Ice Age: Continental Drift

"Ice Age" is the story of three unlikely friends. Manny is an average-joe woolly mammoth, Sid is a motormouthed ground sloth and Diego is a bad-boy saber-toothed tiger. They're a perfectly balanced comic trio in the classic slapstick tradition.

The first film follows the group ... more as they find a human baby and return it to the father. It was a hit with audiences and critics, raking in $383 million worldwide. "Ice Age" was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Animated Feature category, but lost to "Spirited Away."

Given the big take of the first movie, a sequel was inevitable. "Ice Age: The Meltdown" hit screens in 2006. It follows the gang as they flee melting ice and search for a new home. There's also a love interest for Manny and some scary alligators to make the plot feel less about global warming. "The Meltdown" grossed $651 million worldwide.

Bing: More about 'Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs' | More about 'Spirited Away'

In 2009, audiences got "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs." The third entry is all about family. Manny is busy preparing to become a father. Diego is worried that his new friends have made him soft. Sid is sad he has no family, so he steals some dinosaur eggs to make new friends. You can imagine how that turns out.

"Dawn of the Dinosaurs" grossed a massive $886 million worldwide. It's no wonder that Blue Sky and FOX keep making these movies. They're a license to print money.

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(20th Century FOX)