Looking back, 2013 wasn't just a good year for Disney—it was the blueprint for the billion-dollar empire of the next decade. Here is the complete guide to the Disney movies of 2013. Monsters University (June 21, 2013) The Studio: Pixar The Verdict: A Safe, Solid Prequel

While critics noted it didn't reach the emotional heights of Pixar’s best work, the film was a commercial smash, grossing over $743 million worldwide. It proved that even a "lesser" Pixar film was better than most studio’s best. The film also tackled a surprisingly mature theme: the lesson that sometimes, hard work isn't enough—and that’s okay. The Studio: Walt Disney Animation Studios The Verdict: A Game-Changing Juggernaut

After the existential masterpiece that was Up (2009) and Toy Story 3 (2010), Pixar returned to the well of nostalgia. Monsters University served as a prequel to the 2001 classic, following a lanky, goofy Mike Wazowski and a massive, scary James P. Sullivan during their college rivalry.

Released during the awards season, Saving Mr. Banks is the adult counterpoint to the year’s cartoons. Starring Emma Thompson as the prickly author P.L. Travers and Tom Hanks as Walt Disney himself, the film told the "true" story of the 20-year struggle to make Mary Poppins .

Disney had acquired Marvel in 2009, but Iron Man 3 was the first major post- Avengers test. Could Tony Stark stand alone after the team-up event of the century?

If Frozen was the highest high, The Lone Ranger was the lowest low. Reuniting the Pirates of the Caribbean team—Johnny Depp (as Tonto) and Armie Hammer (as the Lone Ranger)—this western was plagued by budget overruns and a messy tone.

Then it hit theaters. Frozen didn’t just break records; it melted them. It became the highest-grossing animated film of all time at that point (earning nearly $1.3 billion). It won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. "Let It Go" became an inescapable earworm that transcended the film to become a global anthem of self-acceptance.