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Minions & Monsters Opens in U.S. Theaters, Delivers Solid Box-Office Start and Positive Reviews
When the yellow Minions hop back in time to 1927 Hollywood, they trade banana‑cracking antics for a quest to produce the ultimate monster movie. On July 1, 2026, the 90‑minute animated comedy—directed by Pierre Coffin and written with Brian Lynch—hit United States cinemas, marking the seventh entry in the Despicable Me franchise.
The film was announced in July 2024 after the release of Despicable Me 4. Illumination produced the picture, with Chris Meledandri and Bill Ryan serving as producers. It was distributed by Universal Pictures and premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 21, 2026. John Powell composed the score, making this the first Despicable Me installment not scored by Heitor Pereira. The voice cast includes Coffin as the Minions, Trey Parker, Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeff Bridges, Zoey Deutch, Bobby Moynihan, and Phil LaMarr.
Set against the backdrop of the transition from silent to sound films, the plot follows the Minions’ quest to find frightening creatures for a monster movie of their own. They team up with a green creature named Goomi—voiced by Parker—and must prevent the unleashed monsters from threatening the world. The script is peppered with references to early Hollywood classics such as Modern Times, Safety Last!, The Maltese Falcon, and Citizen Kane, positioning the film as a love letter to the silent‑film era.
Box‑office performance has been modest compared with earlier franchise entries. According to Deadline, the film earned $38.5 million in its first three days across 4,243 theaters, and $63 million over five days, making it the No. 1 film in the domestic market despite being the lowest opening in the Despicable Me series. A separate Deadline report noted that the movie had grossed $62.6 million worldwide after just two days of release. The film’s PG rating and family‑friendly humor have attracted audiences of all ages.
Critics have largely praised the movie. Review aggregators and individual outlets have called Minions & Monsters the best film in the franchise, noting its blend of slapstick comedy, heartfelt storytelling, and sophisticated film references. The standalone nature of the story allows the filmmakers to introduce new characters—such as the villainous Dort, voiced by Eisenberg, and the creature Goomi—without being constrained by the established continuity of the main series.
In the broader context of the Despicable Me universe, Minions & Monsters is the third prequel in the Minions spin‑off series and the first to be set 41 years before the 2015 Minions film. The franchise, produced by Illumination and distributed by Universal, has become one of the highest‑grossing media properties worldwide. While the film’s opening was modest, its critical reception and early international earnings suggest a steady performance.
The movie’s release schedule is now complete, with the U.S. theatrical run beginning July 1 and the film already in cinemas worldwide. The next installment in the Minions prequel line, slated for 2027, is announced but no release date has been set. No legal or regulatory issues have been reported, and the film continues to be screened at major festivals and in theaters.
Minions & Monsters demonstrates Illumination’s ability to blend nostalgic references with contemporary humor, and its performance indicates that the franchise remains viable for future projects.
The film was announced in July 2024 after the release of Despicable Me 4. Illumination produced the picture, with Chris Meledandri and Bill Ryan serving as producers. It was distributed by Universal Pictures and premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 21, 2026. John Powell composed the score, making this the first Despicable Me installment not scored by Heitor Pereira. The voice cast includes Coffin as the Minions, Trey Parker, Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeff Bridges, Zoey Deutch, Bobby Moynihan, and Phil LaMarr.
Set against the backdrop of the transition from silent to sound films, the plot follows the Minions’ quest to find frightening creatures for a monster movie of their own. They team up with a green creature named Goomi—voiced by Parker—and must prevent the unleashed monsters from threatening the world. The script is peppered with references to early Hollywood classics such as Modern Times, Safety Last!, The Maltese Falcon, and Citizen Kane, positioning the film as a love letter to the silent‑film era.
Box‑office performance has been modest compared with earlier franchise entries. According to Deadline, the film earned $38.5 million in its first three days across 4,243 theaters, and $63 million over five days, making it the No. 1 film in the domestic market despite being the lowest opening in the Despicable Me series. A separate Deadline report noted that the movie had grossed $62.6 million worldwide after just two days of release. The film’s PG rating and family‑friendly humor have attracted audiences of all ages.
Critics have largely praised the movie. Review aggregators and individual outlets have called Minions & Monsters the best film in the franchise, noting its blend of slapstick comedy, heartfelt storytelling, and sophisticated film references. The standalone nature of the story allows the filmmakers to introduce new characters—such as the villainous Dort, voiced by Eisenberg, and the creature Goomi—without being constrained by the established continuity of the main series.
In the broader context of the Despicable Me universe, Minions & Monsters is the third prequel in the Minions spin‑off series and the first to be set 41 years before the 2015 Minions film. The franchise, produced by Illumination and distributed by Universal, has become one of the highest‑grossing media properties worldwide. While the film’s opening was modest, its critical reception and early international earnings suggest a steady performance.
The movie’s release schedule is now complete, with the U.S. theatrical run beginning July 1 and the film already in cinemas worldwide. The next installment in the Minions prequel line, slated for 2027, is announced but no release date has been set. No legal or regulatory issues have been reported, and the film continues to be screened at major festivals and in theaters.
Minions & Monsters demonstrates Illumination’s ability to blend nostalgic references with contemporary humor, and its performance indicates that the franchise remains viable for future projects.
