Despicable Me | |
---|---|
Created by | Sergio Pablos [1] |
Original work | Despicable Me (2010) |
Owners | |
Years | 2010–present |
Films and television | |
Film(s) | Main series:
|
Short film(s) | Despicable Me short films |
Web series | Despicable Me digital series |
Television special(s) | Minions Holiday Special (2020) |
Games | |
Video game(s) | Despicable Me video games |
Audio | |
Soundtrack(s) | |
Miscellaneous | |
Theme park attraction(s) | Despicable Me Minion Mayhem |
Despicable Me is an American media franchise created by Sergio Pablos, Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio. It centers on a former supervillain turned secret agent named Gru, his adoptive daughters, Margo, Edith, and Agnes, and his yellow-colored Minions. The franchise is produced by Illumination and distributed by its parent company Universal Pictures.
The franchise began with the 2010 film of the same name, which was followed by three sequels, Despicable Me 2 (2013), Despicable Me 3 (2017), and Despicable Me 4 (2024) and by two spin-off prequels, Minions (2015) and Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022). The franchise also includes many short films, a television special, several video games, and a theme park attraction.
Film | Release Date | Director(s) | Screenwriter(s) | Producers |
---|---|---|---|---|
Main series | ||||
Despicable Me | July 9, 2010 | Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin | Cinco Paul, Ken Daurio and Sergio Pablos | Chris Meledandri, John Cohen and Janet Healy |
Despicable Me 2 | July 3, 2013 | Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio | Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy | |
Despicable Me 3 | June 30, 2017 | Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda | ||
Despicable Me 4 | July 3, 2024 | Chris Renaud | Mike White and Ken Daurio | Chris Meledandri and Brett Hoffman |
Prequel series | ||||
Minions | July 10, 2015 | Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda | Brian Lynch | Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy |
Minions: The Rise of Gru | July 1, 2022 | Kyle Balda | Brian Lynch and Matthew Fogel | Chris Meledandri, Janet Healy and Chris Renaud |
Untitled third Minions movie [2] | June 30, 2027 | Pierre Coffin | Brian Lynch and Pierre Coffin | Chris Meledandri and Bill Ryan |
Longtime supervillain Gru formulates a plan to steal the Moon after his rival Vector steals the Great Pyramid of Giza. Meanwhile, he starts a family by adopting three orphan girls, and must decide where his commitments lie. [3] [4]
Despicable Me debuted at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival on June 9, 2010, [5] and was released in the United States on July 9. [6]
Gru is recruited by agent Lucy Wilde (Wiig), who is investigating a theft of a mutagen. During their investigations, they extract El Macho (Bratt), a supervillain with the goal of causing world domination after faking his death. [7]
Despicable Me 2 debuted in Australia on June 5, 2013, [8] and was released in the United States on July 3. [9]
Gru teams up with his long-lost twin brother Dru to stop Balthazar Bratt, a former child actor of the 1980s, from destroying Hollywood, Los Angeles, after his show is canceled years ago. [10]
Despicable Me 3 debuted at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival on June 14, 2017, [11] and was theatrically released in the United States on June 30. [12]
Gru, who is now raising a baby, faces Maxime Le Mal and his girlfriend Valentina, two villains who seek revenge on Gru and his family, forcing the family to go on the run. [13]
Despicable Me 4 debuted in New York City on June 9, 2024, [14] and was released in the United States on July 3. [15]
The Minions search for their replaceable evil master after, one-by-one, accidentally killing all their past leaders throughout history. [16]
Minions debuted in London on June 11, 2015, [17] and was released in the United States on July 10. [18]
An eleven-year-old Gru plans to become a supervillain with the help of his Minions, which leads to a showdown with a malevolent team, the Vicious 6. [19]
Minions: The Rise of Gru debuted at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 13, 2022, [20] and was released in the United States on July 1. [21]
A sequel, tentatively under the title Minions 3, is scheduled to be released on June 30, 2027. [22]
A total of 20 short films have been released in the franchise. Three short films based on Despicable Me were released in December 2010 on the film's DVD and Blu-ray. [23] [24] The Despicable Me 2 DVD and Blu-ray, released in December 2013, included another three short films. [25] Three short films were released in 2015 on the Blu-ray and DVD of Minions, [26] while one short film was released in the Blu-ray and DVD of Despicable Me 3. [27]
A short film titled Mower Minions was released in 2016 with The Secret Life of Pets , being the first short film to be released theatrically. [28] A second theatrical short film was released in 2018 with The Grinch , while another one was released in The Grinch's DVD and Blu-ray. [29] A third theatrical short film was released in 2023 with Migration . [30] Two new shorts were released in Despicable Me 4 on digital HD release.
