Disney’s Massive Year at the Box Office Met with Quiet Oscar Morning. It is the classic “good news, bad news” scenario for Disney. Just weeks after celebrating a massive $6 billion year at the global box office, the 98th Academy Award nominations have arrived with a much quieter thud for the Mouse House. Avatar: Fire & Ash led with 2 nominations, Elio and Zootopia 2 each garnered one, and the Disney animated short Retirement Plan got one.
While Disney dominated the charts in 2025, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences only handed out five nominations across the entire company this morning. It’s a bit of a reality check for a studio that spent the last year breaking records in theaters.
First, let’s look at the money. Disney became the first studio in years to hit the $6 billion mark globally. They did it thanks to a string of hits like Zootopia 2, a monster success that crossed $1.7 billion. Lilo & Stitch, the live-action remake that surprised everyone by clearing $1 billion. Avatar: Fire and Ash, which provided a massive year-end push, sitting at $1.3 Billion.
The Oscar Reality Check – Despite the ticket sales, the critical love didn’t quite follow. Here is where Disney landed for the 2026 Oscars:
- Avatar: Fire and Ash (20th Century Studios): Picked up just 2 nominations (Visual Effects and Costume Design). For a franchise that usually cleans up in technical categories, this feels light.
- Zootopia 2 (Walt Disney Animation): Earned 1 nomination for Best Animated Feature.
- Elio (Pixar): Also grabbed 1 nomination for Best Animated Feature.
- Retirement Plan (Disney+): Scored 1 nomination for Best Animated Short Film.
Noticeably missing? Any nods in the “Big Five” categories. There’s no Best Picture nomination for Avatar this time around, and the Marvel slate, while profitable, was shut out completely.
On Sunday, March 15, the 98th Oscars will be televised live on ABC, streamed live on Hulu, and aired live to more than 200 territories worldwide from the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.
