LOS ANGELES — A white-hot Walt Disney Company reported a 33 percent increase in quarterly profit on Wednesday, as the animated musical “Frozen” demonstrated why media giants still chase movie hits although investors prefer less risky pursuits.

Profit soared on across-the-board strength. A 10 percent uptick in ad sales at ESPN contributed to a 20 percent increase in operating income at Disney’s television unit. Record attendance at theme parks in Florida, Tokyo and Hong Kong delivered a 16 percent increase at Disney’s resorts division. Sales of “Star Wars” toys fueled a 24 percent rise at Disney Consumer Products.

But the clear star of the quarter was Walt Disney Studios, where operating income spiked 75 percent, to $409 million. Disney’s movie studio benefited from “Thor: The Dark World,” which had $633.1 million in global ticket sales, an increase of 36 percent over the first “Thor” in 2011, after accounting for inflation. And the studio, in a turnaround at its animation division, found an unexpectedly huge hit in “Frozen,” about two Nordic princesses and a wisecracking snowman.

A leading contender in several Oscar categories, “Frozen” is a successful example of Disney’s “spend big to profit big” movie strategy. The film cost at least $300 million to make and market, but it is likely to generate nearly $1 billion in worldwide ticket sales. And it is expected to shower Disney with profits for years through DVD sales, iTunes song downloads, sales of themed merchandise, a planned Broadway spinoff and an expected Disney On Ice arena show.