Released on the Despicable Me DVD and Blu-ray. [23] [24]
After the events of Despicable Me, the Minions help Margo, Edith, and Agnes renovate Gru's house, so the social worker does not take the girls back to Miss Hattie's Home for Girls.
Released on the Despicable Me DVD and Blu-ray. [23] [24]
Three new Minions go for bomb-carrying duty, which was harder than they thought when they suddenly have an argument with two others carrying a giant bomb.
Released on the Despicable Me DVD and Blu-ray. [23] [24]
Three Minions fight over a banana. In the process, they wreak havoc in the Minions' workplace.
Released on the Despicable Me 2 DVD and Blu-ray. [25]
A Minion watches neighbors walking their dogs on the street, which leads him to search for a puppy of his own. After several failed attempts, he comes across a UFO that takes the role of a puppy for him.
Released on the Despicable Me 2 DVD and Blu-ray. [25]
Two Minions work sending parcels through the lab. When a package containing expired PX-41 (the serum that El Macho used to transform the Minions and himself in Despicable Me 2), gets jammed in the pneumatic delivery system, it transforms one of them into an evil Minion.
Released on the Despicable Me 2 DVD and Blu-ray. [25]
Agnes is unsatisfied with her toy bike after falling off it while attempting to catch up to an ice cream truck with Margo, Edith, and their friends. Three Minions then volunteer to modify the bike and help Agnes improve her skills.
Released on the Minions DVD and Blu-ray. [26]
Two Minions look after a cave baby while their caveman boss goes to find a bull to eat for lunch. But it is harder than the Minions think.
Released on the Minions DVD and Blu-ray. [26]
Two Minions challenge themselves to numerous attacks, ending up on the lab's conveyor belt in the process.
Released on the Minions DVD and Blu-ray. [26]
The Nelsons' youngest son Binky, having lost his pacifier after a successful robbery at a museum, sets out on a mission to retrieve it.
Released theatrically with The Secret Life of Pets (2016). [28]
A group of Minions try to earn some money by mowing a lawn at a local old people's home. But their work results turn out to be chaotic.
Released on the Despicable Me 3 DVD and Blu-ray. [27]
After the events of Despicable Me 3, we follow Kyle and his secret life when Gru and his family are gone.
Released theatrically with The Grinch (2018). [29]
Before they all make their big escape from prison in Despicable Me 3, a couple of lucky Minions get a taste of freedom as they break free with the help of one of their fellow human inmates.
Released on The Grinch DVD and Blu-ray. [29]
Kevin, Stuart, and Bob, having been accidentally dropped off at the North Pole, make the most of the situation by trying to become elves.
Released on The Secret Life of Pets 2 DVD and Blu-ray. [31]
When Margo, Agnes and Edith return from a Scout camp, a group of Minions are entranced by the girls' merit badges and become scouts in an attempt to earn badges for themselves.
Aired on NBC on June 11, 2021[ citation needed ] and included in the Minions: The Rise of Gru DVD and Blu-ray. [32]
A rookie Minion joins other Minions in a tabletop role-playing game.
Released on the Minions: The Rise of Gru DVD and Blu-ray. [32]
When a Minion crashes into an art gallery, an art critic praises his creation and he becomes an overnight celebrity.
Released theatrically with Migration (2023). [33]
Taking place right after the ending of the first film, Vector Perkins, still stuck on the Moon, attempts to escape and return to Earth.
