A still from "Finding Dory," which became the highest-grossing domestic animated release of all time with a gross of $445.5 million. (Photo : Facebook/Finding Dory)
Only five weeks after its release in domestic theaters, Pixar's "Finding Dory" has become the highest-grossing animated film in the U.S. ever.
The follow-up to 2003's "Finding Nemo," raked in an additional $11 million at the U.S. box office over the weekend, taking its domestic tally to a whipping $445.5 million, according to Box Office Mojo.
The animated feature, which follows the story of a blue tang fish named Dory (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres) who sets off on an adventure to look for her long-lost parents, surpassed "Shrek 2" to become the highest-grossing domestic animated release of all time. The 2004 film previously held the top spot with a collection of $441.2 million, Entertainment Weekly reported.
"Finding Dory" is one of the few sequels that have lived up to expectations and broken another record in the process. The film also registered the biggest-ever opening for an animated feature in North America with a collection of $135 million and is also on track to make the top-ten list of all-time grossing films in the U.S. ever, beating Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight Rises" ($448.1 million).
"Finding Dory" also became the highest-earning film at the domestic box office this year, a title previously held by "Captain America: Civil War" ($406.5 million).
The animated flick is not only doing well domestically but is also enjoying success in foreign markets. The film has already raked in $721.7 million in earnings globally after bowing out in theaters this weekend in Japan, Mexico and Hong Kong and is creeping closer to the $1 billion mark with the film yet to be released in U.K., Italy and Germany.
Disney has had an impressive year thanks to hits like "Finding Dory," "The Jungle Book," and "Zootopia" and has officially crossed the $2 billion milestone in the U.S as of this weekend, making history in the process by becoming the fastest studio do achieve the success.
Watch the trailer for "Finding Dory" below:
