’s Animated Titles

BURBANK, Calif., Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The Walt Disney Studios announced today that the Disney/Pixar animated feature film Cars 2, which opened on June 24, 2011, has earned $189 million domestically, ranking first among this year’s animated features. The film has earned $548 million to date at the domestic and international box office, making it the 16th highest-grossing animated film in global cinematic history.

Additionally, on September 7, The Hollywood Post Alliance nominated Cars 2 in two categories:  Outstanding Editing-Feature Film (Stephen Schaffer, A.C.E./ Pixar Animation Studios) and Outstanding Sound-Feature Film (Tom Myers, Michael Semanick and Michael Silvers/Skywalker Sound).

“This is the real fast and furious,” said Rolling Stone magazine’s Peter Travers in his June 23, 2011, review. “And it’s even better than before. The sequel is a tire-burning burst of action and fun with a beating heart under its hood. You can bet Cars 2 will rev your engines.”

John Lasseter directed Cars 2, a follow-up to his 2006 two-time Oscar®-nominated and Golden Globe®-winning Cars. Cars 2 is co-directed by Brad Lewis, producer of the Oscar®-winning film Ratatouille, and produced by Denise Ream (associate producer, Up).

A culturally diverse, comedic spy-thriller set in cities around the world, including Paris, London and Toyko, Cars 2 has surpassed the worldwide box-office totals of other Disney/Pixar hits such as Monsters, Inc. and WALL-E.

Cars 2 is the 12th feature-length animated film from Pixar Animation Studios (its first 11 have earned $6.5 billion at the global box office). Pixar, winner of 29 Academy Awards® and seven Golden Globes®, celebrated its 25th anniversary last month.

An all-star cast voiced Cars 2, including Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, John Turturro, Bonnie Hunt, Tony Shalhoub, Cheech Marin, Jason Isaacs, and Joe Mantegna.