Released on the Migration 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, DVD and Blu-ray. [34]
The Trio of Minions will try anything to help Agnes overcome her fear of the dark, even if it involves going into outer space.
Released on the Despicable Me 4 digital platforms.
Released on the Despicable Me 4 digital platforms.
Minions Holiday Special is a half-hour compilation of Minions mini-movies, containing Santa's Little Helpers, Training Wheels, Puppy, and Minion Scouts. Additionally, the special includes holiday-themed interstitials featuring characters from Illumination's The Secret Life of Pets and Sing franchises. The special aired on NBC on November 27, 2020. [35]
Miranda Cosgrove, who voices Margo in the films, provides narration between the short segments.
Saturday Morning Minions debuted in the United States on Instagram and Facebook pages of Illumination on June 9, 2021, releasing weekly on Saturdays, and consists of 40 episodes. The series features a 2D animation style. [36] Who's Who was released on TikTok and subsequently on YouTube. [37]
The video game, titled Despicable Me: The Game , was released for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and Wii. [38] A Nintendo DS version was released under the name Despicable Me: The Game – Minion Mayhem. [39] Namco also released on July 6, 2010, a version for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch platform entitled Despicable Me: Minion Mania, developed by Anino Games. The game was removed from the App Store on January 1, 2013. [40]
The action video game, titled Despicable Me: Minion Rush, was released on June 13, 2013. The game, developed by Gameloft, was adapted for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, [41] Android, and Windows Phone devices. Played as one of the Minions, it allows customization of the character, who must perform various tasks, including defeating Vector and a new villain created for the game, to earn the title of Minion of the Year. [42] [43] The game was downloaded more than 100 million times in the first three months after its release. [44] The game won a British Academy Children's Award in the category BAFTA's Kids' Vote and a Kids' Choice Award for Favorite App. [45] [46] [47] By June 2021, the game hit 1 billion downloads worldwide across iOS, Android, and other devices. [48]
The free-to-play mobile game developed by Electronic Arts (otherwise known as EA), titled Minions Paradise , was released in the summer of 2015. [49] Playing as Phil, players will help Minions design and build their own utopia set in a tropical environment. The game was removed from the App Store on May 22, 2017. [49]
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is a simulator ride that opened on July 2, 2012, at Universal Studios Florida and on April 12, 2014, at Universal Studios Hollywood, starring Steve Carell as Gru, Miranda Cosgrove as Margo, Dana Gaier as Edith, Elsie Fisher as Agnes, and Pierre Coffin as the Minions. The same attraction (featuring Japanese and Chinese voice casts) opened on April 21, 2017, at Universal Studios Japan and September 20, 2021, at Universal Studios Beijing.
In addition to the Minion Mayhem attraction, Universal Studios Florida features an entire Minion Land with a moving-walkway shooter attraction titled Villain-Con: Minion Blast.[ citation needed ]
This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in the feature films.
