Zero (Imagine Dragons song)

"Zero" (From the Original Motion Picture "Ralph Breaks the Internet"), or simply "Zero", is a song by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons, who co-wrote it with their producer John Hill. It is the second single from the band's fourth studio album Origins (2018).^[3] The song is featured in the Disney animated film Ralph Breaks the Internet and was included in its second official trailer and its soundtrack.

"Zero"
Single by Imagine Dragons
from the album Origins and Ralph Breaks the Internet (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Released	September 19, 2018
Recorded	2018
Genre	Pop[1] rock[2]
Length	3:30
Label	Interscope Kidinakorner Walt Disney
Songwriter(s)	Dan Reynolds Ben McKee Wayne Sermon Daniel Platzman John Hill
Producer(s)	John Hill
Imagine Dragons singles chronology
"Natural" (2018) "Zero" (2018) "Machine" (2018)
Music video
"Zero" on YouTube

Background

Dan Reynolds, the band's frontman, said that "[the] song speaks to" the title character's struggle for self-acceptance, which the band resonated with, while the film's co-director, Rich Moore, called the song "a bold choice for an end-credit song because it's about someone who feels like a zero, someone who hasn't always felt worthy, someone who's allowed his entire sense of self to rely on a single friendship".^[4] Phil Johnston, the film's co-writer and co-director, said that Ralph's insecurity is a feeling everyone can relate to, "but the song tells us we’re not alone. They nailed the theme of the movie in a way that also makes you want to dance."^[5]

Critical reception

Markos Papadatos of Digital Journal stated that the song is "worth more than just a passing glance, and it garners two thumbs up."^[6]

Music video

A music video for the song was released on October 23, 2018. The video takes place in an arcade, and promotes the Disney animated film Ralph Breaks The Internet. It has received over 86 million views as of March 2023.

Live performances

"Zero" was performed live for the first time at the iHeartRadio Music Festival on September 22, 2018, along with another song from the album: "Natural". "Zero" was also performed at Jimmy Kimmel Live! on November 5, 2018. "Zero" was also performed live at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on November 7, along with three other songs from the album: "Natural", "Machine" and "Bad Liar".^[7]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2018–19) Peak position Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[8] 1 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[9] 99 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[10] 33 Hungary (Single Top 40)[11] 18 Hungary (Stream Top 40)[12] 31 Italy (FIMI)[13] 24 Netherlands (Single Tip)[14] 11 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[15] 72 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[16] 92 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 76 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[18] 9

Year-end charts Chart (2018) Position US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[19] 93 Chart (2019) Position Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[20] 77 US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[21] 46

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[22]	2× Platinum	80,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[23]	Platinum	50,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[24]	Silver	200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[25]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Various	September 19, 2018	Digital download	Interscope	[26]
Italy	September 21, 2018	Contemporary hit radio		[27]

References

1. "Imagine Dragons: Origins". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
2. Peacock, Tim (2020-11-09). "'Origins': How Imagine Dragons Became "More Than Just A Band"". uDiscover Music. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
3. "Imagine Dragons Share Protest Anthem 'Machine' - iHeartRadio".
4. Ding, Sophie (4 November 2018). "Watch Imagine Dragons' Meme-Filled Music Video For 'Zero'". Billboard. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
5. "Ralph Breaks The Internet - Press Kit" (PDF). Walt Disney Media File Website (Press release). Disney. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 5, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
6. "Review: Imagine Dragons release brilliant lyric video for 'Zero'". Digital Journal. 19 September 2018.
7. "Imagine Dragons Setlist at Cosmopolitan Of Las Vegas, Las Vegas". setlist.fm.
8. "Imagine Dragons – Zero" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
9. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 04. týden 2019 in the date selector. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
10. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
11. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
12. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
13. "Imagine Dragons – Zero". Top Digital Download. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
14. "Imagine Dragons - Zero". Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Retrieved May 9, 2022.
15. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 07. týden 2019 in the date selector. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
16. "Imagine Dragons – Zero". Singles Top 100. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
17. "Imagine Dragons – Zero". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
18. "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
19. "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
20. "Rádiós Top 100 - hallgatottsági adatok alapján - 2019". Mahasz. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
21. "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
22. "Brazilian single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Zero" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
23. "Italian single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Zero" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved March 4, 2019. Select "2019" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Zero" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
24. "British single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Zero". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
25. "American single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Zero". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
26. "Zero (From the Original Motion Picture "Ralph Breaks The Internet") - Single by Imagine Dragons" – via music.apple.com.
27. "Imagine Dragons - Zero (Radio Date: 21-09-2018)". EarOne. 19 September 2018.