Blue Sky Studios emerged as a major player in feature animation in 2002 with its debut film Ice Age, which grossed over $380 million worldwide and earned generally positive reviews. Founded in 1987 as a special effects and music-video production company, the studio shifted to feature animation after being acquired by 20th Century Fox in 1997. Over the next 17 years Blue Sky produced 13 feature films—including four sequels in the Ice Age franchise—before the studio was closed after Disney’s acquisition of Fox and its animation operations were consolidated.
In this ranked guide, we run through all thirteen of Blue Sky’s feature releases, ordering the studio’s films from least to most successful in terms of artistic merit and cultural impact. Below are the Blue Sky Studios animated movies, ranked.
13. Ice Age: Collision Course (2016)
Budget: $105 million
Worldwide Box Office: $408.6 million
Starring: Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah, Stephanie Beatriz, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Adam Devine, Max Greenfield, Jessie J, Jennifer Lopez, Nick Offerman, Keke Palmer, Josh Peck, Simon Pegg, Seann William Scott, Michael Strahan, Wanda Sykes
Ice Age: Collision Course failed to match the franchise’s earlier peaks and ultimately became the series’ final installment. Critics and many viewers saw it as a low point: thin plotting, underused characters, and a sense of franchise fatigue left this entry feeling like the weakest of the series.
12. Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)
Budget: $95 million
Worldwide Box Office: $877 million
Starring: Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah, Aziz Ansari, Peter Dinklage, Drake, Nick Frost, Josh Gad, Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, Keke Palmer, Josh Peck, Simon Pegg, Seann William Scott, Patrick Stewart, Wanda Sykes, Alan Tudyk, Rebel Wilson
Continental Drift came at the commercial height of the franchise, becoming one of Blue Sky’s biggest earners. Yet it also marked the start of diminishing creative returns: the film relied on spectacle and star power rather than fresh storytelling, and some viewers felt the franchise was veering into self-parody.
11. Rio 2 (2014)
Budget: $103 million
Worldwide Box Office: $500 million
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Jesse Eisenberg, Bruno Mars, Jamie Foxx, Kristin Chenoweth, Andy Garcia, George Lopez, Jemaine Clement, Will.i.am, Tracy Morgan, Leslie Mann, Rodrigo Santoro
The sequel to the vibrant original, Rio 2 returns to its colourful setting and family-focused storyline but struggled to recapture the freshness of the first film. Critics pointed to a weaker script and a loss of the original’s Brazilian energy, leaving it a middling entry in Blue Sky’s catalog.
10. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)
Budget: $90 million
Worldwide Box Office: $886.7 million
Starring: Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah, Simon Pegg, Chris Wedge, Karen Disher, Josh Peck, Seann William Scott, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Joey King, Jane Lynch
Dawn of the Dinosaurs was Blue Sky’s highest-grossing film, demonstrating the franchise’s commercial power. On the creative side it felt increasingly formulaic: the plot’s contrivances and a turn toward spectacle led some viewers to see it as a cash-driven installment rather than a heartfelt continuation.
9. Robots (2005)
Budget: $75 million
Worldwide Box Office: $260.7 million
Starring: Robin Williams, Ewan McGregor, Halle Berry, Chris Wedge, Amanda Bynes, Mel Brooks, Jennifer Coolidge, Jim Broadbent, Drew Carey, Greg Kinnear, Stanley Tucci, Paul Giamatti, James Earl Jones
Robots features a lively voice cast led by Robin Williams and inventive production design, but its core story felt adequate rather than exceptional. The film’s distinctive visuals set it apart, yet it never quite joined the era’s top-tier animated hits.
8. Epic (2013)
Budget: $100 million
Worldwide Box Office: $268.5 million
Starring: Beyoncé, Amanda Seyfried, Josh Hutcherson, Colin Farrell, Pitbull, Aziz Ansari, Jason Sudeikis, Steven Tyler, Christoph Waltz, Chris O’Dowd
Epic showcased some of Blue Sky’s most dynamic and colorful animation and assembled a starry cast, but it lacked a memorable, imaginative story to match its visuals. Still, it offers enjoyable moments and remains an attractive, family-friendly fantasy adventure.
7. Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who! (2008)
Budget: $85 million
Worldwide Box Office: $297 million
Starring: Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Selena Gomez, Carol Burnett, Seth Rogen, Isla Fisher, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, Jonah Hill
Adapting beloved Dr. Seuss material, Blue Sky delivered a warm, comedic animated film that captured much of the book’s whimsical spirit. With Jim Carrey and Steve Carell leading a strong comedic cast, Horton Hears a Who! stands as one of the studio’s more charming and faithful adaptations.
6. Ferdinand (2017)
Budget: $111 million
Worldwide Box Office: $296 million
Starring: John Cena, Kate McKinnon, Gina Rodriguez, David Tennant, Bobby Cannavale, Anthony Anderson, Gabriel Iglesias, Daveed Diggs
Ferdinand begins with familiar beats but grows into a heartfelt, visually appealing family film. John Cena’s voice performance anchors a story about kindness, family, and nonviolence, and the film’s warm tone and strong character moments earned it an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature.
5. Spies in Disguise (2019)
Budget: $100 million
Worldwide Box Office: $171.6 million
Starring: Tom Holland, Will Smith, Rashida Jones, Karen Gillan, Ben Mendelsohn, DJ Khaled, Masi Oka, Reba McEntire, Mark Ronson
Blue Sky’s final release, Spies in Disguise, blends spy-movie thrills with family-friendly humor and heart. Though it underperformed at the box office, the film embodies Blue Sky’s strengths—charismatic voice performances, inventive visual gags, and an emphasis on empathy and teamwork.
4. Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006)
Budget: $80 million
Worldwide Box Office: $661 million
Starring: Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Queen Latifah, Chris Wedge, Josh Peck, Seann William Scott, Jay Leno, Alan Tudyk
As a sequel that expanded the original’s world and delivered bigger set pieces, The Meltdown succeeded commercially and retained much of the original’s charm. While it repeats some beats and sacrifices a touch of originality, it remains a solid and entertaining follow-up.
3. Rio (2011)
Budget: $90 million
Worldwide Box Office: $484.6 million
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Jesse Eisenberg, Will.i.am, Jamie Foxx, Rodrigo Santoro, Jemaine Clement, George Lopez
Rio captures the energy and color of its Brazilian setting through vivid animation and an upbeat soundtrack. The film balances a romantic coming-of-age story with lively ensemble humor, making it enjoyable for both children and adults and one of Blue Sky’s most visually rewarding films.
2. The Peanuts Movie (2015)
Budget: $99 million
Worldwide Box Office: $246.2 million
Starring: Bill Melendez, Noah Schnapp, Kristin Chenoweth
Blue Sky’s adaptation of Charles M. Schulz’s beloved characters won praise for preserving the spirit and visual simplicity of the original Peanuts strips. Though it was not a major box-office hit, the film’s gentle humor, heartfelt themes, and faithful animation style make it one of the studio’s most respectful and charming efforts.
1. Ice Age (2002)
Budget: $59 million
Worldwide Box Office: $383.3 million
Starring: Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Chris Wedge, Jack Black, Alan Tudyk, Cedric the Entertainer, Jane Krakowski
Blue Sky’s original Ice Age arrived at a time when computer animation was settling into mainstream cinema and quickly announced the studio as a creative force. The film balances humor and heartfelt themes, presenting a trio of unlikely companions who unite to protect an infant and ultimately one another. Its strong character work, original voice performances, and animated craftsmanship make it Blue Sky’s most significant and memorable achievement.
Which Blue Sky film do you think best represents the studio’s time in the spotlight? Share your thoughts and continue exploring animation history through the studio’s varied and often inventive filmography.