Character | Main films | Spin-off films | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Despicable Me | Despicable Me 2 | Despicable Me 3 | Despicable Me 4 | Minions | Minions: The Rise of Gru | Minions 3 | ||
Introduced in Despicable Me | ||||||||
Felonious Gru Sr. | Steve Carell [60] [61] [62] | |||||||
Minions | Pierre Coffin [63] Chris Renaud [64] Jemaine Clement [65] | Pierre Coffin [63] Chris Renaud [64] | Pierre Coffin [63] | |||||
Margo | Miranda Cosgrove [66] [67] [60] | |||||||
Edith | Dana Gaier [68] [69] | |||||||
Agnes | Elsie Fisher [70] | Nev Scharrel [10] | Madison Polan [69] | |||||
Dr. Nefario | Russell Brand [71] | Silent role | Romesh Ranganathan [71] | Silent role | Russell Brand [71] | |||
Marlena Gru | Julie Andrews [72] | Silent role | Julie Andrews [72] | Silent role | Julie Andrews | |||
Vector | Jason Segel [73] | Jason Segel C | Photograph | |||||
Mr. Perkins | Will Arnett [74] | Silent role | Will Arnett [75] | |||||
Fred McDade | Danny McBride [76] | Silent role | ||||||
Miss Hattie | Kristen Wiig [66] | |||||||
Introduced in Despicable Me 2 | ||||||||
Lucy Wilde | Kristen Wiig [77] [67] [60] | |||||||
Silas Ramsbottom | Steve Coogan [78] [75] [79] [69] | Steve Coogan | ||||||
Eduardo Perez El Macho | Benjamin Bratt [78] | Benjamin Bratt C | Silent role | |||||
Floyd Eagle-san | Ken Jeong [78] | |||||||
Antonio | Moises Arias [80] | |||||||
Introduced in Despicable Me 3 | ||||||||
Balthazar Bratt | Trey Parker [81] | Trey Parker C | ||||||
Dru | Steve Carell [81] | Silent role | ||||||
Clive | Andy Nyman [82] | |||||||
Fritz | Steve Coogan [82] | |||||||
Valerie Da Vinci | Jenny Slate [67] | |||||||
Introduced in Despicable Me 4 | ||||||||
Felonious Gru Jr. | Tara Strong [83] | |||||||
Poppy Prescott | Joey King [69] | |||||||
Maxime Le Mal | Will Ferrell [69] | |||||||
Valentina | Sofia Vergara [69] | |||||||
Principal Frau Übelschlecht | Chris Renaud [84] | |||||||
Perry Prescott | Stephen Colbert [69] | |||||||
Patsy Prescott | Chloe Fineman [69] | |||||||
Melora | Laraine Newman [85] | |||||||
Introduced in Minions | ||||||||
Scarlett Overkill | Silent role | Sandra Bullock [86] | Photograph | |||||
Herb Overkill | Jon Hamm [87] | |||||||
Elizabeth II | Jennifer Saunders [88] | |||||||
Walter Nelson | Michael Keaton [89] | |||||||
Madge Nelson | Allison Janney [90] | |||||||
Introduced in Minions: The Rise of Gru | ||||||||
Belle Bottom | Silent role | Taraji P. Henson [91] | ||||||
Jean-Clawed | Jean-Claude Van Damme [91] | |||||||
Nun-Chuck | Lucy Lawless [91] | |||||||
Svengeance | Dolph Lundgren [91] | |||||||
Stronghold | Danny Trejo [91] | |||||||
Wild Knuckles | Alan Arkin [92] | |||||||
Master Chow | Michelle Yeoh [91] | |||||||
Biker | RZA [91] |
Role | Main films | Spin-offs | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Despicable Me | Despicable Me 2 | Despicable Me 3 | Despicable Me 4 | Minions | Minions: The Rise of Gru | Minions 3 | |
Director(s) | Chris Renaud Pierre Coffin | Pierre Coffin Kyle Balda Co-Director: Eric Guillon | Chris Renaud Co-Director: Patrick Delage | Pierre Coffin Kyle Balda | Kyle Balda Co-Directors: Brad Ableson Jonathan del Val | Pierre Coffin | |
Producer(s) | Chris Meledandri John Cohen Janet Healy | Chris Meledandri Janet Healy | Chris Meledandri Brett Hoffman | Chris Meledandri Janet Healy | Chris Meledandri Janet Healy Chris Renaud | Chris Meledandri Bill Ryan | |
Executive Producer(s) | Nina Rowan Sergio Pablos | — | Chris Renaud | — | Chris Renaud | Brett Hoffman | TBA |
Writer(s) | Screenplay: Cinco Paul Ken Daurio Story: Sergio Pablos | Cinco Paul Ken Daurio | Mike White Ken Daurio | Brian Lynch | Screenplay: Matthew Fogel Story: Brian Lynch Matthew Fogel | Brian Lynch Pierre Coffin | |
Composer(s) | Heitor Pereira Pharrell Williams | Heitor Pereira | TBA | ||||
Editor(s) | Pamela Ziegenhagen-Shefland Gregory Perler | Gregory Perler | Claire Dodgson | Tiffany Hillkurtz | Claire Dodgson | TBA | |
Studio(s) | Illumination | ||||||
Distributor(s) | Universal Pictures | ||||||
The Despicable Me franchise has grossed a total of more than $5 billion, [93] making it the highest-grossing animated film franchise, [94] and the 15th highest-grossing film franchise of all time. [95] Each film was one of the highest-grossing films of the year. [a]
Film | U.S. release date | Box office gross | All-time ranking | Budget | Ref. | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
U.S. and Canada | Other territories | Worldwide | U.S. and Canada | Worldwide | ||||
Despicable Me | July 9, 2010 | $251,557,985 | $291,600,000 | $543,157,985 | 142 | 203 | $69,000,000 | [101] |
Despicable Me 2 | July 3, 2013 | $368,065,385 | $602,700,620 | $970,766,005 | 60 | 56 | $76,000,000 | [102] |
Despicable Me 3 | June 30, 2017 | $264,624,300 | $770,175,831 | $1,034,800,131 | 129 | 46 | $80,000,000 | [103] |
Despicable Me 4 | July 3, 2024 | $361,004,205 | $608,175,801 | $969,180,006 | 65 | 65 | $100,000,000 | [104] [105] |
Main series | $1,214,379,375 | $2,141,527,451 | $3,355,906,826 | $325,000,000 | ||||
Minions | July 10, 2015 | $336,045,770 | $823,352,627 | $1,159,398,397 | 74 | 26 | $74,000,000 | [106] |
Minions: The Rise of Gru | July 1, 2022 | $369,695,210 | $569,933,000 | $939,628,210 | 57 | 66 | $80,000,000 | [107] [108] [109] |
Prequel series | $705,740,980 | $1,393,285,627 | $2,099,026,607 | $154,000,000 | ||||
Total | $1,920,120,355 | $3,534,813,078 | $5,454,933,433 | 18 | 13 | $479,000,000 | [93] [110] | |
Film | Critical | Public | |
---|---|---|---|
Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic | CinemaScore | |
Despicable Me | 80% (203 reviews) [111] | 72 (35 reviews) [112] | A [113] |
Despicable Me 2 | 75% (187 reviews) [114] | 62 (39 reviews) [115] | A [113] |
Minions | 56% (224 reviews) [116] | 56 (35 reviews) [117] | A [113] |
Despicable Me 3 | 58% (195 reviews) [118] | 49 (37 reviews) [119] | A– [113] |
Minions: The Rise of Gru | 70% (185 reviews) [120] | 56 (41 reviews) [121] | A [122] |
Despicable Me 4 | 56% (165 reviews) [123] | 52 (36 reviews) [124] | A [125] |
Despicable Me 2 was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, but lost to Frozen (2013). [126] The first two films and Minions were nominated for BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film. [127] [128] [129] Three Despicable Me films each received a nomination for the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Animated Feature. [130] [131] [132] The first and second film were nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film. [133] [134]
Chris Renaud is an American filmmaker, designer, storyboard artist, and voice actor. He is best known for his work at Illumination, including directing the company's animated films such as the first, second, and fourth films in the Despicable Me franchise (2010–present), the first two of which he co-directed with Pierre Coffin, The Lorax (2012), The Secret Life of Pets (2016) and its sequel The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019). He also voiced the Minions in the first two films in the Despicable Me franchise and Norman in The Secret Life of Pets franchise, the former which he co-created with Coffin. Renaud received nominations for two Academy Awards for the Ice Age short film No Time for Nuts (2006) and Despicable Me 2 (2013).
Megamind is a 2010 American animated superhero comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and Pacific Data Images, and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Directed by Tom McGrath from a screenplay by Alan Schoolcraft and Brent Simons, the film stars the voices of Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, David Cross, and Brad Pitt. It tells the story of Megamind, a highly intelligent alien supervillain; after defeating his long-time nemesis Metro Man, Megamind creates a new hero to fight but must act to save the city when his "creation" becomes an even worse villain than he was.
Despicable Me is a 2010 American animated comedy film produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment, and distributed by Universal. The first feature film from Illumination, it was directed by Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin and produced by Chris Meledandri, Janet Healy, and John Cohen, from a screenplay by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio based on a story by Sergio Pablos. Despicable Me stars the voices of Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Will Arnett, Danny McBride, Jack McBrayer, and Julie Andrews. The film follows Felonious Gru, a longtime supervillain who adopts three orphan girls to use as pawns in a villainous scheme but reluctantly develops an emotional attachment to them.
Illumination, formerly known as Illumination Entertainment, is an American animation studio founded by Chris Meledandri on January 17, 2007, after leaving 20th Century Fox Animation and is a division of Universal Pictures, a division of Comcast through its wholly owned subsidiary NBCUniversal; Meledandri produces the films, while Universal finances and distributes them. The studio is best known for creating the Despicable Me, The Secret Life of Pets, and Sing franchises, as well as the adaptations of Dr. Seuss' books The Lorax and How the Grinch Stole Christmas!; and Nintendo video games, starting with The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The Minions, characters from the Despicable Me series, are the mascots of the studio.
Christopher Meledandri is an American film producer and founder and CEO of Illumination. He previously served as President of 20th Century Fox Animation, and has worked as the producer for the film series of Ice Age, Despicable Me, The Secret Life of Pets and Sing. In 2021, he joined Nintendo's board of directors after working with the video game company on The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Meledandri also collaborates with Illumination's corporate sibling DreamWorks Animation.
Pierre-Louis Padang Coffin is a French animator, director, producer, writer, and voice actor. He is best known for co-directing the first four installments in the Despicable Me franchise and being the primary voice of the Minions, which won him the Kids Family Award at the 10th Seiyu Awards. He also received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature for Despicable Me 2.
Despicable Me 2 is a 2013 American animated comedy film produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment, and distributed by Universal. It is the sequel to Despicable Me (2010) and the second installment in the Despicable Me franchise. The film was directed by Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin, produced by Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, and written by the writing team of Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio. It stars the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt, Miranda Cosgrove, Russell Brand, and Ken Jeong. The film follows retired supervillain Gru as he is recruited by secret agent Lucy Wilde to investigate the theft of a powerful mutagen by El Macho, a supervillain who seeks to achieve world domination.
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is an animated simulator ride attraction located at Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Japan, and Universal Studios Beijing, as well as upcoming to Universal Studios Singapore. The attraction is based on Universal Pictures and Illumination's animated film Despicable Me (2010) and its franchise. While it is an opening day attraction in Beijing, it replaced Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast in Florida, T2-3D: Battle Across Time in Hollywood, Back to the Future: The Ride in Japan and Madagascar: A Crate Adventure in Singapore.
Universal's Superstar Parade was a parade at Universal Studios Florida. It was first announced at a live webcast on January 25, 2012. The parade included characters, floats, and themed-vehicles based on Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment's Despicable Me and Hop films, as well as Paramount and Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, and Go, Diego, Go! television series. Each section of the parade had a unique mix of performers, from aerialists to drummers to acrobatics. The parade was notable for having “show stops” in the New York and Hollywood sections of the park where an elaborate choreographed dance routine would take place. Leading up to the parade, each individual unit would make appearances throughout the day for smaller shows and meet-n-greets. The parade debuted on May 8, 2012, as part of Universal Orlando's "Year To Be Here".
Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio are American screenwriters, collaborating on the screenplays for animated films including the Despicable Me franchise, Horton Hears a Who, The Lorax and The Secret Life of Pets. The duo also served as the co-creators of the 2021 Apple TV+ musical comedy series Schmigadoon!, with Paul also serving as the series songwriter and executive producer.
Minions is a 2015 American animated comedy film produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment, and distributed by Universal. The film is a prequel to Despicable Me (2010) and the third installment overall in the Despicable Me franchise. Directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda, produced by Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, and written by Brian Lynch, Minions stars the voices of Coffin as the titular beings, Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney, Steve Coogan, Jennifer Saunders, and Geoffrey Rush as the narrator. In the film, the Minions search for their replaceable evil master after, one-by-one, accidentally killing all their past leaders throughout history.
Despicable Me 3 is a 2017 American animated comedy film produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination, and distributed by Universal. It is the sequel to Despicable Me 2 (2013), the third main installment, and the fourth overall installment in the Despicable Me franchise. The film was directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda, co-directed by production and character designer Eric Guillon, and produced by Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, from a screenplay by the writing team of Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio. It stars the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Trey Parker, Coffin, Miranda Cosgrove, Steve Coogan, Jenny Slate, Dana Gaier, Nev Scharrel, and Julie Andrews. In the film, Gru teams up with his long-lost twin brother Dru to stop Balthazar Bratt, a former child actor of the 1980s, from destroying Hollywood after his show was canceled years ago.
Minions are a fictional all-male species of yellow creatures that appear in Illumination's Despicable Me franchise. They are characterized by their childlike behavior and their language, which is largely unintelligible.
Illumination Studios Paris is a French animated feature production company owned by Illumination, a division of Universal Pictures. Based in Paris, France, the company was created in 2011 as part of Universal's purchase deal of the animation arm of French animation and VFX company Mac Guff. It is responsible for the animation on Illumination's feature-length animated films and associated short films, most notably the Despicable Me franchise.
Kyle Balda is an American animator and film director, best known for co-directing the Illumination films The Lorax (2012), with Chris Renaud; Minions (2015) and Despicable Me 3 (2017), with Pierre Coffin; and Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022), with Brad Ableson and Jonathan del Val. He previously worked as an animator for Industrial Light & Magic before moving to Pixar where he worked on three of their films.
Felonious Gru Sr., alternatively spelled as Felonius Gru and typically referred to simply as Gru, is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Despicable Me franchise. Voiced by American actor Steve Carell, he has appeared in all six films in the series. Gru is a grouchy, quick-witted, and cynical former supervillain, who serves as a secret agent in order to fight other supervillains.
Minions: The Rise of Gru, also known as Minions 2, is a 2022 American animated comedy film produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination, and distributed by Universal. It is the sequel to Minions (2015), a prequel to Despicable Me (2010), and the fifth entry overall in the Despicable Me franchise. The film was directed by Kyle Balda, co-directed by Brad Ableson and Jonathan del Val, and produced by Chris Meledandri, Janet Healy and Chris Renaud, from a screenplay written by Matthew Fogel, and a story by Fogel and Brian Lynch. It features Steve Carell reprising his role as Gru and Pierre Coffin as the Minions, along with Russell Brand, Will Arnett, Steve Coogan, and Julie Andrews reprising their respective roles as Dr. Nefario, Mr. Perkins, Silas Ramsbottom, and Gru's mother Marlena. New cast members include Taraji P. Henson, Michelle Yeoh, and Alan Arkin. In the film, an eleven-year-old Gru plans to become a supervillain with the help of his Minions, which leads to a showdown with a malevolent team, the Vicious 6.
Despicable Me 4 is a 2024 American animated comedy film produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination, and distributed by Universal. It is the sequel to Despicable Me 3 (2017), the fourth main installment, and the sixth overall installment in the Despicable Me franchise. The film was directed by Chris Renaud, co-directed by Patrick Delage, produced by Chris Meledandri and Brett Hoffman, and written by Mike White and Ken Daurio. It stars the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Pierre Coffin, Joey King, Miranda Cosgrove, Steve Coogan, Sofía Vergara, Stephen Colbert, Renaud, Madison Polan, Dana Gaier, Chloe Fineman, and Will Ferrell. The film sees reformed supervillain and secret agent Gru relocate his family to a safe house when his old rival Maxime Le Mal seeks revenge. Subplots deal with Gru's family adjusting to their new lives, teenage neighbor Poppy Prescott trying to follow in Gru's villainous footsteps, and a group of Gru's Minions becoming superheroes.